After defeating the Mavericks on Friday, LeBron James was praising Lonzo Ball’s defensive skills, and he’s not wrong in that assessment.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers needed a spark Friday night against the resurgent Dallas Mavericks, and point guard Lonzo Ball gave them one.
His performance took King James by pleasant surprise.
Against Dallas, a young, high-scoring outfit which has revitalized its season behind super rookie Luka Doncic, Ball’s effect on the game was evident from tip-off. He didn’t make much of an impact on the offensive end of the floor, scoring just 10 points on a respectable 4-for-9 shooting from the floor.
It was on the defensive end where Ball made his presence on the court known. The man was all over the floor, jumping passing lanes to disrupt the Mavs ball-movement and putting the clamps on Mavs point guard Dennis Smith Jr., who was limited to 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting, and committing five turnovers.
Ball’s defense on the Mavs’ lead guards was so dominating, that, in the post-game press interview, James had nothing but praise for Ball.
“He’s cat-quick,” he told the press, adding; “His length, his hands are very fast, very quick.”
Sound’s pretty mundane, right? But, LeBron is right about Ball’s defensive skills.
Throughout his young career, Ball has made the most of his basketball IQ on defense. His speed and quick ability to get into passing lanes is something that has been underrated. Ball’s ability to disrupt the flow of an opposing offense is one of the reasons why, I believe, Ball is the Lakers best defender.
It sucks that few have paid attention to his defensive skills, as many have zeroed in on his offensive struggles. James saw what many have failed to see, a young point guard who is quickly becoming a tenacious player on defense.