The Key Will Be Defense

[madmaxmedia]

We’ve needed a wing for years, now we got 2 of the best and flashiest in the league. It’s a 3-point shooting league, and if we keep Green we will have plenty of that too.

I think this team, loaded with superstars and role players, has a unique opportunity to really define itself by its defense, and get the entire roster to buy in. Because not only did we pick up 2 great defenders in Kawhi and PG, but they are not your typical AAA superstars- Kawhi has always been his own cat, and PG has shown a willingness to share the spotlight not only in re-signing with OKC but his willingness to accompany Kawhi to LA.

Who will take the shots in crunch time? What’s the line up in the last 2 minutes? Those are sort of important things to ponder, but if we set the tone and identity of the team with our defense we are winning a title, period (looking at you PBev.) We are deep and loaded enough that the rest will literally take care of itself. We might go through some tough spots like all teams do, but as long as every player remembers what this team can accomplish on defense I won’t be worried at all.

Who’s with me?

[Quake Griffin]

Can Zubs protect the rim?

We’re solid on the perimeter.

[QRich3]

I'm fully with you. Wing defense will be great, not just because of the Bev-Kawhi-George trio, but because we have two pit bulls coming after them in McGruder and Harkless. But it's hard to have a top defense when your big men aren't great, Zubac has a lot of trouble to defend the pick'n'roll and when he gets put in open space, and Trez has been improving with rim protection, but he still has a lot of trouble making the right reads. Plus we're gonna have to play Lou a lot in key situations, and he's a weakness that can be easily exploited.

As usual with this team since I can remember, the defense worries me a lot more than the offense.

[madmaxmedia]

We're certainly not perfect at all positions, but we have a lot of strength at the most important positions now. I think the issue with super teams is that there ends up being internal discord about offensive opportunities for certain players, I think we have a unique opportunity for this NOT to happen with us, and for the lead guys to set the tone by focusing on defensive teamwork and intensity.

As we discussed in the Zubac contract thread, he's young and still developing- he will likely be a bargain in contract years 3 and 4, but still has some growing to do now. I think he will buy into the team concept and works on his defense, Rivers has had enough time to assess his dedication and we wouldn't have re-signed him to that contract if we had any doubts. I don't think he was a sieve last year, and did play a significant role in our late regular season success overall.

[madmaxmedia]

I guess my thinking is that if we lose some low-scoring games early I won't be worried- even if we sometimes look ugly on offense and people are questioning the team. I'll be more worried if we lose some high scoring games early- even if PG/Kawhi/etc. look great in the highlights.

[esqtvd]

Read on Twitter

[FlipFlopShot]

I trust the defense.
All that is left will be if we have enough facilitators to last through the regular season.

[madmaxmedia]

Read on Twitter

He also previously posted some positive stats about Zu's defense. I'm no authority on this or defense in general, but when I see Zu on the court I see a classic big man with excellent footwork and pretty good court awareness and athleticism. Not in a guard 4 different positions way, but someone who can become a good rim protector IMO. He was clearly a big upgrade over Gortat in multiple ways (which granted is a low bar.) He just needs time, seasoning, and some work in the lab.

[madmaxmedia]

Here is an article he posted:
http://butthegameison.com/thebeat/2019/04/02/the-l-a-zu/

Defensively, there’s no telling what Ivica Zubac could be. He just recently turned 22 years old and has all the makings of a quality defensive difference maker for years to come. It’ll behoove the Los Angeles Clippers to re-sign him as a restricted free agent this summer, especially if his asking price isn’t anything exorbitant, which it probably won’t be.

At the end of the day, the Clippers got a viable defensive anchor for nothing. It cost them Mike Muscala, a player they had no use for whatsoever. In a few years, that could look like one of the biggest steals in recent trade history. For now, it’s helped the Los Angeles Clippers have an increased identity on defense.

[Young Sterling]

I just read the Zubac article and looked at the stats Russo's posted about Trez v Boogie & The Brow. I'm feeling a bit better. The only position I'm worried about is the Center position. What are the stats on Zubac matchups with Ad/Boogie? Does he fare well against em?

Also, if they really wanna play Lebron at PG like I'm hearing... I hope we start Pat Bev at point lol...

[nickhx2]

imo it's not really even about how zubac will fare against better players in a vacuum.

it's about how he fits within the construct of the entire defense and allows the rest of the guys to shut down other key players. even if zubac takes a beating against superior players. zubac is going to be the guy we're sacrificing on a lot of nights, but with everyone else doing their thing that will hopefully lead to our advantage in other aspects of a game.

[FactorZ99]

My concern is Zu defending without fouling

[esqtvd]

My concern is Zu defending without fouling

5.1 fouls per 36 minutes with the Lakers
4.4 fouls per 36 as a Clipper

but that's cool because

a) he won't play 36 minutes
b) even if he becomes Ivaca "6 Fouls" Zubac, so what?

Here is an article [Justin Russo] posted:
http://butthegameison.com/thebeat/2019/04/02/the-l-a-zu/

At the end of the day, the Clippers got a viable defensive anchor for nothing. It cost them Mike Muscala, a player they had no use for whatsoever. In a few years, that could look like one of the biggest steals in recent trade history. For now, it’s helped the Los Angeles Clippers have an increased identity on defense.

The article Max posted is really cool, with video how Zu defended the pick and roll. The on-ball defender goes OVER the screen to run him off the 3-point line [which is why it always looked like Austin and Avery were getting "beat" by their man], then Zubac sits back and defends the rim from the penetrator, while the first defender switches to close out the trailer.

Not only does Zubac protect the rim, the opps' 3-pt attempts go down.

That’s not all, though. Zubac has excelled when the guard defender on his team goes over the pick against the ball-handler, which is something Clippers guards often do thanks to the scheme that they use. Their goal is to force ball-handlers off of the three-point line in pick-and-roll settings by going over the top of screens and pushing them towards the center. It puts a lot of pressure on a guy like Zubac to be in position at all times and use his feet extremely well, and it’s something he’s done at a high level already.

According to Synergy, among the 195 players that have defended at least 80 total possessions where they’ve guarded the pick-and-roll ball-handler after the defender has gone over the top of the screen, Zubac ranks third in points per possession allowed, which puts him in the 98th percentile. Gortat, on the other hand, ranked 85th, or in the 56th percentile.

I've been a skeptic on Zu's contract and even future, but Zubac's role is such that you only really notice him when he screws up. Great article, props to Justin Russo.

And to Zubac. Which is why the Clippers brain trust just gave him some serious coin. I feel much better now.

[Mattatron]

hey guys, been a big leonard fan and a basketball nerd, also will watch some clippers games in the near future, but is there any other trick jerry has left in his sleeve ? you guys need an upgrade at the 1 and 5. one of both. KL is not that good of a passer. i don't trust Bev offensively to lead a team round for round even with PG and KL. a good floor general would be nice. lou will could be an option but he's a liability on D and his % in the playoffs always been pretty bad. i have zero worries about the D as long as you Load Managing Kawhi (do you?) a fluid offense coming from an pg would be pretty helpful. that kawhi asked about kyrie's availability says a lot. lowry matched perfectly on court with kawhi. someone like him would be great or at the 5 someone who stretches floor.

[madmaxmedia]

hey guys, been a big leonard fan and a basketball nerd, also will watch some clippers games in the near future, but is there any other trick jerry has left in his sleeve ? you guys need an upgrade at the 1 and 5. one of both. KL is not that good of a passer. i don't trust Bev offensively to lead a team round for round even with PG and KL. a good floor general would be nice. lou will could be an option but he's a liability on D and his % in the playoffs always been pretty bad. i have zero worries about the D as long as you Load Managing Kawhi (do you?) a fluid offense coming from an pg would be pretty helpful. that kawhi asked about kyrie's availability says a lot. lowry matched perfectly on court with kawhi. someone like him would be great or at the 5 someone who stretches floor.

I feel landing a stretch 5 is probably an unrealistic hope for us now, I am pretty happy with the Zu/Harrell tandem.
We do need another PG, I imagine our FO is mulling over options. I think it's more likely we find a decent backup PG rather than anything more significant.
Although I guess the Clippers just watched the Amare Stoudemire and Monta Ellis workout.

[madmaxmedia]

My concern is Zu defending without fouling

5.1 fouls per 36 minutes with the Lakers
4.4 fouls per 36 as a Clipper

but that's cool because

a) he won't play 36 minutes
b) even if he becomes Ivaca "6 Fouls" Zubac, so what?

Exactly! That's why I'm pretty happy with the Zu/Harrell tandem at center.

Maybe in a year or so Zu will be able to play more MPG, right now it doesn't matter.

I've been a skeptic on Zu's contract and even future, but Zubac's role is such that you only really notice him when he screws up. Great article, props to Justin Russo.

And to Zubac. Which is why the Clippers brain trust just gave him some serious coin. I feel much better now.

Yeah, it's weird he's a guy that just totally passed my eye test after we traded for him. He's relatively mobile for his size, slides around the paint pretty effortlessly, and can slowly extend his range (80% FT). No he's not going to be an All-Star but he's a good young player.

We could have gotten him for less per year on a shorter deal, but we have the cap space now and as we've discussed he will be a bargain in years 3 and 4 IMO.

[QRich3]

imo it's not really even about how zubac will fare against better players in a vacuum.

it's about how he fits within the construct of the entire defense and allows the rest of the guys to shut down other key players. even if zubac takes a beating against superior players. zubac is going to be the guy we're sacrificing on a lot of nights, but with everyone else doing their thing that will hopefully lead to our advantage in other aspects of a game.

Yeah, this is it, what is Anthony Davis gonna do to him, post him up?? if that's the plan, let him go every possession, it'd lower the offensive efficiency of the Lakers so it'd be a great gameplan. The NBA is not about individual match ups anymore, Davis scores off the pick'n'roll and off secondary actions, he can face him up a time or two, but again, if that's their gameplan, let him go cause it favors us.

Problem with Zubac is mobility, if you put him on space he can't cover a lot of ground and that's why he was played out of the rotation by Golden State last year. It's not a big problem in the regular season, but in the postseason in certain match ups, can make him be unusable. We saw just last year with the Raptors how important it is to have a full rotation of guys with not a big weakness that can be exploited, and we have a bunch of guys that can be exploited like that. Guys with big upside but also a big downside.

He's young and improving though, so at the very least he'll man the starting spot at C for 20 minutes a night, which is more than enough for what he's paid. But yeah, I also like our rotation at C just like it is, Zu and Trez + spot minutes for JaMykal at C is more than enough to cover 48 minutes a night, and if there's injuries we have Kabangele who we need to introduce into the rotation slowly. Grabbing another big guy just kills his chances at any sort of playing time and slows his development.

[Ranma]

Watch on YouTube

[Ranma]

[illastrate]

Can Zubs protect the rim?

We’re solid on the perimeter.

No rush. We have until buyout season to add another rim protector. Players will become available.