Gauging confidence meter on Milwaukee Bucks personnel before NBA Playoffs
Brook Lopez - 6
It has been a weird season for Brook Lopez. Following his All-Defensive season last year, he just hasn't had the impact he had in 2022-23. Lillard coming in decreased his shot attempts like many on the roster, but it just feels like the defensive anchor he has been for the Bucks isn't quite as strong this year as well.
He is still averaging 12.5 points and five rebounds on 48 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three. His blocks are still high at 2.4 per game, but with the Bucks' defense as a whole changing since Jrue Holiday was traded, Lopez was being exposed a lot. Since Rivers took over, the team's defense has improved a lot, but the offense has taken a step back.
With Beverley now being the point of attack defender, this really helps Lopez, but he will now have to anchor the defense even more if Giannis is out and Portis starts alongside him. Siakam and Myles Turner make a great frontcourt for the Pacers, so he will need to bring that All-Defensive skillset and physicality in the paint.
Playoff-wise, Lopez has been good across his career, averaging 14.4 points on 51 percent from the field. If he can bring the solid defense of previous years and hit his shots from deep, his impact can help the Milwaukee Bucks go far. This regular season it feels like he has struggled, which is why I am only at a six for him.
Malik Beasley - 4
Had I done this confidence meter in March, I think this would be a different answer, but the recent slump Malik Beasley has been in is of real worry for the Milwaukee Bucks.
April has been a really poor month for Beasley, with his field goal percentage dropping to 33.8 percent, 3-point percentage dropping to 28 percent and scoring to just 7.6 points. In my first write-up of this, I noted that Beasley's shooting falling could lead to Beverley taking his spot, and that has happened.
It feels like his confidence has gone with the team struggling, and he could easily find himself out of the rotation with the likes of AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr. proving their worth late in the season.
Last season for the Lakers, he only averaged eight minutes in the playoffs and struggled to hit his shots. If that happens this postseason, he may end up seeing similar minutes, which would be frustrating, as he has had a good season all-round and was a steal of a signing in NBA Free Agency.