LaMelo Ball has been heavily criticized in recent years. Yet, plenty of evidence continues to show how great a hoopster he is. For instance, his playmaking prowess this season has been comparable to that of superstars Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
According to B-Ball.Index.com’s analysis of NBA players’ passing creation quality and offensive impact on their teammates’ shot quality, Jokic and Doncic have unsurprisingly been this year’s top playmakers. Stephen Curry’s presence on the court has also resulted in his teammates getting cleaner looks at the basket.
However, what may be shocking (if you don’t watch Hornets basketball) is that Ball has crept into the MVP candidates’ territory. His court vision does not get talked about often. But fans who have closely followed the 2021 Rookie of the Year know how effective he can be in elevating his teammates’ game. It’s just that he has been injured too often, or his supporting cast before this season had not allowed him to showcase his potential to be an elite floor general.
Making the Hornets better
Of course, we cannot just ignore Ball’s struggles, particularly this season. Prior to his offensive explosion against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday that saw him connect on seven 3-pointers in the first half and score seven straight points for Charlotte in the clutch, his shooting efficiency had been abysmal. In fact, the Hawks tiff was the first time he shot over 50 percent in a month and the first time his field-goal percentage (62.5 percent) breached the 60-percent threshold.
Still, the Hornets’ offense is clearly better with Ball on the floor because of his ability to get the rock to his teammates when they are in great scoring position. He is currently dishing out 8.8 assists per game, and his 10.9 dimes per 36 minutes are second only to Jokic’s 11.2 assists per 36 minutes.
Considering Ball’s value to the Hornets, it’s easy to see why they haven’t given in to the clamor to trade him and start fresh. Where else can they find a point guard with similar playmaking skills who has also displayed the potential to be one of the league’s top bucket-getters?
Sure, his injuries have been a massive obstacle to the squad’s goals. And his impact on winning has sometimes been a question mark. But a healthy and serious Ball can be exactly what Charlotte needs to become a contender, especially since the roster already features promising all-around wings in Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, solid bigs in Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate, potential 3-and-D pieces in Tidjane Salaun, Sion James, and Josh Green. Even Miles Bridges deserves a mention, although he might be better suited as a microwave scorer off the bench alongside Collin Sexton instead of the starting power forward.
The team still has some roster holes, but key pieces are already in place to help turn things around for the organization. It does not have to look far to find a point guard who can bring all those pieces together.