re: Lonzo Ball is massive piece for NOLA.

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Earlier in the season Zo was getting acclimated to a new team, was injured, and of course the entire team was decimated by injuries, so it's fair to see how he's improved as the season has gone on to gauge his play.

Over the past 26 games, Zo is 13/9/8 on 42%/39%/65% shooting.

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He keeps it up through the season and there really is no argument to be had that he hasn’t demonstrated notable improved play.

Much like some streaks Jrue, Davis, or other guys have had, I do still want to see the improvement over a longer stretch. For instance, Andrew Wiggins shot 42% post all star, 80% from the line, and everyone thought he had turned the corner....He has never cracked 36% since and has settled into the low 70’s since 2017.

Personally, I think the growth is real, as you can see the growth in his shooting form, something I didn’t see in Wiggins, which I tend to care more about than raw percentages in terms of whether I think they are going to be a good shooter. But, I don’t blame people for wanting more proof given false negatives in the past before trusting it. Same way I felt with Ingram shooting skeptics.

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No one thought he wasn’t flawed in the past. He was actually pretty terrible. You just couldn’t see the forest for the trees on a young player.

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So basically you are saying he was playing terribly and has improved? Agreed. And my opinion on him has changed accordingly as he demonstrated actual, tangible growth? Agreed.

Simple narratives tend to be indications of simple minds. Which you seem keen on latching onto Gyno.

My resting point with Lonzo, nights of frustration aside, is you have/had a window until the next trade deadline to evaluate his fit. That as a player he has a pretty high ceiling, but I was skeptical. That he needed to demonstrate himself in order to be in the long-term plans for me. So far, he now has. BUT, he still has a lot of growth needed, with no guarantee he gets there. However, in demonstrating the growth he has, you have to give him more benefit of doubt than players with high ceilings that hadn’t demonstrated that, which up until recently, that was the category Lonzo was in. Third year in the league and he started out almost more poorly than his prior seasons. Which is also why I do not fault some for wanting to see more sustained numbers before trusting the growth l feel comfortable trusting at this point.

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And he doesn’t get there if we bench him and restrict his minutes like you were calling for earlier in the year. Your opinion changed, yes we know. It often does when one looks fooolish

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I already explained my resting position on Lonzo, evaluate him til next year and make a determination. We did bench him, and pulled him for key stretches due to poor play, and it lit a fire under him. You can cherry pick whatever moment of frustration you want, my position was and has been pretty clear. Your desire to try and fight caricatures of others as well.

I do not evaluate based on faith, for any player. With very few exceptions. And those exceptions will only come if they prove certain things well beyond what most players do in terms of potential. Which makes it less faith then meeting criteria I think merit trust. You are just hyper sensitive to it because you are hyper sensitive to criticism of this particular player. I also said Ingram projected to be our first non-Zion all-star based on a number of factors, but that he would similarly have to demonstrate certain things to erase my skepticisms. He has on most, and because of that growth it eases my mind on the areas he still needs to improve.

Similarly, I was ready to put Ingram above Tatum in terms of that longstanding fight. Tatum’s similar Lonzo stretch of markedly improved play has made me pause that as well. Does that trigger you also? I still think Ingram’s ceiling is higher, but Tatum is showing that Lonzo/Ingram type leap that many also said wasn’t going to happen, and is currently a more well rounded p;llayer, but many, myself included, would also rightfully caution some skepticism until proven over a longer period. But I am guessing not declaring Tatum a top 10 player based on his last 20 games playing like a top 10 player won’t trigger you?

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Oh Man

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You’re proving the theory in real time pal.

Negative. No one hates on Ball. But we do correct you when this board announces him to be wayyyyyyyy better than he is.

You guys cherry pick stats and say he turned the corner! Masssive piece! Allstar, etc.

Its ridiculous. He’s not on that level. Get over it!

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Negative. No one hates on Ball.

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You said etwaun moore was more important to this team than ball

You also said he couldn’t shoot, and now he has a TS% near identical to your love affairs Moore and Jrue

Stop giving me his slash line and watch the games. Lonzo fingerprints are all over these dubs

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How much does Lonzo Ball mean to Zion?

Per-36, Zion's net-rating is 11.7 WITH Lonzo, negative 4.1 without him.

They have shared the floor 336 of Zion's 433 minutes, the most of anyone on the team.
Article coming tonight.... LINK

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Lonzo is definitely a long term piece next to Zion

I’m not really sure why everybody is surprised. The only reason most of you scoffed at his acquisition was because of your feelings about his dad

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This board and its obsession with Ball are hilarious.


Uh, he’s averaging 11/6/6.

10/7/7 this month.

He averaged 10/7/7 his rookie year.

He’s the same Lonzo as always.

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Lonzo’s stats this year are what they are. Similar to his career stats.

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So 12.5/7/7 is ulitmately way different than his career average of 11.6/6/7???????????


Its basically the same LOL.

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Negative. No one hates on Ball

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This is only this thread. Gonna have to gather all your takes and put it in one thread.

Ball hasnt even played the equivalent of two full seasons yet.

Year 1 30.5% 3P
Year 2 32.9% 3P
Year 3 38.0% 3P

Year 1 45.1% FT
Year 2 41.7% FT
Year 3 57.6% FT

Year 1 36% FG
Year 2 40.6% FG
Year 3 41% FG

Year 1 44.4% TS
Year 2 48.7% TS
Year 3 52.6% TS

Year 1 97 ORtg
Year 2 100 ORtg
Year 3 105 ORtg

Year 1 106 DRtg
Year 2 109 DRtg
Year 3 111 DRtg

Pels talk logic = zion goes for 25 pts (yawn), jrue goes for 20/9 (sigh, he sucks), BI goes for 27/4/7 (guy is kobe ball hog cant shoot)..... Lonzo goes for 14/9/8 (he’s a MaSSIVE PiEcE!!!! Durpppppppp!)


LOL, this is the truth. Sorry if the truth hurts, this is the garbage we see on this board. Makes us look stupid as frick. People actually think AD sucked on here too. Say he’s a loser like he didnt take an injury riddled Pels to thee playoffs twice. shite talk Jrue like he didnt make Dame Lillard his bitch in a huge playoff series, earning him nationwide respect.