LOS ANGELES_Luke Walton didn't flinch in explaining away Lonzo Ball's unsightly three-for-21 shooting from three-point range during the last three games.
The rookie point guard "does those things," the Los Angeles Lakers coach said following Wednesday night's loss at Golden State that completed the Warriors' first season sweep of their Pacific Division rivals since 1993-94.
From Walton's perspective, Ball's first-season development is going to feature missteps like his one-for-eight showing against former Laker Nick Young and a team missing All-Star guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
"As he continues to grow as a player, he'll develop other parts," Walton said Wednesday night. "He depends a lot on his three, but a lot of that is because teams go under on him. That's the open shot for him."
Overall, Ball is shooting 31.6 percent on three-pointers, along with averaging 7.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds.
"He'll get more to his game, as far as being able to score more effectively _ midrange, around the rim _ as he grows as a player," Walton said. "But the assists and steals, that's why we went on that run in the first half. He was the one rotating over to get all those deflections. He does all those little things to help us win. The offense will come."
Walton expressed confidence that Ball's three-point touch will make a return too.
"We're not going to take him out either way," Walton said.
