LaMelo Ball is a passing prodigy...but can he be a star? 

WHO CARES !? just play ball

Imagine in a couple years when the raw flashy plays are dialed down to a level where he only does it only out of necessity. When he has become a polished 6'8" point guard with complete court vision and a respectable midrange. An Anfernee Hardaway in his prime, had he not gotten injured....comes to mind!

Lamelo will end up with better stats than Lonzo, but Liangelo still has the most steals

Would love a mvp Derrick rose vid one day ben

@@CaesarCassius JAJA

I'm with you on that.

Tough call for the refs because what if the defender is jumping towards the shooter. You can't have both.

@@lilwilly338 I feel like if the defender jumps then the offensive players jump into them maybe that’d be easier, and if they both jumped at the same time it’d be a regular foul, idk

That should be an offensive foul, who the hell shots a ball shoulder first? Refs should just observe if the shot attempt is natural or not. If not then that should be an offensive foul

@@lilwilly338 it is super easy to see when a player is actually having his space invaded, or when a player is claiming space that is not his just to get a foul. If the defensive player got in that space before the offensive one, it should be his space. That is a rule the nba changed to get more points = more views, but it makes the game so much worse to see when defense cant be played

James Borrego has him on a short leash but the national media won’t cover it. Hornets coach embarrassed by Charlotte media for mistreating LaMelo and stunting his growth - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_t_EUPNPsmk.html James Borrego admits to prioritizing veteran contracts over development of his star rookie. There is evidence that what Borrego is doing has actively hurt Lamelos confidence and his development. Borrego began dropping Melos minutes and benching him more frequently (playing him in short spurt *again* ) while Melo was on a peak in development; and the team had just won 3 games straight, starting with the historic triple-double. He was only averaging 2.3 turnovers a game. Marked lower than Ja Morant or Luka Doncic on a per 36 minute basis in their rookie years. 2.8 (Melo) and 3.8 (Ja) and 3.8 respectively. Lamelo up until that point *never* had a 5 turnover game. The coach’s decision to cut his minutes and revert back to short 6 minutes spurts (disrupting Lamelo’s rhythm) was random and unexplainable. It came out of no where. And when you consider that Borrgeo was explicit about LaMelo earning his minutes, it’s completely unjustifiable. Melos performance then dropped off a cliff. His turnovers increased and Borrego dropped his minutes even further to 16, using turnovers as justification. He then blasted his rookie in the media and everyone ran with it. Despite the fact that he had protected the ball relatively well up to this point, compared to previous star rookies. This has all the hallmarks of a nasty gaslighting. It got so bad that Scott Fowler and the local Charlotte media embarrassed Borrego for not starting LaMelo. Borrego still didn’t start him but you know what he did do? He increased his minutes back to 28 and stopped benching him, allowed Melo to play through his mistakes, and *stopped playing him in short spurts.* The Hornets go on a three game win streak, wax the Bucks, smack the champion runner ups, and Melo has his greatest game of the season with 27 points 9 assists 5 rebounds 4 steals w/ one turnover. Keep in mind this is actually the *SECOND TIME* fans and the local media have placed pressure on Borrego to increase his minutes. No one knows about it because the national media ignores it. In fact they actually gave cover to the coach. I speculate that is because he’s associated with Popovich as well the media knowing its credibility is on the line for downing this kid. This looks like sabotage. “Charlotte Hornets need to start LaMelo Ball NOW. They need someone to save their season” - Read more here: www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/scott-fowler/article248819160.html#storylink=cpy

Hey like the Great One said: "You reach, I teach."

@@daindigokid damn that's a nice argumentative essay

@@scordatura9259 he is in his bag😂

@@daindigokid it's not sabotage; it's looking for another lottery pick. Decreasing LaMelo's value statistically is the icing on the cake. second, from eye test, a facilitating point guard raises the floor of a team because there's less bad decision-making from the rest of the team. The other team also gets to move freely attacking open spaces for clean looks with a passer like LaMelo. Look at the Last Dance, it's history repeating itself, great player that raises the team's floor gets a minutes restriction to try for a lottery pick. There was the Grant Hill sweepstakes in which the Pistons got top 5 odds for 1 (Isiah Thomas & Joe Dumars). The Tim Duncan sweepstakes in which the Spurs (David Robinson, Nique, Sean Elliot (all star caliber)) were Top 3 in odds.

You think any of that looks easy?

@@johnsmith1474 What he means by easy in this case is effortless

No this is absolute facts, he makes it look so casual and smooth, even passes he misses you think he's going to make because 99% of the time he does.

Perfect example is the lob to bridges, right on the money. Bridges didn't exert too much effort but to sight the rim and make the highlight

He has a great handle, elite left and right hand layup package, streaky scorer from deep. And he can destroy opposing defences with his length and his passing. Fun kid to watch.

excuses me?

excuses me?

excuses me?

Excuses me?

This isn't greatest peaks?

I'd say based on passing alone, he is in the range of top 10 or top 15 current nba offensive engines. He really needs to up his scoring game if he wants to be among the top offensive players

And top 15 pg, easily 20

Hes not more creative than lebron james 🐐

@@leoo4354 🍆🚴‍♂️

@@leoo4354 Honestly, I think joker is the most dynamic and creative passer rn. Lebron is defintely a really great passer because he mastered the fundamentals of great passing but joker is just so much more creative

people said he didnt defend but after this sampling I'd say his defense is actually really promising

I had never ever seen a Hornets game until this season... Lamelo power....

His defense is terrible

@@TheSands83 that’s not true, he’s decent on that end although a bit raw

@@TheSands83 i guess you just didnt see the video, even though it doesnt show his entire defensive runs

Thats a fact

Coach Nick not too shabby either

Bballbreakdown aka coach nick is up there with him

By any means basketball is up there too for sure

nick is nowhere near

Exactly like I watched melo for a long time I thought he was gonna be like luka or trae on the defensive side but no he actually wants to play defense

@@ImNapoleonLive yup. Plus he grabs offensive boards and defensive boards...Melo not soft despite his body type.

@@ImNapoleonLive yeah he ain’t a ball hog like trae, and he doesn’t piss himself when the other team gets the ball, he actually tries

@@2kmichaeljordan438 😐

@@eboy4216 😐

Completely agree 💯💯 look at KD, Kyrie, Curry, etc.... they have unique play styles they had to grow into Their treating Lonzo like John wall, Leonard, etc .. there making him change his game idk why tho , but if he can’t adapt he should go to Warriors Ps I heard their setting Lamelo’s minute to where he can win 6th Man and ROTY

This is exactly what they said about Ricky Rubio. If you weren't tuning in at basketball around those times, you wouldn't know how much promise and hype Rubio had.

@@Imthemyn I didnt understand the lonzo wall leonard comparison

Surprise Cat I mean Rubio seems to be a lot more of a passive passer, Lamelo is crazy aggressive.

@@surprisecat7401 I never understood the hype for rubio at the time. He was never an aggresive enough passer in those high leverage situations to where it could make up for his seriously problematic scoring deficiencies from what i watched of him on DKV and obviously FC Barcelona. I loved his on ball defense in the day(and still do) but Lamelo is bringing a lot more to the table already in my opinion and he’s still a teenager(also to add, This is really Lamelos first taste of top tier competition[AU league is getting better but far from the EURO] while Rubio came in as a 4-5 year vet in the EURO). He’s got a few inches on him, helping him with his aggressive passing aswell as his finishing. Neither are consistent shooters but Lamelo has shown a lot more especially with live dribble up to this point.

Very astute analysis.

thats a good point. But motor on defence is important to consider as well. Take Harden for example, when he's giving defence all his effort he's actually an above average defender - but takes a lot of possessions off.

@@roushikhamaunick5838 Well yeah, but as we just saw versus the sixers the dude doesn't have off possessions, he goes at it the whole game

Melo isnt really athletic or strong and that is always going to be an issue for him. Look at Steph, makes amazing reads and gives effort but is still seen as a bad defender or average because of his physical attributes. Melo got the size to help, but still, quick players might be able to blow by him and stronger players can bully him. I think he will, like Steph, be a really good off ball defender, making great switches and steals, but never will be a lockdown 1v1 defender or considered a 2way player.

@@futurehofer1564 I agree, but that’s more than fine considering what he can be on offense. I also wonder what his frame looks like in 5 yrs considering the amount of muscle Lonzo has put on in just 3/4 seasons.

Last game he went 8-8 at the stripe

Thanks for the support.

I think the Pascal video was the only one that was noticeably weaker than all other videos in terms of presentation. After that he's been very consistently good (since his second video, the Lonzo one I believe)

@@Jacob23615 Take a look at J Kidds rookie year vs what Lamelo is doing. And J Kidd played 3 years in college.

hornets have the most fire jerseys/courts in the league. especially their white home jersey, the teal pinstripes and sneaky incorperation of hexigons everywhere (because, ya know, honeycombs, hornets, you get it) SO GOOD.

gotta lie with the eyes.

Pretty sure bennys gonna do a whole series on him

he has talked about him on his podcasts already

I don't think you need to ask 😂😂

Warriors punching the air rn.

The one thing the warrior dynasty was always lacking was an offensively talented big. I completely understand how they jumped at the opportunity of getting Wiseman. So far he’s been pretty good too

Wiseman fits them so much better and he's shown a lot of improvement in only a few games

@@ashwinranade205 lamelos would’ve fit better this year but next year and after wiseman probably gonna be the better fit with klay back

LOL no.

Not yet

@@joshbelz2951 how about now?

Why do i allways see you in the comments

He has high ceilings. But not yet a star

If he keeps playing like that, he's going to have to drop the Puma deal and switch to Jordan.

the 7 seconds or less offense but with youtube

@@randomcat5262 😤yktv

Jason Kidd had stats but he was so boring to watch and kid would miss so much 🤦‍♂️ this kid is only 19 and he’s so much fun to watch. Rookie of the year 💯💯

@@DanielSanchez-sd1bs Yeah I never liked watching J.Kidd great player though

@@DanielSanchez-sd1bs You clearly didn't watch young J kidd in his first stint with the Mavs. Also his time with the Suns and Nets. He was pretty fun to watch back then. He basically became a role player in his second stint with the Mavs and on the Knicks before he retired.

Its not bcos of him but its bcos of T rozier n G Hayward that hornets r better this yr

@@pyntngenlangnongspung4300 its because of him look at the minutes helays in wins vs losses. The more minutes he plays the higher chances of them winning

Facts rozier & Hayward be comming in clutch the ball kid got a nice touch but that defense needs a lot of work.

After he finishes "The Greatest Peaks"...it takes alot of time to make these videos...

The only guy that already had the proper mechanics leaving highschool is the one without a team lmao

@@amplitudehertz17 exactly, anyone can shoot 3s says the NBA. That boi needs to play somewhere.

I feel like because they've been trained since they were babies they still shoot like they are toddlers (from the chest) because that is what they are used to

Imagine if there were no Lavar!

@@shadow_realm47 eh...

Yeah 19 yrs old. Hes fearless. In 10 years he could be a top 10 maybe top 5 in the league

Yyuuuhhh

And still 2/3rd of them make it to the NBA 😭

They are trying to hit threes when they are super young.

They never fixed it that's why. Lonzo shot too broke he fixed it now and it's better. Lamelo shot only need few adjustment

yeah he's definitely ROY

yes he is becoming what people wants lonzo to be

Underrated comment. Imagine Melo dropping dimes to LeBron and AD while developing

@@Mdautkreix why and how would be dropping dimes to LeBron and AD? Like what situation are you imagining here?

@@futurehofer1564 him having lonzos place and not getting traded to the pels to get AD is a really easy guess to make in regards to what he means by that..

@@victoooriaful nope, if he doesnt get traded he doesnt get to drop dimes to AD, cause AD wouldnt be in LA

@@futurehofer1564 you sound so dumb dude.. if lamelo is taking lonzos place in this hypothetical scenario. LA kept only 1 guy of their young core, it was Kuzma. If lamelo doesnt get traded he stays on the team while ad gets trade for kuz, ingram, hart etc... gotta flex your brain muscles more often its gonna help you. Good luck 👋

Ben isn't a "hot take" guy

you came to the wrong place for hot takes my guy

@@elitheeconomist5674 they don't need to be hot

@@SoloPerICommenti Well then it totally is a take. He gave a detailed breakdown of his feelings on Lamelo and his future potential. If the only thing you took from this video is "he could be an allstar" then I don't really know what to tell you

@@inwhichidie7171 I would have expected more of range of possibilities explaining the conditions that should be met for each scenario