Outside of the breakout season, NBA players dedicate all their time and energy to following it up with greatness in the next. This is how their rise to stardom is graded by fans and front offices around the league, as success can be a fluke.
Moreover, this is somewhat of a concern with Ivica Zubac. He finally achieved his launch to temporary glory. Still, fans are worried that his numbers will remain the same or regress due to the addition of a center in the front-court, Brook Lopez, and the high expectations on his shoulders for next season.
However, finding ways to get better is what true stars do after obtaining league-wide acknowledgement, for Zubac, it was being selected as an All-Defensive player and nominated as a finalist for Most Improved Player. This strategy expands their game, as they combat the idea of an opponent using one season’s worth of film to successfully figure them out.
That said, in a recent, exclusive interview with a Clippers writer for ClutchPoints, Zubac emphasized his offseason focus, which will surely elevate LA to greater heights.
Ivica Zubac is locked in on mastering different techniques when double-teamed by opponents
When a guard, like James Harden, recognizes that a double-team is being sent, the best way to handle it is by not panicking and waiting until the right time to make a pass to the open man. Conversely, for big men, there are more options, as they tend to be taller with eyes above most of the defense.
Furthermore, the LA Clippers’ center, Ivica Zubac, did a wonderful job when double-teamed last season. He made rare mistakes and kept his eyes either on the goal or the perimeter. Both tactics helped keep his turnover count at 1.6 per night, as this statistic was the lowest on the team, excluding Bogdan Bogdanovic, who only played 30 games after the trade deadline.
Yet, with there always being room to add dimensions for improvement, Zubac mentioned to Tomer Azarly that he has worked on his mid-range shot, as well as his playmaking and interior face-ups.
These added levels to his game give the Clippers more ways to keep their offense from going stagnant and failing when double-teamed, which will be particularly beneficial in the postseason. This is also the ideal way for Zubac to follow up a career year and post another, which could lead to an All-Star selection.