Brook Lopez’ emergence into a high-volume three-point-launching trebuchet, raining projectiles with length and precision onto the craniums of his foes, was one of the more fun storylines of last season. But With his shooting percentage from behind the arc taking a fairly dramatic plunge so far this year, I can feel safe in suggesting that he take some steps inside the arc and resume dominating players in the post like he used to with the Nets.
I don’t think I ever went so far as to say that the Bucks should run more Lopez post-ups last year; I wanted them to, but only because I’ve enjoyed that aspect of Lopez’ game for a long time. But what he was doing last year was working, and there was no reason to mess with success. Now, with his gravity from three limited, perhaps we can see a bit of a return to the old days for him. Not too much, but a bit.
Remember that game early in the season against Houston where Giannis Antetokounmpo fouled out and Lopez basically carried the Bucks across the finish line with his post play? It worked that game, and it worked this game too; the first play of the game was a designed Lopez post-up, which he converted easily. I’m thinking that while Giannis sits (like he did all of tonight, “sore back”, what a joke), Lopez can feast without worrying too much about clogging up the paint. It’s like free points, basically.