CHARLOTTE, N.C. – LaMelo Ball has been killing it on offense this season. Now, new Hornets mentor Charles Lee needs Ball to finish and be able to do so on defense, too.
Ball was thrown out for a second foul Saturday night against the Boston Celtics as the Hornets lost 113-103.
Ball, 23, has committed three fouls in six games and has committed 30 total fouls.
“We have to continue to challenge him and we have to learn about ‘can he defend one-on-one, or do we need to send a double team every time, or are you going to foul?'” Lee mentioned. “So as a staff, we have to figure out what we’re comfortable living with. But also, through conversations with him, can he just sit back and protect his outfield and commit to showing his hands and defending without fouling?”
Ball committed two early fouls Saturday in the first quarter. Lee mentioned that Ball is committing too many “non-competitive” fouls, such as hitting the ball. He also fouled Jayson Tatum twice after shooting 3-pointers in the last two games.
“I can live with a Payton Pritchard jumper at the end of the shot clock or a Jayson Tatum step-back jumper,” Lee mentioned. “They’re the ones where they just get overlooked. To me, they’re just non-competitive fouls where you just abandon the play by fouling the player.”
Ball has been dynamite on the other end of the field for the Hornets (2-4).
The 2022 NBA All-Megastar is averaging 29 points in six games and shooting 38.7% from 3-point range, so Charlotte desperately wants him on the court because he’s what makes it tick. the offensive.
“On the offensive end, he’s been a great playmaker,” Lee said. “With the ball, he’s done a great job creating off the ball with pick and rolls. Sometimes he speeds up a little bit and I don’t think the rest of the team can keep up with him, but he still does something.” “It happens out of nowhere.”
