We’re already almost halfway through the season! I know, it seems like just yesterday we were watching the Lakers improbably win a bunch of games with on of the worst rosters in the league. But those fun times are over now, the playoffs naught but an abstract goal to reach for next year. The Lakers have nothing to play for now except a high draft selection and the development of their young talent.
In light of that, the time has come to unleash Ivica Zubac on the league. There is no reason to delay. Zubac needs minutes in a professional environment to develop properly. That means not the D-League. I’m not saying give him 30 minutes a game right away, but ease him into a bigger and bigger role until he is straining Russo-Croat relations by taking all of Timofey Mozgov’s minutes away from him. I don’t think anyone would argue with that plan.
Zubac had his best game so far tonight, in the garbage time that so often happens when the Spurs play a team that sucks. He hit 4 shots, and played some nice defense on the ill-advised lobs that the Spurs were wildly chucking his way. This is something to build off of, and before we know it, he’ll be scoring in double-figures regularly.
Optimism!