Ivica Zubac is killing it right now
It’s one thing for Ivica Zubac to be playing well and scoring. But it’s another for his shooting percentages getting better with each game. Zubac scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
🎥 Ivica Zubac dropped 18 points and 11 boards in tonight's #LakersWin against the Warriors. pic.twitter.com/l2VsWM997g
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 26, 2018
The crazy thing is he shot 9-10 from the field. What is amazing is he doesn’t do anything special, he just knows his role and executes his job at a high level. Something that is becoming a lost art in the NBA.
Like this play here…
Zubac by himself under the rim!#LakeShow (📺: ABC & ESPN) pic.twitter.com/cUBGAQBRBR
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 26, 2018
While the Lakers are running the fast break, Zubac just runs his lane hard and with a purpose. The Golden State Warriors leave him alone just watching the ball move around. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is in the right corner and delivers the ball quickly for the slam dunk!
Let’s discuss the defensive end of the ball…
Zubac with the rejection!#LakeShow (📺: ABC & ESPN) pic.twitter.com/pmGdcFlFFX
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 26, 2018
In the era of positionless basketball in the NBA, it is important that the big man defend the perimeter and be able to get back to the pain to rim protect.
As the play starts, you will see Zubac out as far as the three-point line helping Brandon Ingram with containment. As the ball moves he rotates back to rim as Alfonso McKinnie goes up for the dunk. It didn’t end well for him.
As Zubac is gaining confidence, he is taking the ball strong to the rim and scoring as well as defending the paint. The Warriors big men, McKinnie and Kevon Looney looked very tentative in the paint. When they received similar passes, they were going up weak and getting their shots contested. Zubac was the exact opposite.
Boy this lesson is going to be good!