Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players who have regressed this season
Brook Lopez
Perhaps the standout inclusion on this list, Brook Lopez has had a Jekyll and Hyde run throughout the 2019-20 season.
In many ways, specifically on the defensive end, the argument can be made that Lopez has never been more impactful in his career as the 31-year-old stands as one of the NBA’s most premier shot blockers and paint protectors where he’s averaging a career-high 2.4 blocks per game this season. As a result, Lopez has garnered some deserved buzz as a dark horse Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Yet it’s Lopez’s offensive nadir this season that has held him from pairing his peak defensive performance with, at least, average offensive production. Lopez is averaging a career-low 11 points on .427/.296/.810 shooting splits, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists through 61 appearances on the season.
Of course, it’s Lopez’s 3-point struggles that have been key to his offensive decline this year and he’s hit just 29.7 percent of his 296 catch-and-shoot attempts from long range.
Thankfully, Lopez’s misfiring from three has done nothing to affect the Bucks’ sixth-ranked offense, but this season-long slump could be seen as why the Bucks’ offense hasn’t reached the same levels as last season.
Next. No speedy resumption of the season on the agenda. dark
Whether all three of Brown, Ilyasova and Lopez will have a chance to kick back into gear if the 2019-20 NBA season resumes remains to be seen. Hopefully they will be able to.