The Los Angeles Lakers were able to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. In the win, Lonzo Ball showed us all what he is capable of.
In their fourth Summer League game, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to win their second straight game. After a big performance by Alex Caruso against the Sacramento Kings the other night, Lonzo Ball was back in the lineup for the Lakers for their fourth game.
So far in the Summer League, the results had been mixed for Lonzo Ball. After a poor first game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Ball bounced back nicely against the Boston Celtics. In the loss to the Celtics, Ball showed Lakers fans what he is capable of with a triple-double. The 11-11-11 stat line was very impressive for Ball, but it might have just been the beginning.
After missing the game against the Kings, Ball came back and dominated the 76ers. In the comeback win, Ball totaled 36 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, five steals, and two blocks. Seeing a stat line like that for Ball in 36 minutes of action is truly impressive for Ball.
Coming into the NBA, Ball was praised for his ability to set up his teammates. However, what may have been overlooked is his ability to score. At UCLA, Ball showed the ability to take over games offensively at times. With a great supporting cast, Ball didn’t do it often, but he could certainly score in bunches when needed.
While trailing against the 76ers, the Lakers clearly needed some extra scoring punch. With his ability to drive to the basket with ease, Ball started to look to score instead of pass when he got into the paint. In addition to scoring well driving the ball, Lonzo also shot much better from three-point range.
In addition to going an improved three-for-10 from three-point range, Ball also shot nine-for-12 from the free throw line. Ball looked much more comfortable shooting the basketball against the 76ers, as he appears to have found confidence in his shot once again.
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Even though we all associate Ball with being a great passer, we can’t forget that he can score as well. The 36 points in the Summer League won’t soon be forgotten by Lakers fans.