"That identity is there" - Brook Lopez on the Milwaukee Bucks' resolve at the halfway point of the season

Veteran center Brook Lopez has played six seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, including that memorable 2021 season when they won the NBA championship. He has seen the Bucks develop and establish a fierce defensive identity over the years, and now, at the halfway point of the 2023-2024 season, Lopez believes that identity is still there when it matters most.

Times have changed

Times have changed for Milwaukee. Whereas the Bucks were known for its suffocating defense—on the perimeter and inside—in past seasons, the team’s acquisition of superstar guards Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley and the subsequent losses of Jrue Holiday—who was an all-world defender—and Grayson Allen, has shifted the focus to offense.

The Bucks now stand as one of the league’s worst teams on defense, ranking 24th in opponent’s points allowed per game and 21st in defensive rating. These subpar ratings are offset by Milwaukee’s explosive offense, which ranks second in both points scored per game and offensive rating. Despite the disparity in rankings, the Bucks have maintained a winning record and currently sit near the top of the Eastern Conference.

Being a 15-year vet, Lopez acknowledged how tough it is to be excellent on both ends of the floor. However, he believes the Bucks still have that defensive moxie when they need to bring it out.

“That general (defensive) belief is still there, especially down the stretch and stuff like that,” Brook said.

“Obviously, it’s tough to be great at one thing in this league. To be great at two things, specifically those two things that encompass the whole game, it’s almost, virtually unheard of. You can count the number of teams like that on one hand.”