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Los Angeles Lakers: Three bold predictions for Lonzo Ball next season

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 23: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts to strip the ball from Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of a game at Staples Center on December 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 23: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts to strip the ball from Ed Davis #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of a game at Staples Center on December 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Lonzo Ball will make the All-Defensive Second Team

This is obviously the boldest prediction of this list as only ten players in the league are honored with being a member of an All-Defensive team. If you take the common consensus of many fans throughout the league, Ball may not even crack the top-20 when it comes to defenders.

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However, Ball was quietly a very good defender in his rookie season and is only going to improve as his tenure in the league gets longer. While Ball might not be the prototypical lockdown type defender at the point guard position, he was key in picking passing lanes as well as stealing and blocking the basketball last season.

Ball’s isolation defense is only going to improve as his athleticism improves, something that naturally is going to occur as he gets more time under his belt with an NBA training staff.

Even if he does not become an elite isolation defender the league runs so little isolation in today’s game that he can really shine in an off-ball defender role. While there still are guys, such as James Harden, that run a ton of isolation, Ball should be fine for the most part in that regard.

Lonzo Ball is a smart defender, he has the basketball IQ to read a play and how it is developing like some of the greats before him. Now, it is just a matter of that skill set further growing as he learns more about the game from veteran point guard Rajon Rondo.

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Dejounte Murray made the All-Defensive Second Team last season in his rookie year. There is no reason why Lonzo Ball cannot win it in his sophomore season.

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