The Charlotte Hornets have just lost two consecutive nailbiters, and while none of the blame can be placed on LaMelo Ball, he could have saved them both times with better clutch decisions. The good news is that he has taken accountability for the loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday.
Ball admitted that his ill-advised alley-oop pass attempt to Moussa Diabate with over a minute left and the Hornets leading 112-109 was a grave mistake. He said in the postgame conference, “That last lob, I could have dribbled it out.”
After the Pacers scored the next five points, Charlotte still had an opportunity to steal the win or bring the game to overtime. However, Ball opted to pass to Collin Sexton rather than take the shot himself. He regretted the move, saying, “Even the last pass, I should’ve shot that instead of putting Bull in that position.”
The star also had a crucial miscue in the clutch against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. With 1:11 left in the final quarter and his team leading by three, he tried a stepback 28-foot dagger, missing it badly. It probably would have been an acceptable shot had he not sat out nearly eight minutes of game time (and more in real time) in the fourth. Ball did redeem himself later by converting a layup to break a 94-94 tie. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they still lost due to Immanuel Quickley's buzzer-beater.
Better decision-making in crunch time
The past couple of heartbreaking defeats should make Ball realize that the onus of creating high-percentage scoring opportunities whenever he is on the floor in the fourth period falls on him. Going for risky plays or heat checks could boost morale if they result in made baskets. But the flip side is that missed shots and turnovers can quickly turn the tide in favor of the opponent.
And when the Hornets need clutch points, Ball has to take it upon himself to get those buckets. It's understandable, though, for a playmaker like him to look to set up his teammates, even in crunch time. However, in high-pressure situations, the best shot will typically come from him.
The only other players who should attempt high-stakes shots are Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. And the only time the ball shouldn't be in their hands is if they find teammates who can take uncontested shots.
Based on what Melo said, though, it looks like he already knows what to do next time Charlotte faces more clutch scenarios in the future.