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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons from loss to Utah Jazz

By Ronald Agers

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 11: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in a NBA game against the against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 11, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 11: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on in a NBA game against the against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 11, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Lonzo Ball played well…I just don’t know…

That’s a very strange title for a post game report but, games like this is why Lakers fans are ready to trade for Anthony Davis every week (For the record…it’s not coming before February 7th,2019!.

Lonzo Ball did not shoot well (…again) scoring only 7 points on 3-13 shooting. His aggressiveness waned during the game and he seemed hesitant on his shots. It was so bad that ESPN announcer Jeff Van Gundy is so many words basically said he can’t score.

What is saving him? Analytics…

Look at the plus/minus area on this chart (the area next to the point total on the right.). On there you see the rest of the starting lineup with huge minuses in the game. Lonzo however has a minus one. It’s not good,  but look at the caption…

Let’s go deeper with this shall we? To be clear, Lonzo was probably the only player on the roster that played defense in this game without false hustle. He played tough and unfortunately for the Lakers he got in foul trouble.

Lonzo Ball also had 7 rebounds and 6 assists like this one right here….

The 10-0 run the Lakers had in the 3rd quarter was headed up by Lonzo Ball with his energy and willingness to defend. The lead was actually cut to nine at one point. When Zo got his fifth foul, that pretty much ended things for the night.

The problem is the Lakers have got to get some scoring contributions from Lonzo Ball while LeBron James is out and with Kuzma and Ingram not scoring. The Lakers have to love the intangibles that Ball brings to the table and watching him lead the fast break is fun to watch. This guy is very fast and talented, but having a six point scoring average is not going to cut it around this time next week.

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