3. Another battle of the bigs.
While the Clippers outmatch the Warriors at just about every position, one matchup seems to be more intriguing than the others- Ivica Zubac vs Willie Cauley-Stein. Both bigs are 7-feet tall and 240lbs. They’re per game averages are almost identical with Cauley-Stein taking the advance in both steals and blocks, while Zubac gets his averages in fewer minutes.
Over weekend Clippers head coach Doc Rivers spoke fondly of watching Zubac play against dominant big men in the league. Cauley-Stein is far from being considered one of the best centers in the league he’s the kind of player that can have a big game at any time.
Doc Rivers said the Ivica Zubac-Andre Drummond matchup "was like two dinosaurs out there, banging heads. It’s amazing, I thought he and Drummond were having a ball."
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) January 3, 2020
Zubac continues to make a case for earning more minutes when he’s on the floor (cc: Joseph Raya-Ward), and many are waiting for the moment that he gets to play those minutes. If Zu comes out early and shows force in his matchup it could make the case for his playing time, especially in the fourth quarter of games to give Montrezl Harrell some rest, harder for the Clippers coaching staff to ignore.
As Kawhi Leonard gets more time playing with Zubac in the starting lineup they have begun to form an expected pick and roll chemistry. Golden State will most likely be watching film on those possessions and ask Cauley-Stein to step in and stop that action as best he can. Warriors head coach will likely scheme for the pick and roll offense- especially since Doc Rivers used it to play Golden State’s all-star center Demarcus Cousins off the floor in the playoffs last year.
All in all, Friday’s matchup should be an easy win for the Clippers. After a pair of ego checks in their last games, they will likely bounce back into form with urgency and intention.