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Los Angeles Lakers: Larry Nance Jr. stresses importance of Lonzo Ball

By Niel Victor Masoy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Julius Randle #30, Lonzo Ball #2 and Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on from the bench in the fourth quarter of the game at Staples Center on December 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images). NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Julius Randle #30, Lonzo Ball #2 and Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on from the bench in the fourth quarter of the game at Staples Center on December 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images). NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr says Lonzo Ball’s fast-paced game, passing ability, and unselfishness rub off on everybody and the team uses it as an advantage.

Geared with an outstanding court vision and preternatural passing ability, it’s no secret that Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball makes the game entertaining. Whether that was the UCLA team he led to a 31-5 record, or the Lakers summer league squad he powered to a championship while also earning MVP honors last year and now, the Lakers.

While the Lakers currently sit well below .500 this season (19-30), there is no denying that when Ball is playing, the team’s offense runs smoothly and quickly. In fact, the team leads the league in pace at 100.9 possessions per game. Defensively, they are only outscored by 1.2 points per 100 possessions when Ball is on the floor compared to five when he sits.

Ball, who now missed seven games in a row due to an MCL sprain injury, is averaging 10.2 points, 7.1 boards, 7.1 dimes, 1.5 steals and one block per game for good measure.

That Ball’s numbers are huge for the Lakers and his teammate Larry Nance Jr. highlights the rookie’s importance for the team in an appearance on “The Hoopshype Podcast with Alex Kennedy” transcribed by Lakers Nation’s Harrison Faigen.

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“He makes the game so easy – not just for me, but for everybody,” Nance said.

“And it seems so simple because he just always makes the right pass. It seems easy and you think, ‘Alright… everyone should just make the right pass.’ But clearly not everyone can do it. He’s one of the only guys – if not ­the only guy – who can do it,” he added.

The high-flying forward further related that Ball’s unselfishness rubs off on the Lakers and how they use the rookie’s fast-paced game as an advantage especially when facing older teams.

“When he starts making his passes and kicking it ahead to different guys, it’s contagious. Having him in the game just makes everybody so much more unselfish,” Nance said of Ball.

“[One of our strengths] is getting out and running. When we get a stop or we get a steal, we get out and run whereas a lot of the older teams don’t really feel like doing that. When we play a team that’s significantly older than us or really anyone, for that matter, since we’re one of the youngest teams in the league, we go, especially when Zo (Lonzo) is out there.”

“We push the break and try to make it an exhausting night for whoever we’re playing,” Nance concluded.

While the Lakers have won four of their seven games in Lonzo Ball’s absence, the team, apparently, is better off with him especially in transition as Larry Nance Jr. pointed out. Meanwhile, there is no timetable yet as to when will Ball play again.

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The Lakers are currently on a five-game road trip, splitting the first two games with a win over the Chicago Bulls and a loss to the Toronto Raptors. The team is set to face the Orlando Magic on Thursday and will cap off their road trip by visiting the Brooklyn Nets and the Oklahoma City Thunder before going back home on Tuesday, February 6, to battle the Phoenix Suns.

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