It makes sense that fans and analysts alike were excited about the Milwaukee Bucks pairing of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo a season ago. From a basketball perspective, their complementarity was so appealing, and it made perfect sense to pair the league's top interior danger with one of the top outside scorers.
This year, though, from the moment Lillard stepped onto the court on opening night against the 76ers to start this season, it was clear that he had found a unique synergy with another Milwaukee Bucks teammate: big man Brook Lopez.
With every passing possession on offense, it became increasingly clear that the two had built up a remarkable understanding of each other's movements, leading to several successful pick-and-roll plays that left defenders scrambling.
In their first regular season game together, Lillard recorded six assists, while Lopez finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez have developed their own chemistry
The chemistry between Lillard and Lopez is not just about numbers; it’s about how they complement each other’s games. Lillard’s ability to stretch the floor with his deep shooting creates space for Lopez, who thrives in the paint and can also step out for the 3-pointer. This dual threat makes them a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Compared to Antetokounmpo, the 7-foot-1, 282-pound Lopez's screening is particularly effective. He sets solid picks that wall off the defender and allows Lillard to navigate through defenses while also rolling to the basket or popping out for a shot. This versatility was evident as Lopez capitalized on Lillard's drives by either finishing strong at the rim or hitting open jumpers when defenders collapsed on Lillard.
It wasn't even a traditional pick-and-roll combination that saw Lopez finishing at the rim. Just the thought of Lillard coming off a Lopez screen already forced the help defense to come over the corner. This meant a good number of Lillard's assists were to the corner men in Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr.
According to NBA.com/stats, Lopez's stout screen-setting got him six screen assists (which would put him fourth among NBA centers right now), which notched the Bucks 16 screen assist points.
Lillard also managed to find Lopez in the short roll, and Lopez leveraged his own inward gravity to find Prince and Trent in the corner a few times, too. More than a fourth of all of Lillard's passes that game were to Lopez. The space that Lillard got also played a sizable role in the star point guard finishing with 30 points.
While fans have been fixated on how Lillard would mesh with Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s clear that Lillard's two-man game with the floor-spacing Lopez offers a different kind of dynamic. Giannis is often involved in more complex plays that eventually require him to handle the ball and create opportunities for others, too.
In contrast, Lopez provides a more traditional big-man presence that allows Lillard to operate freely without as much defensive pressure. It also helps that Lopez shot the three-ball at league-average efficiency last season, which makes him a viable pick-and-pop option at least in theory.
The Lillard-Lopez two-man game adds another wrinkle to the offense
The success of this partnership has broader implications for the Milwaukee Bucks' five-out offensive strategy. In the first game, we saw a lot of high screen actions out of horns formation involving both Lopez and Portis with Lillard at the top of the key. These freed Lillard to do what he does best: pull up for deep-range bombs.
With Lillard and Lopez functioning effectively together, it opens up opportunities for other players like Khris Middleton and Gary Trent Jr., who can exploit defenses that are forced to collapse on either Lillard or Lopez. This connection could also take some of the pressure off Giannis, allowing him to focus more on scoring and rebounding without being burdened by playmaking duties every possession.
As the season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how this partnership evolves. If Lillard and Lopez can maintain this level of chemistry, they could redefine what fans expect from Milwaukee's offense. There’s real potential for this duo to become one of the better pick-and-roll combinations in the league.
While many anticipated fireworks between Lillard and Giannis, it was Brook Lopez who stepped up as Lillard's ideal pick-and-roll partner in their first regular-season game. This unexpected alliance not only promises excitement for Milwaukee Bucks fans but also sets the stage for a thrilling season ahead.
Keep an eye on these two; they might just be Milwaukee's secret weapon in their quest for an NBA championship.
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