Milwaukee Bucks: Revisiting Brook Lopez’s 2019-20 season so far

Milwaukee Bucks: Revisiting Brook Lopez’s 2019-20 season so far – Where Brook left off

As he was gradually asserting himself over the course of his first season with the Bucks, it’s this 2019-20 season where Lopez has cemented himself as one of the premier shot blockers standing in the NBA today.

That may be a surprise to some, given that Lopez has always carried a reputation as a lumbering, slow-footed defender upon coming to the NBA. Yet, it’s Lopez’s size and defensive fundamentals that make him such an imposing figure manning the paint from any oncoming drivers from the opposition.

With the way the Bucks’ defensive scheme is built under Budenholzer, Lopez isn’t the singular reason behind why Milwaukee is the best defensive team for the last two seasons running. The continuity that the Bucks have in place along the top of their roster has built a chemistry that especially shines defensively when everything works in concert with one another.

But with that said, Lopez’s rim protection, alongside the defensive swiss-army knife that is Antetokounmpo, has helped the Bucks form the best interior defense this season, both in terms of opponent paint points per game as well as allowing the fewest opponent shots within the restricted area, per NBA.com/stats.

And it goes without saying that Lopez has compiled a career-high 2.4 blocks per games this season while allowing just 44.9 percent when defending shots attempted within six feet of the basket to opponents.

As Lopez’s offensive role has dramatically shifted over the years, he has certainly found a way to make his mark on the defensive end and in a way that is perfectly suited toward his mental and physical strengths.