The Milwaukee Bucks and Brook Lopez pulled a fast one on the rest of the NBA in the 2018-19 NBA season. Behind an MVP season from Giannis Antentokounmpo, the Bucks won 60 games and finished with the best record in the NBA.
Though Antentokounmpo was the driving force and ultimate determinant of Milwaukee's success, the Bucks also saw growth from Malcolm Brogdon and Pat Connaughton in addition to major contributions from veterans such as Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and George Hill.
One of the more underrated additions to last year's roster was center Brook Lopez. The 11-year man out of Stanford did not post a huge stat line for Milwaukee–he averaged 12.5 points and 4.9 rebounds–but the way in which he adapted his game was vital for the Bucks.
Brook Lopez used to be more of a traditional, low-post big man who used an assortment of jump hooks and power moves in the paint to score on smaller defenders. Last year, he committed to playing from the perimeter and spacing the floor for Antentokounmpo to work.
The Bucks let Brogdon walk as a restricted free agent, but their decision to bring Lopez back on a four-year, $52 million deal could prove to be one of the best moves the team will have made this offseason.
More shooting needed
Milwaukee has lost a number of shooters this summer. Brogdon is headed to Indiana, and Nikola Mirotic is headed back to the Euroleague after being offered a record contract by the FC Barcelona basketball club.
Retaining Lopez gives the Bucks one more shooter who will return to the floor next year. After attempting a mere 31 3-pointers in his first eight years in the NBA, Lopez has since become a reliable stretch big man.
Last season, he shot a career-high 36.5 percent beyond the arc on 6.3 attempts per game, and his 512 threes attempted led the Bucks.
The Bucks will be counting on big improvements from Antentokounmpo, Bledsoe, Connaughton and Hill in terms of perimeter shooting. Ultimately, Lopez is the most reliable and steadiest option, and his presence as a big who can step out and shoot the three will continue to open up the paint for Antentokounmpo to slash and post up.
Fits the system
Lopez has always been a sturdy shot-blocker and adequate defender, given that he is far from the most agile or athletic center in the league.
But under Mike Budenholzer, Lopez thrived on the defensive end. He averaged 2.2 blocks per game last season (a career high), and his defensive rating of 103 per 100 possessions was also the best number of his career, according to Basketball-Reference.
The Bucks had the best defensive scheme in basketball. Predicated on physical personnel and help defense, they smothered opponents and rarely allowed slashers to penetrate to the rim, often forcing opposing teams to be perimeter-oriented.
As someone who can clog the lane and use his physicality, Lopez fits Milwaukee's team defensive scheme perfectly. Look for another big year of shot-blocking from Brook.
Playoff hero?
Lopez showed the kind of impact he could have on both sides of the floor in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, when he poured in 29 points and added 11 rebounds and four blocks.
Even though the Bucks would lose four straight games to the Toronto Raptors, Lopez did everything he could to keep Milwaukee in the series in Game 5 and Game 6. He scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while also registering a plus-minus of +11 in Game 5, then scored 18 points with nine boards and three blocks in Game 6.
The bottom line for Milwaukee is that Antentokounmpo needs to be more of a threat from the perimeter. But if the Bucks can get a high level of production from Lopez, they will be all the more dangerous given his inside-out game and two-way abilities.
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