原標題：Lonzo Ball's Shooting Is a Serious Problem for LA Lakers
LOS ANGELES — With LeBron James sidelined with a groin injury since Christmas,
the Los Angeles Lakers have needed more from their younger stars, especially
second-year point guard Lonzo Ball.
L.James至從聖誕節大戰鼠蹊部拉傷後，在L.James缺陣這段時間，湖人需要young core能
跳出來對球隊有更多的貢獻，尤其是二年級生L.Ball。
Ball, who has struggled to shoot consistently since joining the NBA as the 2017
second overall pick, has improved to 40.7 percent from the field after hitting
just 36 percent of his shots as a rookie. He's not a good shooter, but he's
made some progress.
作為一個2017年的榜眼，從進入NBA後對於投籃一直非常的掙扎，目前已從上一季36%進步
到截至目前為止的40%。L.Ball仍然不是一個好的Shooter，但可見有一些的進步。
Where Ball needs to massively improve is at the free-throw line, where his
shooting has made Shaquille O'Neal look like Steph Curry.
Through five games played in 2019, Ball has really slumped, hitting just two of
11 attempts (18.2 percent), even eliciting boos at Staples Center. It's
surprising that teams haven't looked to intentionally foul Ball, like O'Neal
before him when it was called "Hack-a-Shaq."
目前為止L.Ball被最為詬病的是罰球線的命中率，近五場比賽在罰球線上11投2中罰球命中
率更只有18.2%，更讓他在主場遭受到球迷的噓聲。只是比較意外是，L.Ball沒有遭遇到駭
客戰術。
He's dropped to just 41.3 percent on the season. Ball seems to just slump his
shoulders of late, looking completely drained. It may be a good thing he only
attempts 1.1 per game, although coach Luke Walton doesn't necessarily agree.
L.Ball截至目前罰球命中率只有41.3%，但還好L.Ball平均每場只會站上罰球線1.1次。
"In practice, he'll sit there and make 25, 30 out of 35. He sits there, and
he'll hit them," Walton said. "Some people only go [to the line] twice a game
or once every other game, and then that's tough to get into a real rhythm at
the line. With him, I think the more he gets there, the more comfortable he'll
become."
L.Walton認為可能一場比賽只會上罰球線一次，因此很難到節奏罰球線上的節奏，相信
L.Ball如果獲得更多上罰球線的機會，他的節奏將會越來越好。
What can Walton and his staff do to help Ball improve at the line?
"It's hard to really tweak things during the season," Walton said. "It's
different for everybody. Some people go through mental blocks."
而教練團該如何幫助L.Ball提升他的罰球命中率?L.Walton說到現在在賽季中真的很難調整
，而有些人則只是對罰球線有心理障礙。
That's the problem. Ball didn't get any time to work on his shooting over the
last offseason, recovering from a knee injury. More than any Laker, and maybe
more than anyone else in the NBA, Ball needs a long, productive offseason with
a player-development coach to work on his fundamentals.
上個休賽期L.Ball專注於膝蓋傷勢的復原，讓他沒有一個很完整的休賽期針對投籃進行訓
練。對Ball跟湖人需要一個完整的休賽期，讓球員發展教練陪著Ball一起建立基礎。
That's not to say his odd shooting form needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Habits are hard to break, and Ball will probably never have a traditional shot.
But he needs to put in significant reps on footwork, balance and timing.
但這不代表需要把L.Ball的投籃機制砍掉整個重建，習慣是難以改變的。也許你不會看到
L.Ball有著正規的投籃機制，但是需要針對L.Ball的footwork、balance、timing進行訓練
。
"He's been shooting like that for his whole life. If he starts trying to
significantly change his form, it'll probably lead to an injury," one video
analyst said.
一位影片分析說如果L.Ball已經習慣這樣的投籃方式，如果去改變他的投籃機制，說不定
可能導致受傷。
Can a point guard be successful in this league shooting below 50 percent from
the line?
在NBA中有誰罰球命中率低於50%，但是是一名不錯的控球後衛?
Fellow Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo has had his share of similar struggles.
The four-time All-Star has shot 60.4 percent over his career, and in the
2014-15 season, he hit just 39.7 percent. Rondo doesn't get to the line much
either, but he's still a productive, if limited, floor general.
有的，就是L.Ball隊友R.Rondo。R.Rondo也是在罰球線上有著掙扎的表現，這位四度入選
全明星賽的控衛生涯罰球命中率只有60.4%，其中2014-15賽季罰球命中率更只有39.7%。但
R.Rondo在罰球線上的表現，並沒有影響他在場上是一個優秀控衛該有的表現。
Ball's outside shooting has slightly improved this season from 30.5 percent to
33.3 percent. That's still subpar, but if he can climb to about 36 percent,
he'll help the Lakers win a lot of games—especially when sharing the court
with James.
L.Ball本季的外圍投射從上賽季30.5%進步到本季的33.3%，但目前的進步還是不夠，如果
他能進步到36%將會為湖人取得更多的勝利，並搭配著L.James在場上的組織分享球權。
Without James and Rondo, the young Lakers have been forced to adapt. Ball has
improved over the last two games after going scoreless in a 108-86 loss to the
Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, responding with 21 points (4-of-8 from three)
the following night versus the Dallas Mavericks.
He wasn't going to replicate that hot shooting against the Detroit Pistons on
Wednesday, but his 11 assists coupled with aggressive defense helped the Lakers
get the 113-100 victory.
湖人的小將們現在只能適應球隊在缺少L.James與R.Rondo的情況下去打比賽，而在面對達
拉斯獨行俠時L.Ball砍下21分，其中有著8投4中的三分球。而面對底特律活塞時，不能維
持著良好的手感，但他提供11次助攻以及防守端的表現來幫助湖人以113比110擊敗活賽取
得勝利。
Ball is a rare player who can make a significant impact on a game while scoring
just five points. In almost 35 minutes while he was on the floor, the Lakers
outpaced Detroit by 24 points, as Ball put the clamps on Blake Griffin on
switches—yes, Blake Griffin.
在面對底特律活塞的比賽時，可以看到L.Ball在球場上整體的影響力，雖然只拿到5分，但
是L.Ball上場時間來到35分鐘且在場上的正負值高達+24為全隊最高，而活塞的B.Griffin
的正負值則為-22。
When he's fully engaged, Ball can be one of the best players in a game,
despite his inability to consistently finish at either the basket or
free-throw line. That's why he can't let a poor shooting night take him out of
his game. He's not a good shooter. He's going to have a lot of off nights.
儘管L.Ball的Finish跟罰球很差，但他還是可以對整場球賽有著一定程度的影響力，他不
是一個好的shooter，但每場球賽還是不能缺少他。
Ball has some similarities to retired All-Star Jason Kidd. Although Kidd was a
far more ball-dominant point guard than Ball, in his second season, Kidd only
shot 38.1 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three-point range. At
his shooting peak, he hit 42.5 percent from deep in the 2009-10 season, well
above his career average of 34.9 percent.
雖然J.Kidd的控場能力比L.Ball來得更好，但J.Kidd生涯的第二賽季投籃命中率只有38.1%
，而三分命中率只有33.6%。而J.Kidd生涯最高的三分命中率是在2009-10賽季時的42.5%，
遠高於J.Kidd生涯的三分命中率34.9%。
It took Kidd over a decade to find his shot. Now that the Lakers have James,
they're suddenly in win-now mode. They may not have time to wait for Ball to
find a consistent jumper or free throw, especially if teams are able to take
advantage of his inability to shoot in the postseason.
J.Kidd花了十年才找到他的投籃，但湖人擁有LBJ後，已經從坦隊轉變成Win-now的球隊，
這樣的轉換，讓球隊沒有更多的時間去等待L.Ball找到投籃，尤其是到季後賽對手可能針
對L.Ball無法投籃的問題加以放大。
Walton and his teammates have encouraged Ball to be more of an aggressive
scorer and he has looked to shoot more within 10 feet of the basket.
Per NBA.com, Ball is attacking in that range on 38.1 percent of his attempts,
up from last year's 31.6 percent. Ball is also converting at a higher clip as
well, up from 52.2 percent to 55.4 percent.
L.Walton和隊友都鼓勵L.Ball成為一個有攻擊性的控衛，並且希望他距離10呎內有更多的
投籃，根據目前官網的數據，目前10呎內的命中率從去年的31.6%上升到本季的38.1%，而
8呎內的投籃命中率則從去年的52.2%上升至55.4%。
-數據整理-
2018-19 2017-18
5ft以內 56.3% 46.0%
5-9ft 25.0% 30.0%
10-14ft 16.7% 40.0%
15-19ft 29.4% 36.0%
20-24ft 27.0% 35.5%
25-29ft 36.4% 29.6%
L.Ball 2018-19投籃命中率與投籃分佈圖
https://i.imgur.com/xMYElod.jpg
(投籃命中率右邊底角命中率應為15.8%，官網數據錯誤。)
Would the Lakers see an even bigger jump from Ball at the basket if he could
also convert at the line?
"It seems like that's true, but that's just me trying to get into his head,"
another video analyst said.
Ball may not even consciously know but he needs to be a credible scoring threat
for the Lakers, especially as the team moves on past the regular season.
L.Ball可能還沒意識到他需要讓自己變成一個可靠的得分手，尤其是進入到季後賽時。