LA Clippers: Ivica Zubac needs more minutes in the rotation

The LA Clippers are largely fine. Despite their newly acquired stars in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard missing a combined 22 games, the Clippers are 26-12 and just half a game out of the two seed.

While the LA Clippers look like a team destined for a deep playoff run on the surface, the fact remains that they are grossly under-utilizing one of their better players, and thus limiting their ceiling.

The player in question is the unheralded Ivica Zubac.

Zubac swapped locker rooms at last season’s trade deadline as the Los Angeles Lakers befuddlingly dealt the promising center to the Clippers in exchange for Mike Muscala.

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With Zubac now thriving for the 26-12 Clippers and Muscala averaging 10 minutes per game with 14 DNP-CD’s for the 7th seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s easy to see why Magic Johnson is no longer the man running things behind the scenes for the purple and gold.

The trade on the part of the Lakers was a last-ditch attempt to provide LeBron James with some spacing in order to catalyze a late playoff push. Muscala is, of course, a better shooter than Zubac, but even at the time of the trade, he was clearly the inferior player. Zubac had shown great synergy with James and was a rare bright spot in an otherwise dismal Lakers season.

Before being moved, Zubac averaged 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in just 15.6 minutes per game for the Lakers while shooting 58 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free-throw line. Per 36 minutes, he was averaging 19.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per outing.

Once swapping purple and gold for blue and red, Zubac’s play didn’t waver. As his minutes ticked up, so did his production, and it seemed the Clippers had their center of the future. A mobile, hard-playing rim runner who can protect the rim – Zubac fit in perfectly with the Clippers’ budding identity as one of the more hard-nosed teams in the NBA. Zubac, affectionately nicknamed ‘Big Zu’, was rewarded handsomely in the offseason, penning a four-year, $28 million deal to remain with the Clippers.

The Croat has gone from strength to strength and has been one of the Clippers’ more consistent players to start the season. While logging just 17.3 minutes per game due to the presence of the superb Montrezl Harrell, Zubac is averaging – per 36 – 17.4 points along with a career-high 14 rebounds and two blocks. Zubac is also shooting a career-high 59.5 percent from the field.

Zubac has also shown some ability as a playmaker. When confronted with his defender rather than an open lane once receiving the ball following a pick and roll, Zubac has proven effective in finding the open man off the short roll, adding yet another element to an already potent Clipper offense.

And while Zubac has taken strides offensively, including the addition of a mid-range jumper (6-10 on the season), it’s the defensive end where his presence has been felt most.

When Zubac is off the floor, the Clippers allow three more points per 100 possessions compared to when he’s on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. That difference ranks Zubac in the 68th percentile amongst all centers.

Rim protection is probably Zu’s calling card – and the stats back that up. Opponents shoot 2.6 percent worse at the rim when Zubac is on the court compared to when he’s on, which ranks in the 72nd percentile. Opponents also shoot 5.5 percent worse on shots between four and 14 feet when Zubac is on the court, a mark that puts Zubac in the 90th percentile.

Rebounding is another concern once Zubac exits games. The Clippers allow 3.5 percent more offensive rebounds when Zubac isn’t on the floor, which ranks in the 86th percentile. The Clippers also snag more offensive rebounds of their own – 2.7 percent more to be exact – when Zubac is on the court.

Zubac’s lack of playing time isn’t an inditement on him, rather it’s a result of the brilliant play of Harrell. Harrell averages 29.1 minutes per game – roughly 12 more than Zubac – and is putting up 19.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game off the bench.

Harrell is certainly the better player of the two, and there’s no questioning that he should get the majority of the center minutes on most nights. But for what this Clipper team needs from their five – rebounding and rim protection – Zubac is clearly the best option. Per 36 minutes, Zubac averages five more rebounds than Harrell, while also protecting the rim better (Zubac 72nd percentile in rim defense amongst all centers; Harrell 51st percentile).

Some nights, Harrell’s scoring punch is needed, whether it be because of injuries or an off night from George and/or Leonard. But generally, when the Clippers are at full health, Zubac should be closing games and averaging 21-24 minutes per night.

When George and Leonard – along with Lou Williams – are dominating the ball late in games, Harrell’s strengths are neutralized. His touches decrease, and with the Clippers’ perimeter weapons, running a post up for Harrell simply isn’t optimal. There are better options at their disposal.

Zubac, however, helps the Clippers’ closing lineups. His defense and rebounding are huge pluses, and his ability to set crushing screens only makes life easier for Leonard, George, and Williams.

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Zubac only has one gear. His motor is unrelenting – never does the 22-year-old take a possession off. With his ability to constantly play hard, rebound well and protect the rim, Zubac undoubtedly deserves more burn.