current location:HOME > Sports News > Basketball Hub > Text content

NBA Stats Notebook: Lauding Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brook Lopez's offense

nqajqrqw7months ago (05-17)Basketball Hub139

The Milwaukee Bucks clinched the top seed in the EasternConference playoffs Wednesday, but they had to do so withoutGiannis Antetokounmpo on the second night of a back-to-back.

No problem — Bobby Portis exploded for 27 points and 13rebounds, Jrue Holiday racked up 20 points and 15 assists, andBrook Lopez tossed in 26 points to handle the Chicago Bulls. Oneneat postgame statistic from ESPN's Kane Pitman caught my eye:

Brook Lopez now has 26 games with 20+ pointsthis season. He had 26 games with 20+ points across his first fourregular seasons in Milwaukee. He will be a DPOY finalist but hisscoring has wound back the clock during his age 35 season.

— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) April 6, 2023

Lopez is putting up 15.9 points per game, his highest since hisAll-Star days with the Brooklyn Nets, at the most efficient scoringclip of his career. He's helped the Bucks retake the top of theconference while remaining square in the middle of the DefensivePlayer of the Year race.

The award's front-runner, Jaren Jackson Jr., has also quietlyascended on the offensive end. Jackson is averaging a career-high18.3 points per game (20.9 since the All-Star break) with acareer-best 58.5% two-point shooting clip. He dropped 40 inWednesday's overtime loss to the Pelicans and has helped theGrizzlies go 12-4 since March 9.

While the two bigs are duking it out for DPOY, their stepsforward as scorers have put each team in the championshipconversation.

Starting with Lopez, his output this season hasn't come withincreased touches. A cursory glance through PBP Stats' trackingdata shows the 35-year-old is hovering at similar rates in touchesand volume touch time relative to his entire Milwaukee tenure. Hislow 16.7% usage rate follows the same trend. But Lopez has receiveda significant green light; his mark of 11.5 field goal attempts pergame is the most in the last six years.

Those extra shots have been distributed relatively evenly acrossdifferent spots on the floor, but Lopez's paint presence is perhapsthe most notable change. Here's a look at his impact of scoringinside since joining the Bucks in 2018, using data from PBP Stats(scroll right to view full table on mobile):

YearTouches/100 poss.Paint touches/100 poss.Paint touches FG%At-Rim FGA/gameAt-Rim FG%2018-1959.62.865.3%1.875.5%2019-2057.55.261.7%2.566.9%2020-2149.47.070.3%2.774.4%2021-22*51.39.762.8%3.477.3%2022-2354.29.171.2%3.674.7%
Share with friends:

“NBA Stats Notebook: Lauding Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brook Lopez's offense” ofrelated articles

Analyzing the Lakers' Top Head Coaching Candidate

As the Los Angeles Lakers gear up fora pivotal transition, the franchise sets its sights on a trio ofdistinguished coaching candidates—JJ Redick, Sam...

Orlando Magic retire Shaquille O'Neal's No. 32 jersey

The Orlando Magic retired thejersey of Hall-of-Fame center Shaquille O’Neal in a ceremony onTuesday night at the Kia Center inOrlando.This is thefirst...

Timberwolves beat Thunder to reclaim No. 1 seed in West

The Minnesota Timberwolvesearned a 107-101 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sundaynight in a battle amongst the best in the West.Anthony Edwar...

NBA Atlantic Division Preview: Burning questions, rotation projections

NBA Atlantic Division Preview: Burning questions, rotation projections

After a long four-monthoffseason, the 2023-24 NBA season officially kicks off on October24. Preseason action is currently underway, with teams evaluat...

Warriors Gaming Squad wins 2023 NBA 2K League 5v5 Championship

Warriors Gaming Squad (WGS), the NBA 2K League affiliate team ofthe Golden State Warriors, won the franchise’s first NBA 2K LeagueChampionship followi...

Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic to play regular-season game in Mexico City

Today, the NBA and Zignia announced that theNBA Mexico City Game 2023 will feature the Atlanta Hawks andOrlando Magic playing a regular-season game at...