The Bucks’ big man will look to continue defeating Father Time
As we continue on with our Ranking the Roster series, Brook Lopez has finally heard his name called, slotting in at the No. 4 position.
We all know the transformation Lopez had when he first came to the Bucks, re-defining his game to feature a 3-point shot and serving as the anchor for a stifling Milwaukee defense. As he enters his seventh season with Milwaukee (wow, seven years already), one thing remains the biggest question. Will he be able to continue fending off Father Time?
Taking a look at his game, the stand-out trait from his long run of success has been the impact he makes on the defensive end. Ever since becoming a Buck, he’s consistently exhibited elite rim protection. On so many possessions, he alters shots in the drop coverage scheme and sits as the last line of defense. Despite the chaos of different coverages from Adrian Griffin and then the transitions to Joe Prunty to Doc Rivers, Lopez still averaged 2.4 blocks per game last season.
His 3-point shot continued to grow as well. Last season marked the first time since his inaugural season in Milwaukee where he averaged over five attempts per game from beyond the perimeter. While some Bucks fans have clamored for that number to go down, it still serves as a lethal weapon that the team can resort to.
The veteran leadership is also something that goes without saying, but is also something that can be forgotten about in situations like this. Last year in the locker room when the Bucks were going through a rough stretch, I recall Lopez and Andre Jackson Jr. sitting together following a loss. Brook was walking AJax through certain situations on the floor and giving him guidance. Giannis was also chiming in. Lopez kept telling AJax that he and the team will be fine.
Like any player, Lopez does have his negatives. One of those is his rebounding. Despite his size, he isn’t a dominant rebounder. If the other team has a more athletic center, the likelihood is that Lopez will be out-rebounded. Since he focuses more on shot-blocking and positioning for defense, he’s often out of position for rebounds, sort of making it a trade-off in regards to value you get.
He also doesn’t boast the best lateral quickness. If he’s forced to switch onto quicker guards or wings, it can result in trouble for Milwaukee. This can leave him vulnerable in situations such as pick-and-rolls against teams that like to spread the floor.
Last, the looming question remains centered around his age. Right now, I wouldn’t list it as a problem. But eventually, it’s going to become one. I don’t know if it’ll be this year or next year, or maybe even the year after that. However, it’s a question that the Bucks have to be thinking about, both from a short-term and long-term picture. For their sake, they hope that he’ll continue winning the longevity battle.
Now, on to the polls!
Now it’s time for you to decide who will be No. 3 in our series:
As always, both of these polls will close at 8 a.m. tomorrow!