Basketball
He stops Brook Lopez averaging 4.3 blocks and opponents are shooting 9/44 against him
Brook Lopez has developed strongly for the Bucks this season, averaging 4.3 sacks. With the help of InStat Scout, his numbers get even more impressive.
The Bucks also beat the Nets (110-99) thanks to the orgies of Giannis Antetokounmpo and are the only undefeated team in the NBA with a 3-0 record. Alongside Giannis, however, is Brook Lopez, the man who keeps the Bucks defense looking impenetrable at times.
Against the Nets, Lopez had 7 points on 3/10 shots (1/5 threes), 6 rebounds and 6 blocks in 28 minutes of play. And understandably, it’s his 6 blocks that have drawn attention, with Lopez proving for the umpteenth time that he’s one of the best blockers in the NBA. But in reality, Lopez isn’t just a blocker, it’s a rim protector. And that’s a thin dividing line that makes him special.
Protects the basket like few others
In the first three games of the season, Lopez averaged 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in 29 minutes. The last number is scary and it’s clear it won’t stay that way. But one thing doesn’t change: Lopez’s ability to protect the basket better than almost anyone else in the NBA.
According to InStat Scout, Lopez was asked to tag the primary defender shots from 44 opponents. Of these, only 9 (!) landed in the basket. Overall, Bucks opponents shoot 9/44 when the big monster is the primary defender, which is a 20.4% shot percentage! Here’s the associated shot chart of the shots Lopez is expected to mark this year:
Of course, if anything stands out, it’s that the Bucks’ opponents only have 3/20 shots on the “drawing board” when the main defender is Lopez, a number that says a lot. Even more revealing is the fact that Milwaukee’s opponents score just .48 points per ball possession when Lopez is the main defender, according to InStat Scout.
It’s a fact that these Lopez numbers are spacey and won’t stay on the same level. Still, in the first three games of the season, Lopez reminded that if he’s healthy, he can change the situation on the Bucks’ defense and free Giannis. If he keeps it up, Milwaukee has every reason to believe things will get better down the road.
Source: sport 24
I am a sports writer and journalist who has written for various online publications including Sportish. I’m originally from the UK but currently live in Toronto, Canada. I’m also an author on Sportish and have written several articles on a variety of sports-related topics.