Can LaMelo Ball Solve Foul Trouble & Carry the Charlotte Hornets? Plus Bridges’ Shooting Woes
LaMelo Ball is lighting up the scoreboard, but foul trouble is keeping him off the floor when the Hornets need him most.
In this episode of Locked On Hornets, Walker Mehl and Doug Branson dive into LaMelo Ball’s explosive scoring performances and his ongoing defensive challenges, including his recent foul-outs against the Boston Celtics. They analyze head coach Charles Lee’s approach to improving Ball’s defensive discipline, the team’s injuries, and how the absence of key players like Mark Williams and Nick Richards is impacting the Hornets’ interior defense. The hosts also discuss the early struggles of Miles Bridges and the promising play from rookies like Tidjane Salaun. To wrap up, they look ahead to the Minnesota matchup, exploring strategies for countering the Timberwolves’ size advantage.
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17 comments
Fwiw, James Plowright just released a great article reviewing all 30 Lamelo fouls this season.
Its also the coaching staff not having the players in the best spots on defense. Its very disturbing when I see players so far up past the 3 point line which makes it hard to help. Coaches not telling Melo to go under the screen and have players to show on the picks, so Melo can recover. This will help so he doesn't have to switch on screens so much. The whole team defense is horrible and that starts with coaching.
Walker really side stepped that mucus-fine there didnt he 😂
It should be titled
“Refs Stop Cheating!”
😅
Awful coaching has a great video on the team defense:
https://youtu.be/SdaUHCxbohw?si=-b1a_t6noQtcRbyB
Don't get me wrong i love Coach Lee, however the team needs to show improvements on defense.
Also Melo CAN NOT AND I REPEAT CAN NOT avg 7 turnovers a game and Tre Mann avg 4 turnovers. That is way too many for just 2 players.
Miles saving effort for that contract year
I don't usually complain about the officiating, but it was clear they were calling the game tighter on one team versus the other.
The problem with melo defense is he gets no calls foul calls on offence when players are fouling him so he try's to make the same contact on them when he defends
But why would you ask LaMelo to defend a guy like Tatum for an entire game when he’s doing what he is doing on offense. What other star point guard does that ?
they said Mark Williams would be reevaluated in 1-2 weeks when he got hurt, and they still haven't provided an update since
Guys the problem is grant willams dude can’t control himself he’s on the court to shoot 3 and defend but can’t defend without fouling…Nick Richard’s is doing the best he can but defensively he be lacking….lamelo can’t seem to stay in the game with out fouling, his offense ain’t the problem. Also how miles get paid but acting like he can’t play like bro …stop shooting threes and go to the basketball but he’s missing layups it’s wild and I like miles but this ain’t it bro, Caleb Martin is hit or miss every game, one thing I want to say about him is that if Caleb and lamelo is in the game I better not see Caleb not swing the ball to lamelo you are not that guy Caleb if melo call for the ball you better pass the ball I’m not playing and Tre man is the man nothing to talk about he’s a certified Bucket. Josh green has played well im surprised but it’s true and the rookie is a rookie but one thing I can say is he’s not scared and he want it maybe more then anyone on the team ! Last thing I wanna say is Brandon you gotta show up more we need buckets we need 30
27% of his fouls are on ball drives. 17% are offensive fouls. 13% is navigating a screen.
According to an analyst, 13% of fouls were questionable calls. Only 23% were on shot attempts. 20% came from rebounding or fighting for position.
Ball wants to guard the best players and they don't want to play in a zone. Personally, i say let them continue with the current defensive schemes and allow melo the opportunity to improve. Playing in those zones in previous years stunted his defensive growth. He has to learn how to move his feet better and stop reaching and be mindful of the type of fouls.
LaMelo gets no whistles on EITHER END??!! like literally. Averaging the most point with the fewest Free Throws per game and all the fouls..
He stays healthy… he will gradually get better at both. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Crazy how the hornets are back but I haven’t been getting any of your videos on my recommended.
I agree Doug, it’s for sure time to be worried about Mark. 7 footer with a history of nagging back and foot injuries? Not good.
Yal say Melo has to stop fouling, but ignore the fact that the refs are quicker to the whistle when it comes to him as opposed to ANYBODY else in the league. FOH
Is it possible the league don’t want him to become a superstar?