The Sixer Sense
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If Philadelphia 76ers Land Second In NBA Draft, Is PG Lonzo Ball The Pick?

By Bret Stuter

May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (right) poses with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after the 76ers receive the first pick in the 2016 NBA draft during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (right) poses with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after the 76ers receive the first pick in the 2016 NBA draft during the NBA draft lottery at New York Hilton Midtown. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) falls as Kent State Golden Flashes guard Kevin Zabo (55) defends in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) falls as Kent State Golden Flashes guard Kevin Zabo (55) defends in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

More Reasons For NAY

REASON THREE: He doesn’t shoot a long two point shot. In fact, even his free throw is suspect.
To survive in the NBA, a player must be unpredictable.  Players quickly learn that their trends and habits leave them vulnerable.  If a team knows you do not like to shoot inside the arc, they will defend you at the perimeter and in the paint.

That’s the case for Lonzo Ball, and the case is hammered home by CBSSports.com’s Colin Ward-Henninger.  And if we know that now, you can bet they will know that in the NBA long before he arrives.

"According to Hoop-Math.com, Ball has made just two shots in 22 games so far this season that weren’t 3s or dunks. And he has only attempted 11 of them. Eleven! While you pick your jaw up off the floor, let’s examine what that means. Some might tout the stat as a sign that Ball is ready for the modern NBA, a paragon of the Daryl Morey/Stephen Curry nature of a league where 3s reign supreme and we scoff at low-percentage 2-point jump shots."

Just wow. That’s a huge “OOPS” in his resume.

Free Throws Costly

More from Draft

In fact, there is more. On one hand, he attempted 98 free throws and made 66 of them, for an accuracy of 67.3 percent.  Point guards routinely take the ball to the hoop, and draw the fouls in the process. On the other hand, Markelle Fultz played far fewer games, but shot 168 free throws and made 109 of them.   Basketball is a contact sport after all.

REASON FOUR: Defense

Lonzo Ball relied heavily on teammates to defend the basket.   That’s due to the simple fact that he is simply not very good at defense.  Is it a skill a prospect can learn in the NBA?  Perhaps.  But as some would point to the case of Jahlil Okafor, the team should anticipate the possibility of little improvement.

And there is the rub.

On one hand, the Philadelphia 76ers, for all intents and purposes, need defensive skills in the backcourt.  With 2016 first round draft pick Ben Simmons coming to the point guard role, that would give the team a challenge to have that much pressure on the remaining lineup.  On the other hand, while Joel Embiid adds quite a luster to any tin-plated defense, I doubt even he could stop the opponents if Ball is lost.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers NBA Draft 2nd Round Center Prospects

Ultimately, the young man practically begged the LA Lakers to choose him.   If the 76ers have anyone rated close to his skillset, that could be enough to turn their interests elsewhere.