Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball has picked up right where he left off prior to his knee injury.
Los Angeles Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball has been under the microscope for months. His outspoken father has brought a lot of unwarranted attention upon him, as he has plenty of detractors waiting to pick on his every slip-up.
There has been plenty of opportunities for those detractors to bash Ball. His shooting percentage hasn’t been great, which has given them plenty of ammunition. However, Ball was beginning to turn things around before injuries beset him.
Ball improved his shooting percentage to 42.2 percent overall and 37.7 percent in January after a rough start to the season. However, a shoulder injury kept him out for six games. Upon his return, he began playing well again, but he wasn’t able to stay on the court too long.
Just five games after recovering from his shoulder ailment, Ball was beset by a knee injury. It was more severe than originally thought, as Ball ended up missing 15 games with the knee injury.
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A lot changed during those 15 games. Luke Walton adjusted the lineup, as Josh Hart was inserted into the starting lineup, with Brandon Ingram taking over point guard duties. Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. were traded away, with Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye acquired along with a draft pick.
There were a lot of questions about how Walton would manage things once Ball returned. Would the continuity and chemistry that developed without Ball be interrupted with his reinsertion into the lineup? Who would move to the bench upon his return? It ended up being Ball.
After starting the first 36 games of his career, Ball was moved to the second unit upon his return to the lineup. Despite the role change and a minutes restriction, Ball has picked up right where he left off.
In the first game out of the All-Star break against the Dallas Mavericks, Ball was an energizer off the bench. The Lakers surrendered 130 points to the Mavericks prior to the All-Star break, their first of three consecutive losses heading into the break. With Ball in the lineup, the outcome changed.
The Lakers handled the Mavericks easily in the rematch, defeating them 124-102. Ball contributed nine points with seven rebounds and six assists. It took him only 17 minutes to accumulate those stats.
Ball sat out the game against the Sacramento Kings because it was the second night of a back-to-back. He returned to the lineup on Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks and provided much of the same production Lakers fans have come accustomed to seeing.
Against the Mavericks, Ball was outstanding. In 24 minutes, he scored 13 points, making all four of his shot attempts, including 3-for-3 from the 3-point line and a perfect 2-for-2 at the foul line. Ball added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals as well.
With Ball back in the lineup, the Lakers are deep in the backcourt. They have four players that are pretty interchangeable, as Ball, Thomas, Hart and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can all play alongside each other.
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Ball did not waste any time getting back into the flow of things. He has looked good on the court despite not playing for almost six weeks. That length of time out normally causes a player to be rusty, but Ball has looked good thus far.