On April 19, former NBA player Matt Barnes spoke highly of Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac in the well-known podcast All The Smoke. He admitted that although Zubac could not really limit the performance of the league's top center Nikola Jokic, he could force Jokic to put more energy on the defensive end in the matchup, which is of great strategic value to any team facing the Nuggets.

" Zubac is a seriously underestimated player, " Barnes said. " He averaged very impressive data this season, nearly 17 points and 13 rebounds. Although he can't really stop Jokic, he can make Jokic less relaxed on the defensive end. This is very important against the Nuggets. "

According to statistics, Zubac's performance in the Clippers this season has been stable, averaging 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He not only showed a tough style in rebounding, but also had a certain low-post scoring ability and support vision, becoming an important cornerstone of the Clippers' inside line. Compared with the past few seasons, his presence and role on the court have been significantly improved, making him an indispensable role player in the current Western Conference championship.

Barnes also recalled how Zubac joined the Clippers. " If I remember correctly, the Clippers traded him from the Lakers for Muscala. It was a sneak attack. Now it seems that Zubac has far exceeded people's expectations of him. "

Zubac's ability to confront top centers has indeed always been the focus of attention of fans and experts. Although he cannot completely limit the opponent's performance on the defensive end when facing an MVP-level player like Jokic, his role is to force the opponent to participate in defense through active offense and no longer be able to save energy, which is a very critical part of the Clippers' overall defensive strategy.

Currently, the Clippers are at a critical stage in their playoff journey, and Zubac's performance directly affects whether the team can go further in the fierce competition in the Western Conference. If he can continue his regular season form and remain stable in the playoffs, he will not only be a " stabilizer " for the Clippers' inside line , but may also become the "X factor " that determines the fate of the team . As Barnes said, Zubac may not be the most dazzling star, but he plays an indispensable role in the team system.