Sign off his best career season with the greatest “discretion”. This is what the start of the financial year looks like LaMelo Ball who has been little talked about so far due to his team’s poor performance. The Celtics reception last night was an opportunity for him to make some noise, and the Hornets leader didn’t miss it.
If his teammate Miles Bridges scored the winning basket, it was again he who was the driving force behind his team to respond to Jayson Tatum’s 45 points. As comfortable at 3-point as in his finishes near the circle in this match, the All-Star multiplied the decisive actions in “money time”, to pick up the score.
Let us cite his 3-point basket in transition, 90 seconds from the end, to bring his team to four points, his finish at the circle with “hang time” at seven seconds to snatch overtime, his “cross” on Jrue Holiday who finished on his buttocks before finishing with a left hand, his “back door” pass towards Gordon Hayward while Jayson Tatum was asleep…
LaMelo Ball did everything for the Celtics: 36 points (15/27 on shots including 5/11 from distance), 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 interceptions for 39 ratings. A performance, his 6th already this season beyond the 30 points scored, impressive in the eyes of his coach Steve Clifford which recalls the defensive solidity of the opponent of the evening.
More comfortable near the circle
“ And his defense is getting better and better. He is a very talented player. And I would say, I don’t know if it shows, but in the weight room, when we look at all the data that we are given, he is much more powerful than he was last year. He wasn’t able to do much this summer on the field or in conditioning because of his foot, but he spent lots and lots of time in the weight room. And I think it pays off », Analyzes the technician.
He adds that these statistics in circle finishes, “ even though it’s early in the season, are much better than they were “. His leader, capable of finishing with both hands, has never been so skillful near the circle in his career (56%), while he has slightly reduced his volume of 3-point shots.
Having gained a little thickness is a factor, as is being freed from physical problems.
“ I’m a little fitter, I have a few matches in my legs. My game is finally up, I feel better now “, sums up the 22-year-old, limited to 36 games played last year because of ankle injuries. Based on his best career season, scoring and shooting percentages, LaMelo Ball is averaging 32 points over his last eight outings.
The problem is that it was not enough to win: the Hornets had four losses in a row and had only won three times this season. Then beat the Celtics, ” it’s a great victory. I think they are the number one team for sure. We will try to build on that. […] Everyone was focused. We knew we were on a losing streak. We said to ourselves that we had to win this match if we wanted to change things. »
| LaMelo Ball | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 51 | 29 | 43.6 | 35.2 | 75.8 | 1.2 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 15.8 |
| 2021-22 | CHA | 75 | 32 | 42.9 | 38.9 | 87.2 | 1.4 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 20.1 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 36 | 35 | 41.1 | 37.6 | 83.6 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 23.3 |
| 2023-24 | CHA | 12 | 34 | 43.2 | 38.5 | 86.4 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 8.3 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 0.3 | 24.4 |
| Total | 174 | 32 | 42.6 | 37.8 | 83.2 | 1.3 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 19.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
