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Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball found himself laying the first goose egg of his young career only eight games into it, after going 0-for-2 from the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers in a 113-110 Thursday night loss.
The Chino Hills native wasn't defended by a First Team All-Defense ace like Patrick Beverley or a wing hawk-like Avery Bradley, but instead by the collective of Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Moe Harkless — making the hesitation to attack his biggest enemy.
“Definitely could have been more aggressive,” he admitted postgame, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. “I was coming off, (Blazers') big man was sagging so Brook (Lopez) was open.”
Two shot attempts by a starter just screams passive, unless the game is a rout — but given how closely contested this game was after the start of the second half, Ball needed to help his team with more than just his four assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in 28 minutes of playing time.
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Ball didn't fare any better at the defensive end, as his counterpart Damian Lillard roasted the rookie for 32 points, including the game-winner, while C.J. McCollum chipped in with 22 of his own. Lakers coach Luke Walton noted his young guard's lack of aggression post-game.
“I thought he was a little too passive tonight,” Walton said of Ball. “I think that'll continue to be… the hardest thing for young players is the consistency when you just play so many games. He's so unselfish. We want him to be more aggressive with attacking the defenses.”
The No. 2 overall selection of this year's draft will have a chance to bounce right back up from his struggles, as the Lakers take on the Brooklyn Nets tonight at the tail end of a back-to-back.
