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Milwaukee Bucks: Midseason grades for every player on the roster

By Adam McGee

MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 6: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks smiles on the bench against the LA Clippers on December 6, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).
MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 6: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks smiles on the bench against the LA Clippers on December 6, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 08: (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 08: (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Brook Lopez

If I was searching for an easy way out, I’d probably opt to dish out split grades for Brook Lopez, assessing his offense and defense separately. I am not a coward, though!

What I’m getting at is that Brook is probably the Bucks player who’s most difficult to grade at this point of the season, due to the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the divide between his offensive and defensive performances.

To start with the positives, having been overlooked in terms of end of season awards and teams for his defensive play last season, Brook has come back better than ever, and dragged Milwaukee’s defense along with him.

At this point, anyone paying attention should have Brook as a lock for one of the two All-Defensive teams while, along with Giannis, he should be considered a legitimate threat to Rudy Gobert‘s reign as Defensive Player of the Year. The Bucks’ defense may be built around him to some degree, but Brook continues to advance his own understanding of just how best to play in that role.

On the opposite side of the floor, Brook is not enjoying the kind of breakout shooting year that made him such a sensation last season. To his credit, that hasn’t deterred him, and he’s continued shooting to keep opposing defenses honest. There were some signs of life before the break, but it is worth noting that his post game does give him an offensive outlet even when his jump shot is off.

Any notable improvement in Brook’s three-point shooting for what’s left of the campaign would transform Milwaukee as a team but, as things stand, he’s already integral and enjoying a season that deserves its fair share of credit too.

Grade: B

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