Milwaukee Bucks: 3 goals for Brook Lopez for 2020-21 season

Goal no. 2 – Maintaining defensive excellence

While Lopez’s offensive campaign last year was mired by his considerable downturn, the same could not be said for his play on the other side of the ball.

In many ways, Lopez’s 2019-20 season was propped up by his elite defensive play as he solidified himself as one of the best paint and rim protectors in the league. That certainly can be seen in Lopez posting career highs in blocks per game (2.4) as well as block percentage (7.9 percent) and the fact that he earned a nod on the NBA’s All-Defensive second team by season’s end.

Since coming to Milwaukee, Lopez has been fully optimized with his defensive role and it’s led to the overall career renaissance he’s been able to enjoy as a result. The fact that the Bucks have prioritized protecting the rim and cleaned up on the defensive glass to the ridiculously productive ways that they have over the last two seasons has been been possible with Lopez standing in the middle of it all.

Even as the Bucks aspire to bring in some more defensive versatility into their gameplan, which is absolutely necessary to their postseason hopes, their drop-back defensive scheme will be at the basis of what they do tactically. Lopez might not be able to top the terrific marks he posted last year in this regard, but anything on par with that will be welcomed from the seven-footer.