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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Magic Johnson believes Lonzo Ball is ready for a "burst season" with the Los Angeles Lakers after the leader changed his shot shape and spent time in the weight room and in the gym movies.
Although the team will play safety and keep Ball five-on-five when the training camp begins Monday, Johnson, president of the Lakers basketball operations, said Ball had made visible progress physically and mentally.
Entered his second year, Ball returned from an arthroscopic left knee surgery on his torn meniscus.
In a recent video published by the Lakers, Ball presented a more direct form of shooting with a slightly more focused set point. Previously, he brought the ball over to his left.
Johnson said it was Ball's decision to change his form after firing just 36% of the field and 30.5% from last season.
"We did not want to disturb him [his shot]"Johnson said at the Lakers training center." I think that he decided to do it alone. "
Johnson explained that Ball had not changed his movement as much as where he was and was releasing his shot; he now brings the ball a little more in front of him and immediately, his follow-up also more before him.
"And, man, that's beautiful," said Johnson.
"We explained that this will be the most important off-season and that he could be on the field, his shot was excellent, he will be ready for an expedition season and he will continue what he did last season, He only had two or three things to do better, he was going to the basket, finished and getting the medium to get his shot where he is in balance, it's not his shot, he just needs to be in. balance … I'm excited for Lonzo, and it's okay. "
General Manager Rob Pelinka, who played at the University of Michigan, had conversations with Ball about the shoot.
"I think his shot is incredible," Pelinka said. "He was there every day, he was one of the most committed guys in the off season, and the way he shoots the ball is a lot smoother now."
"One of the hallmarks of his university stats is that he was an outstanding 3 point shooter," Pelinka added to Ball, who shot 41.2% on a 3-point range in a season-long season. UCLA. "With this team, with so many different ball runners, I think it's a strength for him – he's ahead of anyone and he runs and fills a place, and that 'he is a catch-and-shoot player, he will have the ability, I think, to be a good shooter.'
After missing 30 games of injury in his rookie season, Ball was asked to add strength to become more sustainable. The Lakers also wanted him to work on his offensive game, such as driving and finishing and improving his midfielder and free throw.
In most cases, Ball could only be in the weight room during most of the start of the off season, while he was trying to treat his meniscus injury. He also tried platelet-rich plasma injections before opting for surgery in mid-July.
Ball asked to have film sessions with Johnson and also participated in a recent film study with Johnson, Pelinka and Rajon Rondo.
"The good thing about Lonzo is that he started early, he was in the weight room," Johnson said. "He put the time in. And then the only thing that really impressed us was that he wanted to watch a movie." It could not be us who asked him to do it. for himself and he wanted to watch a movie with me and Rob and we had three or four sessions.He begins to understand that he has to get better and he has understood it well after the season. "
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