FanPost

How Skal Labissiere Has Turned the Corner

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

It took a while, but Skal Labissiere is finally playing like an NBA lottery pick.

Just like many members of Big Blue Nation, the expectations I had for Skal Labissiere were through the roof ... and then some.

Like many have mentioned, when Labissiere was going toe-to-toe with Thon Maker in practices at the Nike Hoop Summit practices, everyone -- including NBA scouts -- saw the potential he had. It's taken a lot longer than expected for that potential to shine through, but it's there and it's come at a perfect time for Big Blue.

So, what changed?

What "tweak" did Chaotic Calipari install this time?

Well, it was one of his best of the season. If it wasn't for the Derek Willis project paying off, this newest tweak would have been his best all year.

Calipari has simply let Skal be Skal and his confidence couldn't be any higher. How has Cal does this? He's gotten Labissiere in his comfort zone on offense.

It started with the win over Florida early last week. With one of the nation's best point guards (Hi, Dan Dakich) running the show in Tyler Ulis, Labissiere's job is simple: set the screen and pop open.

In the example below, Labissiere misses the long deuce, but this is where he's comfortable. He's not a dominating big of Kentucky's past (Boogie and KAT being the two prominent examples of that), but he's comfortable shooting the basketball with tremendous touch.

This is the tweak and it's been a two-game revelation for Labissiere, who has been criticized all season long for his lack of production. He hasn't been in a good position to produce and now with Calipari (and his teammates) recognizing how to utilize him, it's made Kentucky that much more dangerous in their favorite time of the year.

Labissiere looked so good protecting the rim against Ben Simmons and LSU on Saturday, but it was his offense that sparked his wonderful performance on the defensive end. When he's in the spots on the floor he wants to be, he can be that top-five recruit everyone expected him to be.

On a personal note, my favorite play of the game from Saturday wasn't the Alex Poythress Senior Day tributes that probably made half of BBN cry. My favorite play was a beautiful two-man game set with Jamal Murray and Labissiere in the second half.

Murray knew the Tigers would try to trap him if Labissiere set a screen, so he called for Skal to set the screen, waited for the trap, then made the right pass to Skal for the easy baseline jumper.

The 'Cats need this version of Labissiere in Nashville for the SEC Tournament and wherever they head for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. They've got a favorable draw in Nashville as co-champions of the SEC and have to be the odds-on favorite to win back-to-back tournament titles if Labissiere continues his stellar play.