Brook Lopez looking like a steal

[No. 12]

ESPN’s David Thorpe takes a deeper look at Brook Lopez this week and finds him just below the top rookies in this year’s class, ranking the Nets center behind only O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose and (close call) Marc Gasol. Of Lopez he writes, “How many centers in the league can shoot from the perimeter, score inside and block shots? And how many could do it on the NBA level at age 20? Get the picture?”

http://www.netsdaily.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43

How lucky are we to have this guy fall into our laps? His shot blocking is very underrated. His back to the basket is only getting better. Honestly, what numbers do you see him putting up in the future? Is 18 and 11 a starting point? Do you see Brook Lopez as a perennial all star in this league?

[tigerman]

I love what Brook brings to the table for us - inside scoring, shotblocking and rebounding. Things we hope were there during the Kidd era.

I see him being a 18 and 10 center and maybe even 20 and 10 if he further improves on his game. He also needs to control his fouls. O boy I'd love to see him be a poor man's Tim Duncan in the future. If that happens, we have 2 of the most important positions in basketball already secured for the future.

Since there's no Detroit-NJ game thread, I'm gonna post this here:
Derrick Stafford sucks!

[jzmagik]

I was ecstatic when we got him at 10, I didn't think he'd drop that low

[monk302]

When L.Frank is fired (soon I hope). It would be wise for the next coach to hire a really good big man coach.It could only help Lopez's game.

[6_Rings]

i agree. Thorn is a genius

[Birth of the Cool]

You could tell just watching pre-season this guy was going to be good.

He has a natural NBA 5 body that makes him tough on both ends of the floor. He has enough offensive tools right now as a rookie to make an immediate impact which is scary considering you can see the game is still to fast for him. Once he gets more & more familiar with the NBA game & learn's to correct his mistakes & just have a better feel watch out.

He tries to finisher harder around the rim / he has that nice 1/2 hook shot from the right block / he's recently being using the up & under move / he's got decent range / he's already adept at blocking guards & others without jumping into fouls / can hit the FT's / hits the offensive glass hard / has shown glimpses of passing well out of the low post. I also like how he wins a lot of the opening tips..yeah it doesn't really matter but I always like if Nets score first.

This is just the beginning for this guy - need to feed him more. I like they look for him at beginning of games - but once he matures they will be able to feed him in close games in the 4th instead of Devin/Vince iso's all the time.

[jerseyjac]

You could tell just watching pre-season this guy was going to be good.

He has a natural NBA 5 body that makes him tough on both ends of the floor. He has enough offensive tools right now as a rookie to make an immediate impact which is scary considering you can see the game is still to fast for him. Once he gets more & more familiar with the NBA game & learn's to correct his mistakes & just have a better feel watch out.

He tries to finisher harder around the rim / he has that nice 1/2 hook shot from the right block / he's recently being using the up & under move / he's got decent range / he's already adept at blocking guards & others without jumping into fouls / can hit the FT's / hits the offensive glass hard / has shown glimpses of passing well out of the low post. I also like how he wins a lot of the opening tips..yeah it doesn't really matter but I always like if Nets score first.

This is just the beginning for this guy - need to feed him more. I like they look for him at beginning of games - but once he matures they will be able to feed him in close games in the 4th instead of Devin/Vince iso's all the time.

well said...in addition, to having the mindset of to get it done your rookie year...he's not affraid, doesnt hesitate, makes smart passes while looking like he is always thinking on the floor...A player with a high basketball IQ who wants to take care of the ball (1.6 TOs) and communicates well on the floor...

[vincecarter4pres]

I have been saying it for a while.

I fully expect the top 3 centers in the league to be Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez and either Bynum or Oden in a few years.
Howard already is probably the best although you can consider Duncan a center, but in a few years when Duncan gets really old, IMO Howard will probably be the best with people always arguing between the other 3 I listed as to who is # 2.

[ecuhus1981]

I don't think Brook Lopez will ever be a Top-3 C in the league.

He will however be a Brad Daugherty type, IF he keeps himself motivated and improves as it seems he should. Don't scoff, either; Brad was a FIVE-time All-Star, with career averages of 19 and 9. If he becomes that, I'll be very happy. You build championships around those type of bigmen.

[vincecarter4pres]

Brad was pretty much a career 20 and 10 guy, but he didn't play a lick of defense.
He was also more agile, but much more soft.
He was constantly injured, but when healthy could be considered among the top 3 center's and this included the fact he played with a lot of the all time greats.

[Adam1221]

Extremley lucky actually.
We all have Larry Brown to thank for this awesome awesome talent, it was said that MJ wanted Lopez but gave up after Larry Brown asked for DJ who'se pretty good but doesnt fit our needs like Lopez does.

This team for years has tryed to find a quality C or a good PF and has either flat out failed (Illic,Magloire,Mourning) or just god a slap from lady luck (Nenad Kristic for example) in Lopez we finally found a guy that just has all around great big man ablities and he has something else that's just as important and that's willingness to learn he'll be the hardest man on himself he'll be the first guy to hold himself accountable when he messes up.

The sky is the limit for this kid, yes he wont be in D.Howard's league but he can definately be better (I honestly think he already is better) than both Oden and Bynum, all he needs is for the ref's to start cutting him some slack and send him to the line a bit more.
Im predicting a top 3 C, a big piece in a future contender (Devin and Lopez is gonna be something special someday) and 20 and 10 averages.

[jerseyjac]

I don't think Brook Lopez will ever be a Top-3 C in the league.

He will however be a Brad Daugherty type, IF he keeps himself motivated and improves as it seems he should. Don't scoff, either; Brad was a FIVE-time All-Star, with career averages of 19 and 9. If he becomes that, I'll be very happy. You build championships around those type of bigmen.

Brad was pretty much a career 20 and 10 guy, but he didn't play a lick of defense.
He was also more agile, but much more soft.
He was constantly injured, but when healthy could be considered among the top 3 center's and this included the fact he played with a lot of the all time greats.

Brad was a baller...I dont care how you want to chalk it up...you could only imagine what type of career he would of had if it wasnt cut short by injury...

let me say this, just the fact of Brook being talked about in the same sentence of Brad or any NBA Center that made an allstar team with less than 40 games under his NBA belt, shows how fast he adapted his game to the NBA and the brief glimpse of what the future holds for this Nets center...

[Preludepunk27]

Brad Daugherty was straight up nasty when he was healthy. His back gave out on him at an early age though. Maybe Brad and Brook can become friends and start doing Nascar analysis together someday.

[TheGrowth]

Chris Kaman perhaps. He is a true low post center, and I hope he can develop those hook shots even better. The 20ft jumper should be used only when necessary, kinda like what Timmy does. I wish Cartwright where still on board to work on his footwork. If he can get that down pat, he will be deadly. Great pick so far.

[lurkingobeiscity]

He just keeps surprising. At first I didn't think his post game would translate nearly as well to the NBA. Then I didn't think his rebounding was that great (he's averaging 10 per 36). Now he's starting to show a little bit of a face up game like Duncan.

I'm not going to guess what he can become. I'm just going to enjoy it.

[vincecarter4pres]

Chris Kaman perhaps. He is a true low post center, and I hope he can develop those hook shots even better. The 20ft jumper should be used only when necessary, kinda like what Timmy does. I wish Cartwright where still on board to work on his footwork. If he can get that down pat, he will be deadly. Great pick so far.

Man I hate this comparison.
Not that Kaman is a bad player, cause he is a really good one, at least on the stat sheet, but I just hate this comparison.

Extremley lucky actually.
We all have Larry Brown to thank for this awesome awesome talent, it was said that MJ wanted Lopez but gave up after Larry Brown asked for DJ who'se pretty good but doesnt fit our needs like Lopez does.

And thank god for that.
Rod said in the papers, that if Charlotte took Lopez they were gonna take BPA, who they(I guess him and Kiki and the scouts) thought was Jarred Bayless. I think I would have set fire to an old age home if that happened.
I never liked Bayless in college and in the NBA I think he will pan out to be Keyon Dooling lite, without the good defense.
Larry Brown, this is my formal thank you card to you. Cheers.

[Rich Rane]

He just keeps surprising. At first I didn't think his post game would translate nearly as well to the NBA. Then I didn't think his rebounding was that great (he's averaging 10 per 36). Now he's starting to show a little bit of a face up game like Duncan.

I'm not going to guess what he can become. I'm just going to enjoy it.

I'm with you, man. When we drafted him, I kept thinking...7'0 Center from Stanford and has a twin...where have I heard that before? I'm loving every single moment watching him on the court.

[S.I.C. GM]

Once again Frank is being stubborn.

The guy had a great game in Chicago. This game they totally disregard the fact the Lopez can be very important in the post. So they keep him running BS pick and rolls.

LEAVE that CRAP for BOONE and YI. LOPEZ SHOULD ALWAYS BE POSTING UP. GIVE HIM THE BALL EARLY. F'N COACH.

[vincecarter4pres]

Once again Frank is being stubborn.

The guy had a great game in Chicago. This game they totally disregard the fact the Lopez can be very important in the post. So they keep him running BS pick and rolls.

LEAVE that CRAP for BOONE and YI. LOPEZ SHOULD ALWAYS BE POSTING UP. GIVE HIM THE BALL EARLY. F'N COACH.

Exactly.

[UGA Hayes]

I think your team was lucky in that Lopez was the kind of guy you couldn't really appreciate unless you watched multiple entire collegiate games. His footwork is good but in an awkward kind of way, as is the way he releases the ball. Additionally despite aesthetically looking less active than his brother he was pretty dang active. Also his team played an insanely slow pace in college where he recieved touches on every play, which hasn't happened for a post big in college since the days of Duncan. When you touch the ball everytime you will make mistakes. But the foundation to be good was clearly there.