A Brook Lopez at its best, it changes everything for the Bucks. Last season, the Milwaukee center was limited after back surgery at the start of the year and he had only played 13 games before the playoffs.
This season, the Bucks’ “7-footer” is much more legged and impressive on defense with a league-best 3.6 block average and 6.4 rebounds in 31 minutes per game. For example, he repelled 5 shots against Houston or 6 against Brooklyn.
“It’s all about timing”, entrust the player. “If I was facing Brook, I wouldn’t test him”, adds Giannis Antetokounmpo. “He rides on everything, he’s so tall, his timing is great. He against everything. »
Brook Lopez, with his scope, size and reading, is invaluable in the defense of the Bucks. When he is totally mobile, in addition to his counters, he makes the difference on the “drop coverage”, on the pick-and-roll.
“Defensively, he’s a monster”
So it’s no coincidence that the Bucks currently have the best defense in the league, with only 103 points conceded on 100 possessions, as they were in 2019 and 2020. It’s simple: since the 2018/2019 season , the 2021 champions have always been among the ten best defenses in the NBA… except last season (14th), when Brook Lopez was absent for 69 games.
“He changes things in the racket”notes Mike Budenholzer “We asked him to do it even more this season, he accepts it. We must pay tribute to him. He has great timing to challenge and block shots and also keep rebounding. He is really excellent in defense. We rely on him a lot. »
With Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Jevon Carter or even Bobby Portis, and while waiting for Khris Middleton, plus this Brook Lopez found, the Bucks can clearly travel far in defense this season.
“Thank God he is with us”, rejoices the Greek. “He also does the screens late, which allows me, like Portis, to take the rebounds. He does all the unseen work necessary for a team. Defensively, he’s a monster. We are excited to have him with us, healthy, all season long. »
| Brook Lopez | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2008-09 | NJN | 82 | 31 | 53.1 | 0.0 | 79.3 | 2.7 | 5.4 | 8.1 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 13.0 |
| 2009-10 | NJN | 82 | 37 | 49.9 | 0.0 | 81.7 | 3.3 | 5.4 | 8.7 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 18.8 |
| 2010-11 | NJN | 82 | 35 | 49.2 | 0.0 | 78.7 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 20.4 |
| 2011-12 | NJN | 5 | 27 | 49.4 | 0.0 | 62.5 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 19.2 |
| 2012-13 | BRK | 74 | 31 | 52.1 | 0.0 | 75.8 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 6.9 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 19.4 |
| 2013-14 | BRK | 17 | 31 | 56.3 | 0.0 | 81.7 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | BRK | 72 | 29 | 51.3 | 10.0 | 81.4 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 17.2 |
| 2015-16 | BRK | 73 | 34 | 51.1 | 14.3 | 78.7 | 2.8 | 5.1 | 7.9 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 20.6 |
| 2016-17 | BRK | 75 | 30 | 47.4 | 34.6 | 81.0 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 20.5 |
| 2017-18 | ALL | 74 | 23 | 46.5 | 34.5 | 70.3 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 13.0 |
| 2018-19 | MIL | 81 | 29 | 45.2 | 36.5 | 84.2 | 0.4 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 12.5 |
| 2019-20 | MIL | 68 | 27 | 43.5 | 31.4 | 83.6 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 12.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIL | 70 | 27 | 50.3 | 33.8 | 84.5 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 12.3 |
| 2021-22 | MIL | 13 | 23 | 46.6 | 35.8 | 87.0 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 12.4 |
| 2022-23 | MIL | 4 | 30 | 37.0 | 27.6 | 83.3 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 11.8 |
| Total | 872 | 30 | 49.3 | 34.0 | 79.6 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 16.4 | |
