CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball has been tearing it up on offense this season. Now new Hornets coach Charles Lee desires Ball to show he can do it on protection, too.
Ball fouled out for the second straight evening Saturday in opposition to the Boston Celtics because the Hornets misplaced 113-103.
The 23-year-old Ball has fouled out thrice in six video games and has dedicated 30 fouls complete.
“We now have to proceed to problem him and we have now to find out about ‘can he guard one-on-one, or do we have to ship a double crew each time, or are you going to foul?'” Lee mentioned. “In order a employees we have now to determine what we’re snug residing with. But additionally, by conversations with him, can he simply sit down and guard his yard and commit to simply displaying his fingers and defend with out fouling?”
Ball picked up two early fouls Saturday within the first quarter. Lee mentioned that Ball is making too many “non-competitive” fouls like slapping up on the ball. He additionally fouled Jayson Tatum twice whereas capturing 3-pointers up to now two video games.
“I can dwell with a Payton Pritchard end-of-shot clock fadeaway jumper or the Jayson Tatum fadeaway step-back jumper,” Lee mentioned. “It is those the place it is simply blow-bys. To me they’re simply non-competitive fouls the place you might be simply giving up on the play by simply fouling the man.”
Ball has been dynamite on the opposite finish of the ground for the Hornets (2-4).
The 2022 NBA All-Star is averaging 29 factors by six video games and capturing 38.7% from 3-point vary, so Charlotte desperately wants him on the ground as a result of he is what makes the offense tick.
“On the offensive finish he has been an awesome playmaker,” Lee mentioned. “With the ball he has executed an awesome job of making off the ball with choose and rolls. Generally he will get just a little sped up and I do not assume the remainder of the crew can sustain along with his tempo, however he nonetheless makes one thing occur out of nothing.”
The Related Press contributed to this story.
