NBA Power Rankings: All 30 Starting Centers

7.  Brook Lopez — Brooklyn Nets

Is Brook-lyn Lopez finally  able to rise out of the emergency room and help the Nets secure another playoff spot?  This time, the Nets want something higher than a six seed with Lionel Hollins being the new elderly man in town.  General Manager Billy King couldn’t be happier with the coaching change that was made, whether he publicly expresses is or not is another thing.

Lopez broke through his potential when he learned how to be effective from further away from the rim.  Really, it’s becoming deadly with centers now, as Lopez will love to play out of pick-and-pop action with Deron Williams (or whoever if Williams’ ankles decide to give out again).  He’s been mocked for his set-shot, in which Lopez doesn’t even leave his feet when he releases on his “jumpers,” but he’s extremely efficient when he needs to take them.

Before going down with the broken foot, Lopez took 40 shots from 15-19 feet away, and connected on 55 percent of them.  From 10-14 feet, Lopez attempted 23 shots and knocked down 52.2 percent.  Yes, it’s a low sample size, but he’s been doing it since the team was located in New Jersey, guys.

A PER of 24.7 doesn’t lie, as that’s exactly what Lopez recorded during his relatively healthy season in 2012-13, in which he played 74 games, without the horrible mixture of those old rats from Boston joining the team.