Milwaukee Bucks: 3 reasons not to panic about Brook Lopez’s quiet start

Reason no. 2 – Brook’s sturdy rim protection

As the Bucks have started to experiment and showed more signs of flexibility under head coach Mike Budenholzer, Lopez has still remained key to the Bucks’ overall identity, especially on defense.

For all of the criticism laid at the Bucks’ feet regarding their drop-back defensive scheme and how it fares in the playoffs, they’ve been a well-oiled machine when it comes to protecting the paint and the basket. Lopez has been at the center of that and it led to him landing on last season’s All-Defensive second team.

This season has largely been no different from the Stanford product, even as the Bucks haven’t been as elite protecting the rim from their opponents.

Lopez has played a part in that as his block rate has fallen from 7.9 percent in 19-20 to 5.3 percent this season. And while he remains gifted in being able to alter shots taken at the rim, Lopez’s 48.4 defended field goal percentage on shot attempts taken within six feet of the basket is down from the towering 44.1 percent he recorded in that department last season.

As the Bucks’ best rim protector, Lopez’s subtle slide could be attributable to the Bucks’ overall fundamental changes on that side of the ball. And with Lopez being best utilized in the defensive role he has occupied since arriving to Milwaukee, there is a source of tension that exists when the Bucks will have to pivot away from their prized scheme, which obviously affects Lopez’s usage.

Still, this is a Bucks team that prides itself on a being a defensive team first and foremost. Whenever Lopez is on the floor, they will look to protect the paint and by allowing 42.4 opponent paint points, good for fourth in the league, the Bucks still know where their bread is buttered when the seven-footer is on the floor.