Can Brook Lopez Toughen Up?
There is no question about Brook Lopez’s offensive ability. He is perhaps the best offensive big man in the game and near unstoppable around the hoop. He has a great post up game with a variety of moves to put the ball in the basket.
His face up game is also very good, as he can hit the jumper from 15 feet away and many times bank it off the backboard like Tim Duncan. He is great at getting to the foul line with his patented “swim move.”. He is a force on the offensive side of the ball.
Lopez has also worked on his defense over his 7 seasons with the Nets. After being known as one of the worst big man defenders, he has slowly become one of the best rim protectors in the league. Last year, before the season ending injury, Brook was a top rim protector in the NBA, holding the opposition to 38% for shots 5 feet from around the basket. In comparison, Kevin Garnett held opponents to a 47% field goal percentage for shots within 5 feet when he became the starting center. Over the past few seasons, Brook has asserted himself as a top shot blocker. In the 2012-13 season he averaged 2.1 blocks per game and last season he had 1.8.
One aspect where big man needs improvement is with rebounding. Lopez is a notiourosly bad rebounding 7 footer, perhaps the worst in the NBA. Every year, his rebounding totals are far below the expectations for players at the center position. Brooklyn’s best rebounder this year is Kevin Garnett. But can they really rely on the aging veteran? Brook needs to assert himself and toughen up so bigger teams can’t bully the Nets in the paint and on the boards.
Net fans and pundits have been asking this question for a few years now: when will Brook Lopez toughen up? Lionel Hollins has the reputation of being a tough, defensive-minded head coach that knows how the get the most out of his big men. He helped turn Marc Gasol to one of the best big men in the league. Brook also has Kevin Garnett to learn from. Although Brook had Garnett last year, he was only able to play 17 games. There is simply no excuse this season for Brook not to improve on his rebounding numbers.
But it’s not only the rebounding that Brook has to focus on. Marc Gasol does not put up huge rebounding numbers, but he is seen as a much tougher player than Lopez. The Nets big man has to assert himself more on the court and use that massive 7 foot, 270 lb. frame to his advantage. He has to set hard screens, go up aggressively for dunks, even give the occasional hard foul to remind the opponent they can’t come in the paint without punishment. Maybe even get a technical foul every once in a while.
Brook Lopez has the talent to be one of the best big men in the game. He already is on the offensive side of the ball. Now the same needs to be said for him on defense. In order to gain the reputation that Marc Gasol has around the league, Brook needs to toughen up. Lionel Hollins may be the best coach to help the 7 footer with this. This Nets team is relying on Brook and he has to deliver.