LA Clippers: Predicting Ivica Zubac’s stats for next season
By Evan Desai
Ivica Zubac was overall a quality player for the LA Clippers this past season.
He finished with a stat line of nine points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game, and a 65.2% field goal percentage.
Zubac’s numbers should get even better now under Year 2 of basketball with Ty Lue, and I wouldn’t doubt it.
I predict that Ivica Zubac will be putting up much better numbers for the LA Clippers this season.
The thing is, Ivica Zubac looked like a bit of a different player for the LA Clippers in the postseason last year.
At about the midway point of the first playoff series, he was making a lot of hustle plays and wasn’t backing down to ‘better’ centers. That mentality should translate really well to this season.
On offense, I think Zubac is going to keep getting more physical, and that Lue will reward him with more plays inside. The thing is, the Clippers’ court spacing is going to be really good with Zubac in the game.
The Clippers will be forced to use Zubac to be physical. He should see a lot of opportunities down low, and I think he’ll average double-digit points for the first time in his career. He’ll put up at least one more bucket per game with more points and opportunities to go around without Kawhi Leonard.
His field goal percentage will probably stay around the same. With more opportunities will come more chances for Zubac to polish his touch around the rim, but the looks will be more contested now that defenses don’t have to worry about Leonard out on the wing.
As for defense, it’s going to be up to Zubac to stuff guys in the paint. He’ll have a lot of opportunities to help down low with Leonard, the Clips’ best defensive player, not on the floor.
I think he’ll finally average a block per game for the first time in his career. I don’t think life will be a ton easier without Leonard on the floor, but I think it will actually boost Zubac’s block total for now.
On the rebounding end, I think Zubac will be the top rebounder on the team again next year. He averaged 7.2 rebounds per contest last season, which lead the team. Zubac hasn’t missed significant time for a few years now, and that availability will help him reach a high rebound total.
As far as his average goes, it will get up to eight per game for sure. Even if Zubac doesn’t start, he’s going to have the best chance to rebound. He’s going to be the only true big man on the court when he’s out there.
The Clippers only have one other center on the roster right now.
dark. Next. Predicting Zubac's role next year
The opportunities are going to be there for Zubac next season. He’ll take advantage of them and progress as a player.