How Brook Lopez Has Changed Brooklyn Nets' Playoff Hopes

To many analysts and fans of the NBA, it’s been thought that the Eastern Conference playoffs wouldn’t be worth watching until the Finals.

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That notion could change depending on who the Brooklyn Nets face in the first round, as the team has been on a tear of late, quietly winning 11 of their last 14 games dating all the way back to March 14. In the month of April, they’ve already won three of four games, and don’t seem to be slowing down as we near the postseason.

A lot of the team has played well in order to make this happen, from Deron Williams to trade deadline newcomer Thaddeus Young.

However, most of the success has to be attributed to the play of center Brook Lopez, who is once again emerging as a serious offensive threat in the low post.

Since the All-Star break, Lopez has been on a tear, averaging 20 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, numbers that suggest that not only has Lopez stepped up his effort and is playing aggressively, but that he’s also been fully healthy.

For a center like Lopez, health has been an issue his entire career, with the problems primarily being with his feet. In fact, his career looked in jeopardy just a year ago, when it was word around the league that his days in the league might be over if he suffers one more serious foot injury.

The good news is that Lopez has played in a ton of games this year, and has improved and been able to handle more playing time as the season has gone on.

Whenever the Nets have tried to make a run in the playoffs, they’ve been without Lopez or he hasn’t been fully healthy. Even though the team has employed the likes of Williams, Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce, it’s been Lopez who has always been the real focus of the offense because of his versatility both near and away from the basket.

Not only does Lopez have all of the physical tools to be one of the best interior scorers in the league, but he also has the touch from outside to be a mismatch nightmare for other less mobile big men.

Lopez can hit mid-range shots comfortably all the way out to about 18 feet, meaning that he can help stretch the floor when necessary. Being a threat from outside, Lopez can also bring a rim protector out from underneath the basket in order to set up a more cohesive dribble-drive game for his team.

With multiple slashers like Johnson and Young on the team, there needs to be space in the lane for both of them to operate effectively, and using Lopez as bait away from the basket can be just the thing to get the offense going.

When he’s used as the main guy inside, Lopez is great at setting up post position and finishing over either shoulder or facing his man up and taking him to the rim or hitting that jump shot. He’s a true number one option when he’s healthy. When he’s been able to stay on the floor, he’s been one of the best scoring centers since he’s come into the league.

The fact that he’s been rebounding at a high level on top of what he’s been doing offensively is also a tremendous sign for the Nets because he hasn’t always had the best motor when it comes to grabbing rebounds and playing hard on the defensive end of the floor.

Lopez hasn’t backed down from anyone, and is playing as intense as any other big man in the NBA right now. Because he’s been active on both ends and has given the Nets the go-to option they’ve been looking for, he’s given this team new hopes for their upcoming postseason run.

Right now, the Nets are sitting in the seventh spot in the East, meaning they would have a matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Is it likely that the Nets could upset the same Cavs that have looked unstoppable over the last three months? Not necessarily, but that doesn’t mean this series is a walk in the park for Cleveland either.

Lopez is the biggest factor here, as outsize of Mozgov, Cleveland doesn’t have the size in the paint to deal with someone like him. And if Lopez could be effective away from the basket and pull Mozgov away from the rim, then that would open up the floor for the rest of the team to go to work, meaning that the Cavs’ defense would be put to the test.

Even though this league seems to be more perimeter-oriented than it ever has been, Lopez is still one of those select few big men that can still have the offense run entirely through him. Lopez can score and pass from the elbow effectively, meaning that he can play virtually anywhere on the floor inside of the three-point line.

Versatile big men like Lopez don’t come around very often, and the Nets are lucky to have him now that he’s been healthy and playing at a high level.

If the Nets are going to go on any kind of postseason run, they’re going to need him to keep playing how he is, and step up and be a leader when needed.

*Statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.

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How Brook Lopez Has Changed Brooklyn Nets’ Postseason Outlook

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