Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Imagine if Lonzo Ball could actually shoot.

On Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers won for the third time in their past four games with a 107-102 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Now 5-5 on the season, the Lakers are winning despite Ball shooting just 29.9 percent on the year.

Ball is a difficult rookie to evaluate. Should his impact on the Lakers be measured by his individual efficiency or team record?

"He's doing everything else. That's not a concern of ours," Lakers center Brook Lopez said. "Just the way he facilitates, he brings everyone up to a whole 'nother level. He instigates the break, he instigates our offense. It's irreplaceable."

Ball has shown individual flashes, such as when he scored 29 points in his second regular-season game with a dominant performance against the Phoenix Suns. But against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, he took just two shot attempts in the Lakers' 113-110 loss.

Naturally, his father has a strong opinion.

Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

"You've got to shoot the ball," LaVar Ball told Bleacher Report after the Lakers' 124-112 win over the Nets on Friday. "You're not going to make it if you don't take it."

The senior Ball also has some concerns about head coach Luke Walton's rotation with his son.

"Let him play the whole fourth quarter and bet you'll always win. He'll get into a better flow," Ball said. "The in and out, sitting out six to 10 minutes? He's not going to take no shots because he's not in the flow. He don't want to hurt the team by shooting."

🔥 Can't-Miss Plays from Around the NBA 🔥

Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon

Walton understands it's an adjustment for rookies as they find their way in the NBA. "It's not even really the minutes, as much as just being the best player on your team," Walton said. "When you're the guy that everything goes through, you find rhythms throughout the game. You get to this level and...you start as more of a role player and you work your way up. It takes time to get used to."

But the Lakers coach has nothing but praise for his point guard, who has the ultimate green light.

"I don't think he can ever be too aggressive," Walton said. "Get into that paint, learn what it's like to take on that contact and finish, and make those reads doing downhill. Whether he makes or misses shots, right now I don't care. He'll figure that out. He's that good of a player."

Ball's teammates love playing with him. They know if they're hot, he's going to get them the ball.

"He's running our offense. He's our leader," second-year swingman Brandon Ingram said. "He's leading us with passes, making it easier for other guys to score the basketball, and he's doing a good job on the defensive end. He's doing great."

"He's just playing hard at his own pace, that's what we need for him," Lakers 2-guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. "He's making the right play. Sometimes he takes a bad shot. That's cool, we all take bad shots. Him being as young as he is at the point guard, that's a lot of pressure, but he's handled it pretty well."

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale was impressed by the Lakers' duo of Ball and Ingram.

"Those two young guys, they are a handful," Fizdale said. "I think as their shooting becomes more consistent, they are going to become a problem. Everybody is looking at their body of work right now, but these kids [will] get better, and they got a heck of a staff down there that I know is going to develop them."

That is exactly Walton's focus. It isn't necessarily how Ball and Ingram play in a game this season, but instead over the course of their career.

"I think [Ball's] scoring opens up more passing lanes," Walton said. "He still positively affects our game just by being on the court, but to be great—to be the player he's going to be—he needs to shoot. It's not just about that game at that moment. As he grows as a player, we need him to continue to do those things to develop his ability and skill."

The Lakers aren't looking to change Ball's unique shooting form during the season, but he needs to improve his footwork and timing. Fundamentally, he has a long way to go to be a consistent scorer, but he's adjusted quickly to the NBA defensively and is helping the team win games as he learns.

Last year's squad won 10 of its first 20 before it quickly bottomed out to win just 26. Walton is confident this team is better suited to sustain its on-court success.

"We're better defensively," Walton said. "Last year, we were shooting the lights out to start the season. We just didn't have the rest of the foundation set well enough to sustain that. ... Because of the group's willingness to buy in and compete on defense, we're going to be in every game."

Adam Pantozzi/Getty Images

Ball is an integral part of why Los Angeles is a .500 team. As he improves, so too will the Lakers.

His poor shooting percentage will drop him behind others in the race for Rookie of the Year. Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers appears to be the early favorite.

But this season isn't about individual awards or even winning basketball games. It's about making sure Ball is on the path to become the player the Lakers believe one day will be a transcendent point guard.

Today, Ball needs to find the balance between his own shot and finding his teammates, and then converting his attempts into baskets.

Ball acknowledged it's an adjustment to look for his own offense over playmaking.

"My life, I've been pretty much passing. [To] my brother, [at] UCLA we had great shooters on the floor," Ball said. "It's a little bit new for me, but I'll get used to it. Everyone is playing me for the pass. I can get into the lanes, I just have to take advantage."

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter: @EricPincus.