Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac is looking forward to facing the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.
Why? Zubac expects to dominate versus the Mavs since Dwight Powell is out with an Achilles injury.
“I feel like I can get to offensive rebounds more,” Zubac said, via ClutchPoints' Tomer Azarly.
“I feel like rolling through the pocket, it feels like I have more space. You know, I just feel physically that I can get a lot of offensive rebounds. Their starting center, Dwight Powell, is out, so I think physically I can really take advantage of that of that match-up.”
Zubac is putting up 11.3 points and 11.1 rebounds in seven seeding games in the Orlando bubble including a perfect shooting night against the Mavs during their recent meeting. If he can produce those numbers in the playoffs, the Clippers could possibly run away with the NBA championship since they are going to get superstar numbers from Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
While you have to appreciate Zubac's confidence, it's worth mentioning that the Mavs have Boban Marjanovic and Kristaps Porzingis, two seven-footers, to protect the rim. With that said, Zubac will have to be strong with the ball in the post and take it up with force since Marjanovic and Porzingis are really good shot blockers.
Overall on the season, Zubac is averaging 8.3 points and 7.6 boards in 71 appearances. He's shooting an efficient 61.3 percent from the field.
Los Angeles basketball fans are hoping the Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers meet in the 2020 Western Conference Finals. After the Lakers defeated the Clippers in the opening seeding game, the two L.A. teams split their season series.
Ivica Zubac would love nothing more than to face the Lakers in the conference finals since he began his NBA career with the Purple and Gold. He was traded by Magic Johnson with Michael Beasley to the Clippers for Mike Muscala, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder now.
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