Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball has not been the same player this season, and head coach Luke Walton could be the reason why.
On Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Lakers replayed the exact same listless “Lake Show Broadway” play from last week in Orlando against the Magic.
You know the script. The Lakers come out and slap the Magic around early, only to give way in the second and third quarters on the defensive end and let the same Magic players, being Nikola Vucevic and D.J. Augustin, lead the way in dismantling the back line. Los Angeles then makes a comeback in the 4th quarter and loses.
In the last game, LeBron James sat the whole 4th quarter with Lonzo Ball while the bench made a push. This time, LeBron was on the floor and well…Lonzo was on the bench again!
Only this time, Ball’s benching of the ENTIRE 4th quarter had the Los Angeles Lakers fans asking a lot of questions! The topic of conversation on social media was…Where is Lonzo Ball and more importantly why?
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1066830333939597312
The Lakers blew a 12-point lead to the Orlando Magic and lost 108-104 in a game that the Lakers really could have used for momentum leading into Tuesday night’s game on the road against the Denver Nuggets. But, this issue with Lonzo Ball’s minutes going forward is going to be an issue for a couple of days!
This explanation is not going to get it in my opinion…
This is not the first time this season that Luke Walton had to make this kind of statement to justify (also read an excuse) the decision to put Ball back in a game where it might have been appropriate for the Lakers.
The other time? That was the Atlanta game when Josh Hart finished the game. Not only that, it was clear throughout the game that the rotation patterns were starting to revert back to the fluid (to be kind here) decisions that led the team to a 2-5 start.
It was laid out a couple of weeks ago in this piece when Luke Walton’s performance was under the scrutiny of Magic Johnson…
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If you want to go straight to the second reason to read about the rotation patterns, feel free. But Lonzo Ball has improved in the last couple of games, even helping the Lakers overcome a Cleveland scare on Wednesday.
The Lakers asked Lonzo to be more aggressive, he got more aggressive. Lonzo was asked to look for his shot, he looked for his shot.
What is the problem?
I think it’s his coach! Check out why!
LeBron James had no problem with how he’s playing!
Lonzo must have been doing something right this past week. After scoring two points in the state of Florida, he came back strong with a great performance in Cleveland…
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1065432437008814081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1065432437008814081&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flakeshowlife.com%2F2018%2F11%2F23%2Flos-angeles-lakers-lebron-james-comes-home-to-cleveland-3-lessons%2F
Dunking on people…
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1065444584086487041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1065444584086487041&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flakeshowlife.com%2F2018%2F11%2F23%2Flos-angeles-lakers-lebron-james-comes-home-to-cleveland-3-lessons%2F
Playing defense! I mean, you do remember that Larry Nance Jr. is a power forward right?!
Zo with a great pass to JaVale for the lefty finish!#LakeShow (📺: @SpectrumSN & ESPN) pic.twitter.com/pu17cB0bv2
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 22, 2018
How about making plays in crunch time? Some things that are important and possibly could have been used in the Orlando game on Sunday!
After that check out what LeBron said about Lonzo’s play on Friday…
"“Sometimes he doesn’t realize how great he is,” James said after a 90-83 winover the Utah Jazz on Friday night at Staples Center. “The things that he possesses out on the floor, when Zo realizes how good he is on the floor, it makes him a very dynamic player and it makes us even better. And he’s been doing that as of late, [with] his aggressiveness.”"
It’s really hard to realize how great you are when the coach doesn’t trust you to finish out a game when it is close. Nothing against Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but Lonzo Ball is the Lakers best defensive player at guard. Plus, if this guy is showing the potential that LeBron James sees, what is Luke Walton’s issue?
More LeBron James.
"“Even when he’s not making, just his attack as you’ve seen earlier in the game, just him getting to the rim [is important],” James said of Ball, who went 4-for-10 from the field. “He missed a couple of ’em; that’s absolutely fine. He had a couple charges; that’s absolutely fine. When he’s aggressive, it just changes our dynamic of the team, and he’s been doing it of late and we need him to continue to do that because he’s very good.”"
Sure, good enough that Ball played all 12 minutes to close out the game against Utah!
In that quarter, Lonzo Ball hit the only shot he took and played great defense. Here’s an example!
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1066182261287018496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1066182261287018496&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flakeshowlife.com%2F2018%2F11%2F25%2Flos-angeles-lakers-play-awful-tune-beat-jazz%2F
He then combined that with two rebounds and had two assists. In a game where he was instrumental in the Lakers best defensive effort of the season, Lonzo Ball should have been out there.
Rajon Rondo is out! Aren’t those Ball’s minutes?
This was a problem anyway even when Rondo was available.
Los Angeles Lakers: What needs to be done with Lonzo Ball, Rajon Rondo!
Rajon Rondo made his return for the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. With the return of Rajon leaves questions of what Lonzo's minutes should be!
I believe the Los Angeles Lakers are the only NBA franchise that could bring the words “Quarterback controversy” to the NBA. I mean even the Rams are saying., “Can you guys stay in your lane?”
When Rajon Rondo was suspended for the fight early in the season, the Lakers offense was stagnant at times and more importantly, the Lakers were winless.
Then Lonzo Ball got the minutes that Rondo left on the table and the team went into Phoenix and blew them out of the arena.
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1055281746931937280
That was the beginning. Here’s the end.
https://twitter.com/AthleteSwag/status/1055321091848237057
It bears to mention that Lance Stephenson and Lonzo Ball have quite a bit of chemistry on the court, as you see in this video here. Lance Stephenson scored the ball very well against the Magic, totaling 13 points and dropping four 3-point shots!
Oh, that’s right, he was on the bench too. But, this is Lonzo Ball piece. Lance’s debate is for another day!
Luke Walton is not doing much to instill confidence in Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball has already talked this season about not being engaged enough while in games! This interview was earlier in the season after he lost his momentum after Rajon Rondo came back from suspension.
"“Getting into the flow more. Getting the rebound, that’s going to be big for me,” Ball explained after practice Tuesday. “Getting a rebound and being able to push the ball, hit open shots and play defense. It’s going to start on defense. Picking up some steals, rebounding the ball. When I do that, my shot starts falling and I feel more into the game.”"
Key words here being, into the game.
This shows that Lonzo Ball was struggling at the time with fitting in and finding a defined role on the team. It is something that most young players tend to struggle with when they are without a consistent structure when it comes to playing time!
Luke Walton’s take at the time…
"“It’s up to everybody. That’s what being a team is about,” Walton said. “A personal responsibility from each player to bring what they bring to the table, and then it’s our responsibility as a coaching staff to push them and put them in places to succeed.” “There’s different techniques. Whether it’s being hard on him, encouraging him, running more plays for him. We see it. He’s a young point guard and we’re going to continue to monitor and continue to work with him.”"
Let’s check out the phrase…”put them in places to succeed”.
I believe everyone involved would agree that Luke Walton should have his rotation patterns down by now considering we are now coming up on 20 games on Tuesday? Throw in the rookie season that he had with Ball, when is Luke Walton going to get it?
My favorite quote is this…
"“We’ve got so many guys so if you’re not doing your job, you’re going to get pulled,” he said. “That’s just how it is. Whoever is clicking that day is going to play.”"
Really? As bad as some of the defense was in the Magic game on Sunday? How about those turnovers for the last two games? Do you really think that Walton holds everyone accountable? Clicking? Please stop!
If the Lakers believe Lonzo Ball has a future, does Luke Walton?
Let’s not forget that Lonzo Ball was a lottery pick last year being picked second overall by Magic Johnson. Also, Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are on one-year contracts and are not in the long-term plans of the Lakers.
This stands to reason that Ball needs to be put in a consistent place in the rotation. This is not up for debate. This is just good for Lakers business.
The constant changes in Ball’s playing time are not good for a young player’s confidence. Especially with a guy that is scrutinized as much as Lonzo is.
If you think that confidence is not important, does anyone want to talk about a certain point guard on the east coast that happens to be struggling with his confidence?
Nothing can get that bad, but if Walton keeps jerking around Lonzo Ball’s minutes…let’s just say it will have an effect.
Writer’s note…No I do not know LaVar Ball!
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