Cavs: Three players to watch in third 2019-20 game vs. Bucks
By Dan Gilinsky
#2: Brook Lopez
Bucks center Brook Lopez is another player that I see as being a crucial piece in this one. Of course, Giannis is always going to make his presence felt on both ends if he’s able to go, which it seems he will be, but Lopez is another player that in this matchup against the Cavs, is really difficult to account for.
Lopez’s size at 7-foot, 282 pounds for a shorter club like the Cavaliers, is something that could make scoring in the paint very difficult. Lopez is not a player that’s going to switch out in pick-and-rolls to much real effectiveness against perimeter players such as Garland or Sexton, but Milwaukee does a good job of communicating through on their switches, anyhow.
In the paint, again, Lopez is likely going to make it really tough for Cleveland to get looks near the rim, coupled with Antetokounmpo if he’s able to play, even more so. Lopez is a sound positional defender inside, and though Tristan Thompson could feasibly get some offensive rebounds with Lopez in primary coverage given Lopez is a fairly underwhelming glass cleaner, Lopez alters so much shots on the interior when he’s in there for Milwaukee.
Lopez is fifth in the NBA in blocks per game, and according to Basketball Reference, he’s third in the Association in block rate among qualified players. Cleveland’s offense needs to feature plenty of cutting and ball movement, and they need to get Lopez and preferably Robin Lopez, away from the rim some to open up drives more for interior looks at least a considerable amount of productive ball-swings.
On the offensive end, Lopez has turned himself into a big with perimeter shooting capability.
This year, Lopez is putting up a respectable 10.1 points in 26.2 minutes per game, and though he is only shooting 29.9% on 4.9 three-point attempts per game, the Cavs cannot just leave him. Considering Thompson and perhaps Larry Nance Jr. will likely get a heavy dose of defending Antetokounmpo on-ball if the 2019 MVP is able to play, yes, I’m talking to you, K-Love!
Lopez has hit 34.6%, 34.5% and a career-best 36.5% from deep on also a career-high 6.3 three-point attempts in the three previous seasons, according to Basketball Reference, dating back to his days with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Lopez didn’t hit a triple the last time these two played, but again, Lopez is more than capable of getting hot from there, and he did hit three in the first meeting between these two of the season, as noted by ESPN.
The Cavaliers need to close hard to Lopez, which is not going to be the simplest of tasks for a young team.
Milwaukee will have the driving threat of Antetokounmpo (seemingly for most of the contest), the all-around scoring of Khris Middleton, coupled with capable shooters in Wesley Matthews, George Hill, Pat Connaughton, Ersan Ilyasova and perhaps Donte DiVincenzo. Former Cav Kyle Korver, for reference, missed Milwaukee’s last game due to reported back soreness and could feasibly be out this one, though.
Eric Bledsoe reportedly suffered a right shin contusion on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‘s Matt Velazquez, and he’s listed as day-to-day. He’s such a tough player, though and if Bledsoe’s out there, he’s always a player who the Cavs have to try to keep out of the paint.
Alright, so on to the third player to keep an eye on in this matchup.