How does Zubac match up against Jokic?

uncleduck13 · Post #1 » by **uncleduck13** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:00 pm

I haven’t paid any attention to the Clippers / Nuggets matchups. I just know Zubac is a really good player. How does he perform against Joker? Does he score well against him? Does he defend him well? Can he somewhat neutralize him?

Sixers in 4 · Post #2 » by **Sixers in 4** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:02 pm

uncleduck13 wrote:I haven’t paid any attention to the Clippers / Nuggets matchups. I just know Zubac is a really good player. How does he perform against Joker? Does he score well against him? Does he defend him well? Can he somewhat neutralize him?

I think he takes away much of the post.

If the Joker 3PT shooting is on and it has been all year (though spotty throughout his career) he cooks him on the perimeter. If it's not we have ourselves a series.

kazyv · Post #3 » by **kazyv** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:06 pm

uncleduck13 wrote:I haven’t paid any attention to the Clippers / Nuggets matchups. I just know Zubac is a really good player. How does he perform against Joker? Does he score well against him? Does he defend him well? Can he somewhat neutralize him?

The problem with Jokic stoppers is always that having to guard Jokic takes away from their basket protection. Zubac has been doing pretty well on defense for the clippers in part because he was able to protect the basket. If he has to guard Jokic on the perimeter, it will certainly make it hard on the Clippers interior defense.

That's also in part why the Wolves could do well vs the Nuggets. They never had to have Gobert guard Jokic, so he could still provide his shot blocking on Jokic double teams and on the rest of the nuggets

uncleduck13 · Post #4 » by **uncleduck13** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:07 pm

Sixers in 4 wrote:
uncleduck13 wrote:I haven’t paid any attention to the Clippers / Nuggets matchups. I just know Zubac is a really good player. How does he perform against Joker? Does he score well against him? Does he defend him well? Can he somewhat neutralize him?

I think he takes away much of the post.

If the Joker 3PT shooting is on and it has been all year (though spotty throughout his career) he cooks him on the perimeter. If it's not we have ourselves a series.

Interesting. I only ask because I think the Clippers clearly win the perimeter game. As long as Zu doesn’t let Joker do him like he did DeAndre Ayton, Clippers should win series IMO.

uncleduck13 · Post #5 » by **uncleduck13** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:08 pm

kazyv wrote:
uncleduck13 wrote:I haven’t paid any attention to the Clippers / Nuggets matchups. I just know Zubac is a really good player. How does he perform against Joker? Does he score well against him? Does he defend him well? Can he somewhat neutralize him?

The problem with Jokic stoppers is always that having to guard Jokic takes away from their basket protection. Zubac has been doing pretty well on defense for the clippers in part because he was able to protect the basket. If he has to guard Jokic on the perimeter, it will certainly make it hard on the Clippers interior defense.

That's also in part why the Wolves could do well vs the Nuggets. They never had to have Gobert guard Jokic, so he could still provide his shot blocking on Jokic double teams and on the rest of the nuggets

Yeah I worry about Zu being dragged out to the perimeter against Joker

The Master · Post #6 » by **The Master** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:11 pm

He was pretty great, statistically, in the past two regular seasons:

Jokic while defended by Zubac:

2024/25: 15/34 FG, 10 AST, 9 TOV
2023/24: 13/39 FG, 11 AST, 7 TOV

uncleduck13 · Post #7 » by **uncleduck13** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:16 pm

The Master wrote:He was pretty great, statistically, in the past two regular seasons:

Jokic while defended by Zubac:

2024/25: 15/34 FG, 10 AST, 9 TOV
2023/24: 13/39 FG, 11 AST, 7 TOV

Thanks for the information. Clippers in no more than 6

Sharkboy242 · Post #8 » by **Sharkboy242** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:21 pm

BBQ chicken

Expect Zubac to be in the g league after this one.

MyTake_1 · Post #9 » by **MyTake_1** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:52 pm

The Master wrote:He was pretty great, statistically, in the past two regular seasons:

Jokic while defended by Zubac:

2024/25: 15/34 FG, 10 AST, 9 TOV
2023/24: 13/39 FG, 11 AST, 7 TOV

Where are you getting these stats?
Check ESPN and tell me their stats are wrong

The Master · Post #10 » by **The Master** » Sun Apr 13, 2025 11:54 pm

MyTake_1 wrote:Where are you getting these stats?
Check ESPN and tell me their stats are wrong

From NBA.com matchup tracking. https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1627826/head-to-head?Season=2024-25&dir=D&sort=MATCHUP_FGA

Sixers in 4 · Post #11 » by **Sixers in 4** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:03 am

uncleduck13 wrote:
Sixers in 4 wrote:
uncleduck13 wrote:I haven’t paid any attention to the Clippers / Nuggets matchups. I just know Zubac is a really good player. How does he perform against Joker? Does he score well against him? Does he defend him well? Can he somewhat neutralize him?

I think he takes away much of the post.

If the Joker 3PT shooting is on and it has been all year (though spotty throughout his career) he cooks him on the perimeter. If it's not we have ourselves a series.

Interesting. I only ask because I think the Clippers clearly win the perimeter game. As long as Zu doesn’t let Joker do him like he did DeAndre Ayton, Clippers should win series IMO.

I have not really done a matchup against the other players but if Joker makes his 3's it's going to be tough for Zubots to defend him on the perimeter.

But yeah 3PT shooting is inherently streaky. Like back when we played the Celtics and it was at least interesting Smart would cook us. I couldn't figure out why because he was like a 29 percent 3PT shooter at that point. For whatever reason Smart always had it against us.

Does that mean you defend him differently? I dunno. With Joker he has been great this year with the 3 but has struggled at times throughout his career. If I was Zubot I would just defend the paint and make him beat you from the perimeter which could easily happen but to me it's really his only chance to defend Joker he doesn't have the footspeed to recover on pump fakes or if Jokic rolls to the basket.

I'd rather take away something than nothing with Joker you sort of pick your poison. If he cooks Zubac from the perimeter you may have to take him off the court and go smaller which will cause other problems.

MyTake_1 · Post #12 » by **MyTake_1** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:07 am

Jokic played 106 min vs Clippers this season but according to these stats was guarded by Zubac for only 25 min?

The Master · Post #13 » by **The Master** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:12 am

MyTake_1 wrote:Jokic played 106 min vs Clippers this season but according to these stats was guarded by Zubac for only 25 min?

When you divide the whole playing time in two (we're talking offensive possessions only), include different lineups, transition or switches, then yeah, him being defended for ~50% of offensive time by Zubac in tracked possessions sounds likely. These stats aren't perfect, but I don't know if we have anything better than official possessions tracker.

MyTake_1 · Post #14 » by **MyTake_1** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:21 am

The Master wrote:
MyTake_1 wrote:Jokic played 106 min vs Clippers this season but according to these stats was guarded by Zubac for only 25 min?

When you divide the whole playing time in two (we're talking offensive possessions only), include different lineups, transition or switches, then yeah, him being defended for ~50% of offensive time by Zubac in tracked possessions sounds likely. These stats aren't perfect, but I don't know if we have anything better than official possessions tracker.

These stats make no sense.

Zu will get torched by Jokic if no double team, and I mean in the post.

UglyBugBall · Post #15 » by **UglyBugBall** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:23 am

Jokic is better offensively, Zubac better defensively. Jokic has an edge but I think in the playoffs they play each other close to even.

Sofia · Post #16 » by **Sofia** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:25 am

Bringing back the war from the old country.

Jugs wrote: JEBOTE

You’re needed here. Defend your people.

MyTake_1 · Post #17 » by **MyTake_1** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:30 am

UglyBugBall wrote:Jokic is better offensively, Zubac better defensively. Jokic has an edge but I think in the playoffs they play each other close to even.

Are you serious? You are talking about one guy who basically destroys anyone that is put in front of him, compared to a competent but not exactly elite guy.

It will be close? Have you been watching any BB last 5 years?

KyRo23 · Post #18 » by **KyRo23** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:33 am

He will do okay, but he is no Rui

UglyBugBall · Post #19 » by **UglyBugBall** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:34 am

MyTake_1 wrote:
UglyBugBall wrote:Jokic is better offensively, Zubac better defensively. Jokic has an edge but I think in the playoffs they play each other close to even.

Are you serious? You are talking about one guy who basically destroys anyone that is put in front of him, compared to a competent but not exactly elite guy.

It will be close? Have you been watching any BB last 5 years?

I said I give the edge to Jokic, but it's close. If we're looking at the last 5 years obviously jokic destroys Zubac, but I'm just looking at right now. In terms of impact, Jokic is better but they're comparable at this moment.

MyTake_1 · Post #20 » by **MyTake_1** » Mon Apr 14, 2025 12:48 am

I don't expect much from the Nuggets in the PO but Clippers are about as good a match for them as there is.

We will see what Murray shows up and is MPJ going to pick up. Jokic will score whatever he wants but can't do it alone.

Nuggets have no perimeter defense so they need to outscore opponents.