CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball has been making significant contributions on the offensive front this season. However, new head coach Charles Lee is now aiming to help Ball enhance his defensive skills as well.
In a recent match against the Boston Celtics, Ball fouled out for the second consecutive game, resulting in a 113-103 defeat for the Hornets. Throughout the season, the 23-year-old has fouled out three times within just six games, accumulating a total of 30 fouls.
“We need to keep pushing him to improve, and we need to determine whether he can handle one-on-one defensive situations or if we need to rely on double-teams. The question is whether he will keep from fouling,” commented Lee. “As a coaching staff, we need to establish our comfort level with his performances. Additionally, we need to discuss with him the importance of maintaining position while defending and reducing fouls.”
Ball picked up two fouls early in the first quarter of the recent game against the Celtics. According to Lee, Ball tends to commit too many “non-competitive” fouls, such as reaching for the ball or slapping at his opponents. He has also fouled All-Star Jayson Tatum twice during shooting attempts from beyond the arc over the last two games.
“I can accept a last-second fadeaway jumper from Payton Pritchard or a step-back jumper from Jayson Tatum,” Lee noted. “However, it’s the simple blow-bys that annoy me. To me, those are just non-competitive fouls where he gives up on the play entirely.”
On the offensive end, Ball has been exceptional for the Hornets, who currently hold a 2-4 record. The 2022 NBA All-Star is averaging an impressive 29 points per game along with a shooting percentage of 38.7% from 3-point territory. It’s clear that his presence on the court is vital to the team’s offensive success.
“Offensively, he has shown remarkable skills as a playmaker,” Lee said. “He’s done a fantastic job of creating opportunities through pick-and-rolls. Occasionally, he moves at a pace that his teammates can’t match, but he has a talent for turning chaotic situations into scoring chances.”
