Behind the Bucks Pass
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks: Wading through Brook Lopez’s three-point struggles

By Jordan Treske

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks runs backcourt during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum on October 28, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks runs backcourt during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum on October 28, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Milwaukee Bucks big man Brook Lopez has started off his 2019-20 season with worrisome shooting struggles from three-point range and it’s affected the team’s overall efficiency as a result.

After showing some troublesome signs to kick off their campaign, the Milwaukee Bucks look to be planted on steady ground 10 games into their 2019-20 season.

Standing at 7-3, the Bucks are coming off a successful four-game road trip playing against respectable to strong Western Conference opponents, which was capped off with an uncomfortably thrilling 121-119 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

More from Bucks News

And it was a huge, critical three-pointer from starting big man Brook Lopez that gave the Bucks a timely bucket after they had melted down in the previous 90 seconds late in the fourth frame, all of which paved the way for the Bucks to take a victory that was too close for comfort in the end.

The sight of seeing Lopez knocking down shots from long distance has been a little rarer than all Bucks fans expected coming into the season, though.

Through the Bucks’ first 10 games, the 31-year-old is averaging 10.3 points on 34-of-88 shooting from the field (38.6 percent) and is 16-for-54 from downtown (29.6 percent) and it’s that latter figure that shows that Splash Mountain is undergoing some maintenance to start the season.

Delve deeper into Lopez’s shot profile to start the year and you get a clearer picture of just how deep his shooting struggles go. That’s in a very literal sense as Lopez’s deep sharpshooting has been off the mark as he’s 10-of-42 on shots taken from 25-29 feet, a mark of 23.8 percent, per NBA.com/stats.

That obviously overlaps with the very spots Lopez primarily sets up shop at in the Bucks’ offensive system, that being from above the break behind the three-point line. Lopez has found some solace in the corner spots where he’s gone 6-for-11 from to start the season (54.5 percent). And Lopez is shooting a paltry 27.5 percent on the 51 catch-and-shoot opportunities he’s attempted so far this season.

The question that all Bucks fans are wondering is what is the basis behind Lopez’s early shooting woes, and perhaps it’s not surprising to see him struggle to find the bottom of the net after an incredibly busy summer playing for Team USA. Lopez didn’t register much of a role for the Americans throughout their run during this year’s FIBA World Cup, but when he did see the floor, he failed to hit from the FIBA three-point line going 3-of-19 over the competition (15.8 percent).

The combination of those two factors are not insignificant and while it may just be a simple shooting slump for Lopez, it undoubtedly looms over his poor shooting start to the season.

Lopez has managed to provide some offensive value beyond the spacing he supplies the likes of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe to attack the pain to fill out the Bucks’ multi-dimensional attack. In fact, Lopez has provided an outlet in the post for the Bucks to turn to in the occasions when they need a bucket and he ranks in the 87th percentile on post up opportunities for players around the league.

And there’s certainly reason for optimism that Lopez can turn around his three-point shooting troubles as he’s connected on 90.5 percent of his 21 free throw attempts to start the season.

Next. Bucks: Middleton to reportedly miss several weeks due to injury. dark

Like all high volume shooters, Lopez will break through this season-opening cold spell, but the question is when he’ll be able to do so for a Bucks team that recently just lost one of their most adept three-point threats in Khris Middleton to injury.

Home/Bucks News