Lonzo Ball’s poor form during the NBA’s restart at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando has been the focus of much scrutiny. As the Pelicans were officially eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday, eyes turned to Ball’s poor performance yet again, leading to him releasing some frustrations after the game.
On Monday, an honest and candid Ball owned up to his poor play while discussing his struggles inside the bubble.
“I feel like I let the team down,” Ball said. “I know I’m a big part of it. Usually, when I play well, we win and, obviously, I didn’t play well this trip. We’re going home early and I have to live with that.”
After averaging 12.4 points, 7.0 assists and 6.2 rebounds and shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc prior to the bubble, Ball’s six-game stretch in Orlando has been a far cry from that production. The third-year guard is averaging 5.7 points, 7.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds on 19.2% three-point shooting over the last six contests.
“I think the biggest thing was just rhythm,” Ball said of the difference in the bubble. “I feel like I was out of rhythm. Really, that’s it. I was grinding every day in New Orleans. I couldn’t do the same with the virus. I was just out of rhythm I feel like.”
Like Ball, the Pelicans as a whole never gained their rhythm inside the bubble. The team that was closing in on the playoffs in mid-March never reappeared in Florida as New Orleans won just two of its first six games. As a result, the Pelicans will bow out of the bubble after playing its eight games and will head back home to New Orleans looking to build on a positive season that had a bitter ending, much like Ball’s individual season.
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