To begin the 2017-18 NBA season, much of the attention has been on Lonzo Ball's aggressiveness. From taking two shots against the Portland Trail Blazers to taking 27 shots against the Phoenix Suns, Ball is trying to find the right balance for the Los Angeles Lakers.
After a back-to-back situation against the Blazers and Brooklyn Nets, Ball reflected back on his 0-for-2 and 3-for-15 performances.
“Very passive,” Ball said. “There are a lot of gaps that I can get into and get to the basket a majority of the time. Unfortunately, shots didn't go down, but they were all right there.”
Nine games into his rookie season, Ball understands the importance of taking shots to keep the defense honest.
Article Continues Below“It keeps the defense guessing,” Ball said. “Everybody is playing me for the pass so if I can get into the lanes I have to take advantage of that.”
While there will be debates about Ball scoring versus facilitating, there are players that took multiple seasons for them to find the right balance for their teams. Although Ball can certainly be more efficient, he is still learning what he can do/cannot do in the NBA.
Through nine games, the Lakers are 4-5 as they prepare for the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 5. The Grizzlies have been a pleasant surprise and Mike Conley will present another tough challenge for the rookie to begin the new season.