Fans are always looking for the next big thing.
After their disappointing 5-12 start to the regular season, the LA Clippers are looking for any ounce of hope. On the second half of a back-to-back, they would fall to the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-105. Outside the return of the Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard their big man Ivica Zubac came had a dominant performance
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Zubac would finish the game with 33 points (15-22 FG), 18 rebounds, and 4 assists. Leading the team in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage. However, this isn’t new for Zubac, so the question then becomes, what is next?
This season vs last season
This season, the one thing that has been noticed about Zubac is not only his decline statistically, but also his game visibly. Currently, he is averaging 16.0 ppg, 11.8 rpg, and 61.4% from the field. The numbers are very good, especially for a traditional center.
However, the impact Zubac had last season where he was not only the anchor on defense with elite rim protection, but also being a force inside offensively is somewhat watered down.
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The game versus the Cavaliers showed flashes of last year with ferocious dunks, sweet footwork on the block, and finishes with either hand around the basket in multiple possessions. That is the Zubac that is needed for this team.
What is holding Zubac back?
Coming off his most productive season last year, there was supposed to be a jump in production from Zubac. However, that has yet to be seen, and that is part of the reason why the Clippers have been struggling.
When looking around at some of the best centers in the NBA like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Karl Anthony-Towns, Victor Wembenyama there is a certain pattern these players have and that is their abilities to shoot the basketball. As elite as Zubac is scoring around the rim, he is as bad shooting outside of 10-15 feet and that is a problem.
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In a high-volume pick and roll Clippers offense, teams have gameplanned against the Zubac-James Harden pick and roll that they used last season. So now, opportunities go down for a guy like Zubac who is one dimensional where the defense knows the only direction he is going after he rolls.
Towards the basket.
At age 27, the next step, for Zubac is to simply become a threat that involves shooting the basketball at least in the mid-range. This would put defenses on their heels where they cannot just simply double him in possession after possession in the post.
