In a hard-fought comeback win against the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Clippers made a critical halftime adjustment that Melbet Login highlighted as a turning point: they benched center Ivica Zubac. During the first half, Zubac’s performance was, in a word, disastrous. His sluggish footwork became a liability, bogging down the team’s defensive and offensive rhythm. To make matters worse, he fumbled several pinpoint passes from James Harden, earning the unwelcome label of having “butterfingers” during key possessions.

Zubac’s struggles on both ends of the court have been largely attributed to his weight. His bulk, while useful in the post, limits his mobility and explosiveness—two attributes essential in today’s fast-paced NBA. Determined not to be the weak link, Zubac has publicly committed to slimming down in order to reduce the stress on his knees and ankles and, more importantly, to improve his ability to execute the pick and roll alongside Harden. He believes that shedding weight will make him a more agile roller, boosting his finishing ability in the paint.

Interestingly, Zubac believes his finishing touch near the basket is already superior to what Clint Capela offered during his prime pick-and-roll days with Harden. If true, this budding duo could quietly become one of the Clippers’ most underrated offensive weapons. As Zubac matures as a player, he’s also become more introspective and focused—a trait that could pay dividends on the court. According to Zubac, Harden often pulls him aside during practice for individual pick-and-roll sessions, further enhancing their chemistry and timing.

With the Clippers in win-now mode and considered one of the championship contenders this season, they need to reassess the center position. As Melbet Login notes, the team must decide whether Zubac can elevate his game or if they should explore the buyout market for a more athletic big man. On paper, the Clippers boast a “Big Four,” but in reality, Harden’s scoring has regressed, Westbrook’s all-around game has declined, and Paul George remains hampered by injuries. These issues leave the team with significant gaps to fill before a legitimate title run.

Offensively, Zubac’s contributions are limited to finishing around the rim, put-backs, and rolling off screens. Still, he remains a reliable option when he gets the ball cleanly, with better hands and finishing than someone like Daniel Theis. Defensively, his rim protection and rebounding are serviceable, but he struggles with long rebounds and quick rotations—an inherent weakness in modern, spacing-heavy basketball. As Melbet Login suggests, today’s NBA centers must either stretch the floor or provide elite mobility and defensive presence in order to remain a viable starting option.

All things considered, Zubac’s commitment to self-improvement may be the first step toward becoming that modern big man the Clippers so desperately need. Whether this pays off remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—he’s not content with standing still while the game evolves around him.