Has to be brook Lopez and it’s not close. It’s hard to believe the lakers could re-signed this guy for essentially the same amount they paid mike Beasley. Lopez has completely embraced the stretch 5 role this season and is taking it to levels never really seen before. For a guy who was once considered strictly a low post player, the transformation in his game has been shocking. Almost two-thirds of his shots come from 3 now, some well behind the actual line. He is shooting them at a 37% clip. And it’s not like he’s just making wide open shots either, as he has shown the ability to even make some step backs with a hand in his face. The threat of his shooting has completely opened up the bucks offense.
Perhaps just as impressive, the bucks have built their defensive scheme around Lopez’s ability to stay back and protect the rim and it has worked beautifully. With length and speed at all other positions, Lopez has a simplified role of basically just being tall and contesting shots at the rim (ala Roy Hibbert in Indiana) and has been very stout in that role, despite never really being considered a strong defender throughout his career.
While it remains to be seen whether lopez’s lack of speed will ultimately turn out to be a liability as they get deeper in the playoffs, and whether their defensive philosophy will hold up in later rounds, you have to give budenholzer a ton of credit for finding so much value in a player that was basically just an afterthought signing.
Frozetoes 7 years, 3 months ago.
