For all the faults and criticisms of Lonzo Ball, it’s rare for anyone to ever levy complaints about his effort. Ball showcased nearly every bit of his skill set paired with his effort in Tuesday’s game against the Trail Blazers.
During a third quarter where the Pelicans blew the game wide open en route to a landslide win, With the Pelicans already having built a double-digit lead, the play of the night featured a heavy dose of Ball.
Ball darted into the passing lane to knock loose a pass before diving onto the ground and tapping the ball forward to teammate Josh Hart. Ball’s effort kept the fastbreak rolling where Hart threw a lob to Jrue Holiday who kicked out to JJ Redick for a three-pointer all in seemingly one motion.
Redick’s three-pointer would miss long but Ball, who hit the ground at midcourt, hustled back into the play and kept the ball alive with a tip on the offensive rebound. Hart would again corral the ball before hitting Redick in the corner for another open three-pointer.
This time, Redick would not miss as his basket would put the Pelicans up 17 points. While that play along did not win the game on the night, it was emblematic of the effort and intensity the Pelicans showed in the third quarter.
This sequence has *EVERYTHING* pic.twitter.com/wJlFxZpb3e
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) February 12, 2020