Milwaukee Bucks: Analyzing the intriguing 2021-22 center rotation
By Jacob Maier
While they did not make any massive moves, the Milwaukee Bucks have stacked their roster with talent during their busy offseason.
Coming off a championship-winning season, the Bucks have brought in some new faces at various positions, most notably on the wing with an array of new talent. Among the changes, one position that has largely remained the same is the center rotation, which will see plenty of key players returning for another go-round.
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With a mix of established veterans and youthful players looking to earn their keep in this league, Milwaukee’s center rotation has no shortage of size to round out the frontcourt. Each player has their own set of intriguing skills, and they will be able to contribute as Milwaukee looks to defend their title.
With that said, let’s take a look at a very intriguing center rotation for the Bucks ahead of 2021-22.
Brook Lopez will look to lead the rotation at center for the Milwaukee Bucks
Brook Lopez has been a staple for Milwaukee in his three years with the team.
The Brooklyn Nets’ all-time leading scorer has brought excellent rim protection along with the ability to shoot 3-pointers at a high clip. Lopez’s commanding presence allows for sharp defense in the post and at the rim. Despite his size, standing at seven feet tall, Lopez displays an ability to shoot from deep by knocking down nearly 34 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc in his three years in Milwaukee.
Lopez provided timely defense in the recent Brooklyn series, including a block on Kevin Durant with under a minute left in Milwaukee’s overtime victory in game seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. Without his defense in the paint against some of the league’s best bigs, the Bucks would have fought a much steeper uphill battle in their playoff run.
Shifting to next season, Lopez will lead the rotation once again. The 33-year-old has shown little sign of slowing down, and his performance on the interior will be crucial to Milwaukee defending their title. Lopez displays a dominant presence in the paint on both ends, leading to easy buckets or tight defense. The big man should see continued success in his next season in Milwaukee.
Lopez is an important piece to the Bucks due to his solid play on both ends. There are very few limitations in his rim protection and his offensive ability, quite a feat for a center at 33 years old. With him as the starting center alongside other lengthy players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks will have plenty of size in their frontcourt.