# @tipoffball on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DatOrxvDQ0W
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70382366-tipoffball-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/668f491259.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-12T20:45:05.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** tipoffball (@tipoffball) — https://gondola.cc/tipoffball

## Caption

The LaMelo Ball assignment has always been a little different because defenders are not only trying to stop him from scoring, they are trying to stop him from seeing the floor the way he wants to. He is constantly looking a pass ahead, so the on-ball defender has to think about more than keeping him out of the paint. Every time the defense shifts, LaMelo is searching for the next read. The possession can change quickly because one defender loses balance, one help defender steps too far, or one cutter finds an open lane. Against players like LaMelo, the first defender is often trying to delay the play just long enough for everyone else to stay connected.

Everything is shown per 75 possessions rather than per game because per-game numbers are influenced by pace, minutes, and how often two players actually shared the floor. Looking at the matchup per seventy five possessions gives every defender the same workload, making it easier to compare what tends to happen over a similar number of opportunities instead of whatever happened in one particular game.

The context around these numbers is also interesting because they come from LaMelo's final season in Charlotte. Since then he has been traded to Minnesota, where the assignment is could change as defenders now will have to face him and Anthony Edwards. Defenders will now see him in a different offensive environment, with different spacing, different teammates, and different responsibilities. He may not have to create every advantage himself as often, which could lead to cleaner looks as both a scorer and a passer. At the same time, teams are going to prepare for him differently because the Timberwolves present a very different set of problems than the Hornets did.

The defenders who most frequently drew the assignment were Anthony Black, Immanuel Quickley, Miles McBride, Dyson Daniels, Ryan Rollins, Bub Carrington, Ben Sheppard, Kris Dunn, Amen Thompson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

#nba #minnesotatimberwolves #timberwolves #lameloball #lamelo

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 7,397
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 66

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Evan Porter | @Evan..porter | https://gondola.cc/Evan..porter | Social Media Manager |

## Tags

timberwolves, nba, lameloball, minnesotatimberwolves, lamelo

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