The Lakers will be without rookie point guard Lonzo Ball when they tip off against the Timberwolves on Christmas Day, the team has announced. Although Ball played 36 minutes for Los Angeles in their Saturday night loss to the Trail Blazers, he actually injured his left shoulder in the second quarter.
Results of an MRI conducted today show that the guard suffered a sprain in that shoulder and will be sidelined for the club’s prime time tilt under the national holiday spotlight. He’ll be re-evaluated in a week’s time, leaving his status for the team’s Wednesday and Friday night tilts up in the air. The guard hasn’t been definitively ruled out for those games but there’s reason to believe that he would sit them.
The setback comes at an unfortunate time for the rookie as Ball had started to turn around his infamous shooting woes of late. As Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweeted on Saturday, Ball has averaged 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game on .469 shooting over the course of his last five games.
That left shoulder is huge part of Lonzo’s shooting form.
He’s a right-handed player, but the ball touches the top of his left shoulder before he flings it.
Just keep him away from his dad!!!!!
Former Cav great said Lonzo’s problem is he shoots across his body. Said it’s ok except when you are penetrating. He’ll have to change after this season.
I think his biggest problem is he needs to find a new dad. I can see Magic trading Lonzo to get rid of LaVar!
That’s former Cav great Austin Carr.
But don’t take my jest the wrong way. He’s a good young player, level-headed, doesn’t wine, tries real hard, unselfish.
Nothing to not like about the kid. Right now you don’t have to get up on his three…. so let him go ahead and shoot them. Had a good night against the Warriors this week (5/6 from distance.)
I’ve always maintained that you have to change his shot though.
I agree. When I look at Ball I see a lot more pros than cons. Seems to be like he’ll be receptive to changing that form if/when the team requests it.
Agreed. Outside of his shooting form and the fact that he might be more playmaker than scorer down the line, Ball has a really well-rounded out game. I don’t think he’ll be a dominant superstar-caliber player but he has the tools to be a really, really good player. As long as his dad doesn’t chime in too much (unlikely) I think he’ll be fine.
I feel for the kid, but I do wish his dad would injure his vocal chords.
or move to Lithuania
Let him help Dennis Rodman in N. Korea. On an extensive stay.
Charles Barkley says LaVar needs to go further than Lithuana. Send him to China to steal some sunglasses for his kids.