The Ball family has been one of the most interesting topics in the NBA for the last year. Unless you have been sleeping under a rock for the last few months, you should know that Lonzo Ball's younger brothers, LaMelo and LiAngelo Ball, are members of the Lithuania professional basketball team. Both of them have actually been consistent members of the team, but LaMelo's defense has been called into question lately.
In fact, ESPN's Jeff Goodman strongly criticized LaMelo Ball's effort to play defense, according to Josh Martin of Lonzo Wire.
“Jimmer Fredette was probably the worst defensive player I ever saw in college, and LaMelo makes Jimmer look like Bruce Bowen,” Goodman said.
Goodman's criticism of Ball appears to be premature at this point. Guards aren't particularly known for their defensive qualities, so Ball's defensive deficiencies must stand out in some way. Though, there is some merit to Goodman's judgement. Deividas Sirvydis, a player for the Lietuvos Rytas, commented on LaMelo Ball's horrible defense.
“He impressed me with his ball control, his shots,” Sirvydis told 15min. lt’s Donatas Urbonas, as translated by Twitter user @dogtheballer. “But on defense you could see LaMelo was mostly waiting on the other side while we were attacking. It was like playing 4 on 5.” “European basketball is not easy for them (LaMelo and LiAngelo),” he told Urbonas (translation, once again, from @dogtheballer). “But I’ve noticed their decision making is something they have now improved, so now it’s just the defense left. But it is a fact that Lithuania has a lot of talents too, maybe even better ones.”
LaMelo Ball's defensive issues could give him a bad reputation once he chooses to pursue an NBA career. Hopefully, he tightens up soon and proves the critics wrong.
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