Ball and the Signal To Noise

One does not have to be a basketball fan to have heard of Los Angeles Laker Rookie Lonzo Ball and more than likely it has nothing to do with his exploits on the court.

Thanks to the over the top shenanigans of Lonzo's father Lavar Ball a one-man reality show Lonzo went from being a good college basketball player to the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and the heralded Messiah of one of the NBA's most historic franchises.

Even if, somehow you managed to avoid the circus that is Lavar Ball. Another Ball Lonzo's younger brother Li Angelo was arrested in China along with two of his teammates for stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store in China. Yes, China.

Thanks to the intervention of a lot of people including President Donald Trump Li Angelo and his teammates were sent home safe and sound.

Adding to the Lonzo hype train was a proclamation of newly minted Laker president of basketball operations Magic Johnson that he sees himself inside of Lonzo and that this kid will kick-start the rebirth of Showtime.

What does this have to do with the signal and the noise?

Well, so far Lonzo Ball has not played like the savior of the Lakers or not even a good rookie, not even a solid one. The main issue is his shooting which is near the lowest in the league. Think bottom three.

With his shooting being non-existent to downright atrocious Lonzo has been hesitant to shoot which is affecting his overall play to the point that Lakers have him sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter and their play as a team has improved.

The issue with Ball's bad shooting is that in college he was a decent shooter at best and for a lot of scouts it wasn't enough of a for them not to draft Ball because the man can hoop.

However, was or is he really deserving of being the second overall pick? Of being proclaimed as the one that would return the Lakers to glory?

Is this kid that talented? Physically maybe but mentally and emotionally no way.

So why was all of this thrust upon him? Talent no way as more than a few rookies drafted after Lonzo are having pretty good seasons then again none of them have the responsibility of saving a franchise. Was it some unknown factor that Lonzo possesses? You know the IT factor etc? That can't be it for he's very quiet and laid back.

So what propelled Lonzo to this status? What keeps him in the starting lineup despite his struggles?

Hype.

This has nothing to do with Lonzo Ball the player but Lonzo Ball the brand. The brand created by the great wizard of hype Lavar Ball who makes sure to do enough to keep Lonzo and the Big Baller Brand in our face.

Magic knew that which is why he traded away the previous savior of Laker basketball DeAngelo Russell who was and still is a lot to deal with but for all of DeAngelo's exploits on the court he doesn't sell tickets. No one is coming to see him play. But nearly everyone will come and worship at the Tabernacle of Ball.

So again how do we separate the signal from the noise and turn streams of raw information into actual intelligence?