On the one hand I do appreciate that he's frustrated with himself. Early in the game he was trying to dunk everything and I was excited about that. As the game went on he just couldn't keep up that level of fire. He came up with one big block, but just looking at him get up and down the floor, he's not in shape. He can't run at this pace, his shot is flat, he has trouble maintaining effort on either end. He hasn't played significant minutes in months since his ankle injury and he's just far from playing shape. In the same way that Kuzma is playing his way into regular season minutes, Zubac is playing his way out of them. It may end up being a direct correlation actually if the Lakers go small ball with Randle/Nance at the 5 spot.
My only guess is the speed has gone up and he isn't in shape. Magic wasn't joking around when he said get in shape. Zubac has 4 months to get aclimated to the new regime of top notch shape and speedy offense and defense. Otherwise he will be gone before he knows it.
Honestly Zubac doesn't fit with the way we're trying to play. We may have to package him with Clarkson at the deadline.
Yep. SL has for whatever reason caught him totally off guard with finding out just how far from being in great shape he is. He's been losing the weight and methodically working on his repertoire, including what seems silly now for him, a sky hook. But if he's acknowledging that the game seems faster this year then he really isn't close to in good shape. He ought to be just watching him and picking Lopez's brain out there, and trying to keep up with him in his running drills. Brook is bigger and heavier than he is but also in better shape. The honeymoon and feel good part of his Lakers dream come true story has come to a screeching halt this 2nd summer league. Where's Gunnar in all this? Zu's never looked this bad.
If he can't improve his footspeed, he can maybe be a more skilled version of Pachulia. Zubac just has to find his niche and keep working hard. I appreciate that he understands his limitations and struggles right now. Hopefully he takes all this to heart. He once said he wanted to be our new Kareem, well maybe he didn't realize Kareem was one of the best conditioned athletes of all time at the Center position.
I don't want to sound negative here, but I don't think he can. He isn't built for this. Even if he is in shape, his physical skills aren't adaptable to this kind of game. Zubac may have to go do what Randle did this off season. He would need to shred 20 pounds and become a track star, haha.
Time to park yourself at the sand dunes and work on cardio. Just months ago we were ready to give him the starting center position but now he looks like a project still. If he can't get out of this funk and Kuzma doesn't hit the wall, Zu isn't getting a lot of minutes. Brook will play the majority and we'll probably go small with Nance or Randle.
Why? So he can foul out in the 1st half of each game? Black was a good dude, but he wouldn't have lasted. This new regime is no joke. They are ready to bring in young studs and vets who can ball. It's not complicated actually. The only marginal players the Lakers are bringing in are those who can shoot.
Good news for Zu is getting the eye opener now. No reason he can't get in shape and run the floor other than if he just can't mentally take it. If he wants to play he needs to go start running sprints. Then full court layup drills with a variety of good and bad passes to control and score. None of this plodding along. He has to Sprint. If he has the guts to do it he can. I think he will. Embarrassment and pride will push him.
Gunnar's got to do work on Zu's fitness. As much as i have enjoyed his growth during his rookie year its pretty disheartening watching him play this summer.
Actually, I am not disheartened. I am extremely happy. Not because Zubac is struggling but Zubac struggling actually made me realize how much things have changed. Randle turning into a bodybuilder didn't hit me because he has been a lousy player mentally for 2 years, but Zubac is a guy I like a lot and respect and the fact that he is struggling made me realize that change has happened and the Lakers org is a year away from possibly being a title contender again.
You don't think Zubac is going to foul out quickly? Not saying Black would've started or even get extended minutes. It just would've been exciting to see his energy with this new style of play we have.
