Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton has done a great job in blocking recently surging outside comments about his job and led his team to a 93-81 victory over an experienced San Antonio Spurs team. It is the Lakers' third straight win.

Another team member who deserves high praise is rookie Lonzo Ball, an outstanding player during this streak. Ball summed up 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four steals. He did have five turnovers but to his credit, he played probably the most efficient shooting game of his short pro career, shooting 7-for-11 from the field. The 20-year-old did not only get credit for his great offensive show as coach Walton also praised him for his defensive contributions.

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Ball has been elite in the steals department lately and averages 1.5 steals per game this season. He also provides an unusual blocking ability for point guards, rising up and using his long wingspan to block and if not, as Walton says, at least contest rival shots. Ball has a defensive rating of 105, second on the Lakers, only behind big man Larry Nance Jr. He is also second to Nance Jr. in defensive box plus/minus and leads the team in defensive win shares. When comparing Ball to fellow rookie Kyle Kuzma, it is not even close on defense. Kuzma allows 110 points per 100 possessions and has a negative defensive box plus/minus.

The Rookie of the Year race is crowded. With Ben Simmons slowing down, add Donovan Mitchell and even Kuzma as frontrunners for the award. Though, if Ball is able to keep this defensive impact and start making more shots, he is a legitimate threat to take the award home.