With the starting center being Ivica Zubac for the entire regular season and playoffs, one of the reasons Brook Lopez may have joined the LA Clippers, after wanting to reunite with the Croatian Star, is the fact that he will have unlimited freedom on the bench to play the game of basketball the way he wants to.
The Milwaukee Bucks could not give Lopez this aspect, as they needed him to start and produce solid numbers offensively with a Defensive Player of the Year presence in the paint. Thus, he was forced to play over 30 minutes, because if he did not, the Bucks would be positioned to lose, no matter what Giannis Antetokounmpo did on both sides of the ball.
Thus, with the Clippers, his role will look a lot different. On good nights, he could see upwards of 30 minutes, but on his days when fatigue catches up to him, head coach Tyronn Lue could simply sit him with one of the best centers in the league on the court.
Brook Lopez is in the perfect role to maximize his skill set
As seen in the LA Clippers’ preseason, Brook Lopez’s shot-making will be a real factor on the second unit. He is elite in the post-up and will be able to catch and shoot from three-point land seamlessly with some of the best playmakers in the world looking for him.
To Lopez’s benefit, he could enter the game and contribute more towards what the Clippers need from him. If the interior defense needs his help, the veteran center could put most of his energy there, and vice versa on the offensive side of the ball, if the team is trying to come back and needs three-pointers.
On the contrary, Lopez is 37 and will not be able to produce at an elite level every night. His jump shot may be off, or opponents may have read the scouting report with adamancy on not allowing him to take over the game.
This will lead Lue into assigning Lopez a seat on the bench worry-free, as the Clippers have depth in the frontcourt with Ivica Zubac, John Collins, and Nicolas Batum, who can all shoot, rebound, and defend.
Nonetheless, Clippers fans will see a different version of Lopez, and this will have everyone loving him more than they already do after watching his preseason showcase, as his role has changed significantly.