2017-2018 NBA Regular Season Thread

[CitySushi]

Kuzma might be the best rookie on our team......I like Ball a lot but he's going to have his ups and downs barely being out of HS.

Kuzma looks ready to challenge for ROY.

Kuzma's the most explosive guy, but he's not better than Ball by any stretch right now. I kind of see him as a Rashard Lewis type player. Kind of a hybrid 3/4 with lots of perimeter skills and shooting. Not much offered on defense though at this point, but he's instant O.

Ball has a higher ceiling.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Kuzma's the most explosive guy, but he's not better than Ball by any stretch right now. I kind of see him as a Rashard Lewis type player. Kind of a hybrid 3/4 with lots of perimeter skills and shooting. Not much offered on defense though at this point, but he's instant O.

Ball has a higher ceiling.

Oh. I agree.....Kuzma is just more NBA ready right now......at least when it comes to scoring.

I think Ball is going to be a lot like Kidd.

 

[Bolts]

No, read what I just wrote.

Only TWO games being played tonight.

I read what you wrote, I understand there were only 2 games. In this situation the Lakers game being on TNT made sense.

 

[knowyourenemy]

I read what you wrote, I understand there were only 2 games. In this situation the Lakers game being on TNT made sense.

The NBA intentionally scheduled the Lakers on a lot of Thursday nights, when two games are nationally televised. No reason that another team couldn't have been scheduled last night -- but they wanted to show the Lakers. Fair enough -- they have to televise games that will have viewers and people watch Lakers games.

 

[LAD]

Kuzma's the most explosive guy, but he's not better than Ball by any stretch right now. I kind of see him as a Rashard Lewis type player. Kind of a hybrid 3/4 with lots of perimeter skills and shooting. Not much offered on defense though at this point, but he's instant O.

Ball has a higher ceiling.

Ball hasn't shown anything so far that would suggest he has a higher ceiling. Seems as though he's lacking confidence. That can literally make or break young players. It's too bad he can't just take some from his pops.

 

[LAD]

Oh. I agree.....Kuzma is just more NBA ready right now......at least when it comes to scoring.

I think Ball is going to be a lot like Kidd.

Kuzma reminds a lot of Klay when he first started. Klay had to work on his defensive game & once he did it changed things for the team. If Kuzma can do the same he's gonna be something nice.

 

[CitySushi]

Ball hasn't shown anything so far that would suggest he has a higher ceiling. Seems as though he's lacking confidence. That can literally make or break young players. It's too bad he can't just take some from his pops.

Ball is averaging 9.1 pts, 6.8 rebs, and 6.6 assists. That's with a completely broken jump shot. There's loads of potential upside on him. Players can learn to shoot as we've seen in the NBA. It just depends on how much work he's able to put into it and from what I've heard he has a high work ethic which is great. Guys like Jason Kidd or Jason Richardson couldn't shoot coming into the league and by the time they left they were known as knock down 3 point shooters.

 

[CitySushi]

@LAD

Kuzma is also a 2 years older and played in college for 3 season, so he should already be more pro-ready than Lonzo. Lonzo is learning on the job right now. Learning to play PG in the NBA is the most difficult position. Kuzma's skill set allows him to be more of a contributor right away. However if developed properly Lonzo has the highest upside.

There are tons of guys who had way worse numbers in their first years that went on to be outstanding PG's. A couple that come to mind are Chauncey Billups, Mike Conley, John Stockton(who shot 18%, 13% and 18% his first 3 years from 3 point range), Mark Price, etc.

Those guys all had poor shooting years, but developed over time. Really shooting and defense are the only draw backs to Lonzo's game. He's only 20 years old and those two things are teachable. What you can teach are the other skills that Lonzo already has in his game.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Ball is averaging 9.1 pts, 6.8 rebs, and 6.6 assists. That's with a completely broken jump shot. There's loads of potential upside on him. Players can learn to shoot as we've seen in the NBA. It just depends on how much work he's able to put into it and from what I've heard he has a high work ethic which is great. Guys like Jason Kidd or Jason Richardson couldn't shoot coming into the league and by the time they left they were known as knock down 3 point shooters.

Kidd was a horrific shooter when he started out.

 

[DJ Fieri]

@LAD

Kuzma is also a 2 years older and played in college for 3 season, so he should already be more pro-ready than Lonzo. Lonzo is learning on the job right now. Learning to play PG in the NBA is the most difficult position. Kuzma's skill set allows him to be more of a contributor right away. However if developed properly Lonzo has the highest upside.

There are tons of guys who had way worse numbers in their first years that went on to be outstanding PG's. A couple that come to mind are Chauncey Billups, Mike Conley, John Stockton(who shot 18%, 13% and 18% his first 3 years from 3 point range), Mark Price, etc.

Those guys all had poor shooting years, but developed over time. Really shooting and defense are the only draw backs to Lonzo's game. He's only 20 years old and those two things are teachable. What you can teach are the other skills that Lonzo already has in his game.

This. You articulated it much better than I could.

 

[Bolts]

The NBA intentionally scheduled the Lakers on a lot of Thursday nights, when two games are nationally televised. No reason that another team couldn't have been scheduled last night -- but they wanted to show the Lakers. Fair enough -- they have to televise games that will have viewers and people watch Lakers games.

As I said yesterday, I know why they get so many games on national TV even if I don't agree with it. It goes back to the people scheduling games earlier this year, not last night when they were one of two games.

 

[Sparhawk]

As I said yesterday, I know why they get so many games on national TV even if I don't agree with it. It goes back to the people scheduling games earlier this year, not last night when they were one of two games.

I would also consider the Patriots effect :

Nationally televised because of fans across the country, but also plenty of detractors that will tune in hoping to see them lose....

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Ball is averaging 9.1 pts, 6.8 rebs, and 6.6 assists. That's with a completely broken jump shot. There's loads of potential upside on him. Players can learn to shoot as we've seen in the NBA. It just depends on how much work he's able to put into it and from what I've heard he has a high work ethic which is great. Guys like Jason Kidd or Jason Richardson couldn't shoot coming into the league and by the time they left they were known as knock down 3 point shooters.

I agree with you on Ball's ceiling.

But, his scoring numbers are skewed based on that one big scoring output against the Suns.

You are absolutely correct about the Kidd shooting shortcomings at the beginning of his career.

Lonzo will need to follow that same path or he will become the next Kendall Marshall instead of Kidd, Rubio, Rondo.

Again: We aren't even 10 games in.

Give him time.

 

[LAD]

Ball is averaging 9.1 pts, 6.8 rebs, and 6.6 assists. That's with a completely broken jump shot. There's loads of potential upside on him. Players can learn to shoot as we've seen in the NBA. It just depends on how much work he's able to put into it and from what I've heard he has a high work ethic which is great. Guys like Jason Kidd or Jason Richardson couldn't shoot coming into the league and by the time they left they were known as knock down 3 point shooters.

I understand all of those things - but I think confidence is Ball's hang up - unlike the others you've mentioned. My point is it's hard to judge his potential if he doesn't even "try" on most nights.

 

[LAD]

@LAD

Kuzma is also a 2 years older and played in college for 3 season, so he should already be more pro-ready than Lonzo. Lonzo is learning on the job right now. Learning to play PG in the NBA is the most difficult position. Kuzma's skill set allows him to be more of a contributor right away. However if developed properly Lonzo has the highest upside.

There are tons of guys who had way worse numbers in their first years that went on to be outstanding PG's. A couple that come to mind are Chauncey Billups, Mike Conley, John Stockton(who shot 18%, 13% and 18% his first 3 years from 3 point range), Mark Price, etc.

Those guys all had poor shooting years, but developed over time. Really shooting and defense are the only draw backs to Lonzo's game. He's only 20 years old and those two things are teachable. What you can teach are the other skills that Lonzo already has in his game.

All great points.

But, practice makes perfect and if he isn't trying to shoot during games then IMO he's missing out on opportunities. Especially when we consider the Lakers aren't expected to be great this season and maybe not next season. I would rather see him shoot & miss than only take a handful of shots a night.

 

[CitySushi]

I understand all of those things - but I think confidence is Ball's hang up - unlike the others you've mentioned. My point is it's hard to judge his potential if he doesn't even "try" on most nights.

Yeah he's going to need to learn to play with a little pace to his game. I don't think it's really a lack of trying, but more so he's a bit non-descriptive in his style of play. It's a bit more methodical from what I've seen.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Kidd was a horrific shooter when he started out.

But he still kept shooting.

He averaged 11 fga his rookie year.

Lonzo is at 11.

But, that's skewed by that 25 attempts vs. The Suns.

Rod Strickland never became a knock down shooter.

But, he went to the rim and got to the line.

2 attempts in 30 mins is unacceptable.

 

[CitySushi]

All great points.

But, practice makes perfect and if he isn't trying to shoot during games then IMO he's missing out on opportunities. Especially when we consider the Lakers aren't expected to be great this season and maybe not next season. I would rather see him shoot & miss than only take a handful of shots a night.

I don't think it's really a lack of shots, IMO, but it's a lack of ability to score at this point. His jumpshot isn't work and he's right not to force it at this point. But you still have to be a threat there. He'll get there as his body develops, but he'll need to learn how to be able to score off drives and find other ways to put the ball in the basket in the mean time.

 

[LAD]

Yeah he's going to need to learn to play with a little pace to his game. I don't think it's really a lack of trying, but more so he's a bit non-descriptive in his style of play. It's a bit more methodical from what I've seen.

Could be so - but when I say try I means specifically shooting/scoring. I think he will need to develop a jumper in order to keep the defenses honest. If he doesn't then the opposing guards will have easy nights when they face him. I'm sure Magic will help him understand the importance of that balance being a PG.

 

[CitySushi]

But he still kept shooting.

He averaged 11 fga his rookie year.

Lonzo is at 11.

But, that's skewed by that 25 attempts vs. The Suns.

Rod Strickland never became a knock down shooter.

But, he went to the rim and got to the line.

2 attempts in 30 mins is unacceptable.

100% agree. It's not the jumpshots that are the problem IMO, it's that he's not looking for OTHER ways to score. It doesn't have to be all 3 point attempts. You can work your way to the rim or get out in transition and be more of an attacker than just simply throwing the ball ahead and relying on teammates.