30 biggest answers for the 2017-18 NBA season

DETROIT, MI – MARCH 26: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 26, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)

24. Who will have a better season: Lonzo Ball or D’Angelo Russell?

What I Said Then: Here’s how we determine who has a better season: head-to-head. The Nets and Lakers play each other twice this season. The winner of those games determine the entire season for Russell and Ball. If they end up 1-1, it means they are the exact same player and Magic Johnson didn’t make a trade. He just cloned D’Angelo Russell and stuck him with a pro wrestling manager.

What I’m Saying Now: Lonzo better.

The Lakers went 2-0 against the Nets this season. The second game doesn’t really count. Ball didn’t play and Russell was still working himself back into form following an early season knee injury.

So, the only game that matters in determining who is better took place on Nov. 3. The Lakers won 124-112. Ball finished with six points (3-15 shooting), seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Russell posted 17 points (8-24 shooting), seven assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.

Maybe the real conclusion is that neither guy is all that good?

Overall, neither guy had a great season. Each player showed flashes of brilliance, but neither one could stay on the floor long enough to make a real impact. A knee injury derailed Russell’s season before it got going and he spent the rest of the season working himself back into form. Ball was in-and-out of the lineup all season and the Lakers did well without him once the calendar turned to 2018.

Let’s revisit this discussion next season.