Brilliant to have a 26% 3 point shooter fire it up with the game on the line…

The play had multiple options depending on what the defense did, you knew Texas wasn’t gonna leave Vescovi open…you bring Powell in ice cold off the bench to shoot? Design it for Bailey like we did another game and people complained? Zeigler is 5’9” and probably gets blocked if he drives it, not a foul called, and Texas had clogged the lane. JJJ hit 2 huge 3’s during the run that got us back into the game and has been shooting well of late, there’s nothing wrong with that look. Bringing in Chandler to potentially drive was an option, but I get that he hadn’t played during the whole run and maybe didn’t want to make that move.
 
It has been reported that he is the best 3 point shooter in practice.
I know but you can’t go by that versus 3 years of in-game stats and the feel of what’s going on in the game being played. Practice 3 point percentage is irrelevant to that play call. James’ career stats say let someone else shoot. The feel for that game said let him take the shot. It was wide open and he has been shooting better of late, as you noted, including in that game. From that standpoint I’m good with the shot. When it left his hand it looked on target. He was squared up and followed through (at least it looked like it live, I haven’t gone back to look) so it was a quality shot, especially given the situation. Teams don’t normally get looks that good in that situation. You say his hand is part of the reason for his shooting struggles this year and I have to think it is partly to blame but I submit that his shot selection is a good chunk of it too. He often, especially prior to the UK game, would shoot 3s that weren’t in rhythm and were shots we could get at any point as we didn’t work the ball inside. It’s not just him as others have done it as well, even Vescovi. Starting with the second half against SC they had been playing slightly better offensively until last night. Sorry, I started rambling there but where we started was practice doesn’t always translate to games and by now we know how JJJ performs in games but I think it was a good shot and have no issue with it. We really need to hold serve against A&M Tuesday. Go Vols!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
The problem with the way a lot of folks are looking at this is that we had no idea how Texas would defend during the last 6 seconds. Clearly the first option was to get Z to the rim; however, Texas defenders didn't allow it. JJJ and others were simply trying to draw defenders away from the paint. When Texas clogged the lane, we had to go to other options. It wasn't ideal, but we got an open, clean look. At that point, Z had no other option.
 
I know but you can’t go by that versus 3 years of in-game stats and the feel of what’s going on in the game being played. Practice 3 point percentage is irrelevant to that play call. James’ career stats say let someone else shoot. The feel for that game said let him take the shot. It was wide open and he has been shooting better if late, as you noted, including in that game. From that standpoint I’m good with the shot. When it left his hand it looked on target. He was squared up and followed through (at least it looked like it live, I haven’t gone back to look) so it was a quality shot, especially given the situation. Teams don’t normally get looks that good in that situation. You say his hand is part of the reason for his shooting struggles this year and I have to think it is partly to blame but I submit that his shot selection is a good chunk of it too. He often, especially prior to the UK game, would shoot 3s that weren’t in rhythm and were shots we could get at any point as we we didn’t work the ball inside. It’s not just him as others have done it as well, even Vescovi. Starting with the second half against SC they had been playing slightly better offensively until last night. Sorry, I started rambling there but where we started was practice doesn’t always translate to games and by now we know how JJJ performs in games but I think it was a good shot and have no issue with it. We really need to hold serve against A&M Tuesday. Go Vols!

Not practicing 3s, hitting 3s in practice. It would make sense to have the guys making them in practice at the highest rate also be the ones that are options when the play is designed. Vescovi, JJJ, and Bailey were ZZZ’s options. Putting in a cold Powell doesn’t make sense. Chandler could have switched with Bailey, but he’s made a ton of bad decisions in key moments.
 
You do realize there were 3 Texas players clogging the lane? They weren’t letting ZZ get to the basket. It was a good play design with more than one option. The shot just didn’t fall.
Vescovi was also wide open in the corner.
GBO!!
 
“They didn’t even try to close out.” Lmao. You are foolish. There were 3 Texas players sprinting to him as soon as he caught it. Hence the reason everyone is complaining about him not kicking to Santi. GTFO with your dumb sh*tt.

Keyboard warrior.

26% 3 pt shooter. Lol. Not the guy who should take that shot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vols35
Not practicing 3s, hitting 3s in practice. It would make sense to have the guys making them in practice at the highest rate also be the ones that are options when the play is designed. Vescovi, JJJ, and Bailey were ZZZ’s options. Putting in a cold Powell doesn’t make sense. Chandler could have switched with Bailey, but he’s made a ton of bad decisions in key moments.
So were you a believer in JG? Reports said he tore it up in practice too. It didn’t translate to the game. Some players are just that way. I highly doubt how James shoots in practice factored into that play design but I’m not Barnes so I could be wrong.
 
You do realize there were 3 Texas players clogging the lane? They weren’t letting ZZ get to the basket. It was a good play design with more than one option. The shot just didn’t fall.

That‘s why you put others in position get a pass and either attack or have a close 2 point shot. This wasn’t a defacto Ziegler or bust situation at the rim.

I also notice you say nothing about Chandler being on the bench.
 
So were you a believer in JG? Reports said he tore it up in practice too. It didn’t translate to the game. Some players are just that way. I highly doubt how James shoots in practice factored into that play design but I’m not Barnes so I could be wrong.

This is the basketball forum.

EVERY player on the floor could have knocked down an open outside look.
 
Quoting JJJs 29% 3 Pt avaerage just shows you haven’t been paying attention the last 4 or 5 games. He’s been a very good 3 pt shooter over this time.

Last 4 games he’s 6-19 for 31% in 3 pointers and 3 games before that JJJ was 6-18 for 33%, which isn’t exactly setting the world on fire. Maybe you need to pay more attentio.

For the year he’s at 26%, not 29% from 3.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vols35
It’s not a set play for James. That’s just who was open and who ZZ passed the ball to. It was a really good play design. Multiple options and we got an open shot.
too many players under the goal, they were Not going to let us have a layup,he shoot a makeable shot just didnt go. however i cant understand why kc wasnt in there?
 
At no point should we settle for a 22 ft jumper by JJJ down one period! He should have slashed to the foul line. Chander should have been in the game as opposite wing just ridiculous that Bailey was in over Chandler literally ridiculous.
and the guards shoot ft better
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mtnvol80
Bingo. There is also the likelihood that ZZ doesn’t draw a foul call on Texas’ home court. Officials generally swallow their whistle in that situation. And I don’t want to hear about Vescovi either. He had been effectively taken out of the game and was cold as ice.

call me paranoid, but i had pictured zz being called for a charge and the bucket being wiped out
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: chuckiepoo
This is the basketball forum.

EVERY player on the floor could have knocked down an open outside look.
That’s fair. And I’m good with the shot. I just don’t think how James shoots in practice is relevant. You do and I’m guessing we will not change each other’s minds on it so have a good one TGO.
 
That’s fair. And I’m good with the shot. I just don’t think how James shoots in practice is relevant. You do and I’m guessing we will not change each other’s minds on it so have a good one TGO.

I wouldn’t want a player that can’t make shots in practice should be taking them in end of game situations.

The ORIGINAL comment (post #31) was that JJJ can’t shoot: “The guy is a horrible shooter.” I disagreed and said, yes. He can.
 
The play had multiple options depending on what the defense did, you knew Texas wasn’t gonna leave Vescovi open…you bring Powell in ice cold off the bench to shoot? Design it for Bailey like we did another game and people complained? Zeigler is 5’9” and probably gets blocked if he drives it, not a foul called, and Texas had clogged the lane. JJJ hit 2 huge 3’s during the run that got us back into the game and has been shooting well of late, there’s nothing wrong with that look. Bringing in Chandler to potentially drive was an option, but I get that he hadn’t played during the whole run and maybe didn’t want to make that move.

Yep, and for the game Vescovi was 1-8 from the field and 0-5 from 3pt. Going into the last play, JJJ was 3-6 from 3pt range with the entire team hitting only 5 to that point. So he had made 60% of our 3's for the game. A case can be made for attacking the rim to get to the line, but as the announcer mentioned you could count the number of open looks on one hand the entire game --- and this was an open look the coaches designed that just did not drop.
 
I wouldn’t want a player that can’t make shots in practice should be taking them in end of game situations.

The ORIGINAL comment (post #31) was that JJJ can’t shoot: “The guy is a horrible shooter.” I disagreed and said, yes. He can.
Also fair as a broad brush statement. That wasn’t my comment but I did reply to you reply to that comment. We don’t need practice info on James though. We have 3 years of game info so I’d rely on that before anything he does in practice. Wouldn’t you?
 
  • Like
Reactions: patrick
Also fair as a broad brush statement. That wasn’t my comment but I did reply to you reply to that comment. We don’t need practice info on James though. We have 3 years of game info so I’d rely on that before anything he does in practice. Wouldn’t you?

I’d rely more on the large sample size of practice to determine how capable a player is. As far as game time, the more that a player accrues the more I’d rely on them. Texas had upperclassmen all over the court. ORN, JJJ, SV, and VJ are some of the most experienced and ZZZ has been demonstrating that he has no fear and makes good decisions even though he’s a freshman. I have zero issues with the 5 on the floor for the final 6.2 seconds. I wouldn’t have been at all bothered if KC, JP, or Fulk were in the game either. The staff has a far better feel for it than I do. I don’t think that BHH or Mashack are far enough along. Uros isn’t necessarily an upgrade over ORN in that situation. Those 5 led the comeback. Letting them finish wasn’t a bad decision. Imagine the backlash had KC or JP been inserted cold off of the bench and one of them makes a game deciding mistake.

I’ve also seen several posters criticize taking a 3 when a two would gave won the game. I don’t think that the spacing had anything to do with where SV, JJJ, and VJ were relative to where the 3 point line was painted. Texas’s positioning and length had everything to do with setting up beyond the 3PL. Setting up inside the 3PL creates more congestion for ZZZ to maneuver through.

I’ve not seen many better end of game plays drawn up at TN than that one. Seems like a lot of times it’s dribbling around on the perimeter and throwing up desperation, tightly guarded 25 footers at the buzzer that aren’t close to falling.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hUTch2002

VN Store



Back
Top