- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 910,169
- Reaction score
- 55
Ja'Kobi Gillespie watched Tennessee basketball games before he was the Vols point guard.
The then-Maryland point guard naturally observed how Zakai Zeigler − his predecessor at the position − operated and identified a trend.
“Zakai, he was always throwing lobs,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie wondered what led Zeigler to find such specific offensive success. He doesn’t have to wonder anymore. It is part of his game now.
Gillespie is becoming a lethal lob threat in Tennessee’s offense, employing a seemingly simple play with increasing precision in tandem with the Vols’ rangy frontcourt.
“It is definitely a weapon," Gillespie said. "Nobody can stop it."
Gillespie dribbled beyond the 3-point line early against Rice on Nov. 17.
Forward Felix Okpara came to set a screen, planting himself into the left side of Gillespie’s defender for a moment before ditching the post and darting to the rim. Okpara’s defender stayed near the free-throw line to deny Gillespie a path to the rim or a shot.
That was all Gillespie needed to see to throw a lob to Okpara.
“They are in a drop coverage,” Gillespie said as he watched a clip of the play. “So Fe was able to get behind and I threw it up there.”
Tossing lobs wasn’t part of Gillespie’s repertoire at Maryland. He played with two talented post players in Julian Reese and Derik Queen, but neither was used in such a way.
Gillespie broke the news to Vols coach Rick Barnes that he'd never done it before as the Vols began to work on lobs in the offseason. He threw one attempt over the backboard in the early reps, but his progression took off as he learned when a lob is viable.
It’s up to Gillespie to read the defense to execute a lob. Many of them come out of Tennessee’s flow offense. Others are designed. He has to pay attention to how an opposing defense helps and covers ball screens to decide if a lob is achievable.
The forwards like Okpara and Cade Phillips roll off screens to the rim in many offensive sets. Gillespie keys on the defender guarding the forwards. If he helps too much to cut off Gillespie, it’s a wrap for a lob.
“Really it's just like an inch,” Gillespie said. “If I see Fe gets behind him a little bit or Cade, I know they will be able to go get it if I put it in the right spot.”
Phillips handed the ball to Gillespie in the second half against Rice.
The junior, who is now out for the season after shoulder surgery, set a quick screen and Gillespie saw the opportunity. He dribbled once then threw a perfect lob over Phillips’ defender, threading the pass to Phillips between the primary defender and the help defense coming down the baseline.
“The big was slow backing up, but Cade is full sprint running to the rim,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie’s second responsibility is timing the lob. If he sees a defender help on him or hesitate to back up, he knows a Tennessee forward running is going to win the race to the rim against a defender scrambling to backpedal and catch up.
The Greeneville, Tennessee, native had to learn when to throw the pass. Barnes said Gillespie struggled initially with getting lobs blocked because he got too deep into the lane. He almost always has to throw it before he gets to the free-throw line.
That timing allows him to get the ball out and let the bigs do the rest.
“I put enough air on it to where he has time to gather and jump,” Gillespie said.
Okpara lets Gillespie know when a lob is open. He points a finger in the air as he leaves a screen, signaling Gillespie to throw it.
“It is just making sure it is good and next to the rim and they are going to go get it,” Gillespie said.
The final piece of the play is about Gillespie throwing a good lob.
There is an element of trust in that. The forwards trust him to throw a good lob. He trusts them to be there — and to finish the play even if his lob is a little bit errant, which one was against Rice.
Assistant coach Gregg Polinsky stressed the key is to miss high not low if you are going to make a mistake. Low leads to turnovers turning into transition points. High leaves the forwards with a chance to make a play.
Gillespie feels like he has a grasp on the play from start to finish. He knows the defense that will allow for Tennessee to attack with lobs. He knows others won’t allow it. He has studied Ziegler and defenses and all the intricacies that go into a play that looks so simple but requires immense touch.
It's a skill he didn't have before, but he does now.
"You have to pick what you want to take away from our offense," Gillespie said. "I feel like some teams have tried to take that away, but it opens up for me if the big is not helping I can go and finish and do what I do. It is definitely a big weapon.”
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How Ja’Kobi Gillespie is mastering the art of throwing lobs for Tennessee
Continue reading...
The then-Maryland point guard naturally observed how Zakai Zeigler − his predecessor at the position − operated and identified a trend.
“Zakai, he was always throwing lobs,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie wondered what led Zeigler to find such specific offensive success. He doesn’t have to wonder anymore. It is part of his game now.
Gillespie is becoming a lethal lob threat in Tennessee’s offense, employing a seemingly simple play with increasing precision in tandem with the Vols’ rangy frontcourt.
“It is definitely a weapon," Gillespie said. "Nobody can stop it."
What Ja'Kobi Gillespie looks for in a defense before throwing a lob
Gillespie dribbled beyond the 3-point line early against Rice on Nov. 17.
Forward Felix Okpara came to set a screen, planting himself into the left side of Gillespie’s defender for a moment before ditching the post and darting to the rim. Okpara’s defender stayed near the free-throw line to deny Gillespie a path to the rim or a shot.
That was all Gillespie needed to see to throw a lob to Okpara.
“They are in a drop coverage,” Gillespie said as he watched a clip of the play. “So Fe was able to get behind and I threw it up there.”
Tossing lobs wasn’t part of Gillespie’s repertoire at Maryland. He played with two talented post players in Julian Reese and Derik Queen, but neither was used in such a way.
Gillespie broke the news to Vols coach Rick Barnes that he'd never done it before as the Vols began to work on lobs in the offseason. He threw one attempt over the backboard in the early reps, but his progression took off as he learned when a lob is viable.
It’s up to Gillespie to read the defense to execute a lob. Many of them come out of Tennessee’s flow offense. Others are designed. He has to pay attention to how an opposing defense helps and covers ball screens to decide if a lob is achievable.
The forwards like Okpara and Cade Phillips roll off screens to the rim in many offensive sets. Gillespie keys on the defender guarding the forwards. If he helps too much to cut off Gillespie, it’s a wrap for a lob.
“Really it's just like an inch,” Gillespie said. “If I see Fe gets behind him a little bit or Cade, I know they will be able to go get it if I put it in the right spot.”
When Ja'Kobi Gillespie aims to let go of the ball for a lob
Phillips handed the ball to Gillespie in the second half against Rice.
The junior, who is now out for the season after shoulder surgery, set a quick screen and Gillespie saw the opportunity. He dribbled once then threw a perfect lob over Phillips’ defender, threading the pass to Phillips between the primary defender and the help defense coming down the baseline.
“The big was slow backing up, but Cade is full sprint running to the rim,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie’s second responsibility is timing the lob. If he sees a defender help on him or hesitate to back up, he knows a Tennessee forward running is going to win the race to the rim against a defender scrambling to backpedal and catch up.
The Greeneville, Tennessee, native had to learn when to throw the pass. Barnes said Gillespie struggled initially with getting lobs blocked because he got too deep into the lane. He almost always has to throw it before he gets to the free-throw line.
That timing allows him to get the ball out and let the bigs do the rest.
“I put enough air on it to where he has time to gather and jump,” Gillespie said.
The final piece of executing a lob is about trust between Ja'Kobi Gillespie, forwards
Okpara lets Gillespie know when a lob is open. He points a finger in the air as he leaves a screen, signaling Gillespie to throw it.
“It is just making sure it is good and next to the rim and they are going to go get it,” Gillespie said.
The final piece of the play is about Gillespie throwing a good lob.
There is an element of trust in that. The forwards trust him to throw a good lob. He trusts them to be there — and to finish the play even if his lob is a little bit errant, which one was against Rice.
Assistant coach Gregg Polinsky stressed the key is to miss high not low if you are going to make a mistake. Low leads to turnovers turning into transition points. High leaves the forwards with a chance to make a play.
Gillespie feels like he has a grasp on the play from start to finish. He knows the defense that will allow for Tennessee to attack with lobs. He knows others won’t allow it. He has studied Ziegler and defenses and all the intricacies that go into a play that looks so simple but requires immense touch.
It's a skill he didn't have before, but he does now.
"You have to pick what you want to take away from our offense," Gillespie said. "I feel like some teams have tried to take that away, but it opens up for me if the big is not helping I can go and finish and do what I do. It is definitely a big weapon.”
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How Ja’Kobi Gillespie is mastering the art of throwing lobs for Tennessee
Continue reading...
