Giannis Antetokounmpo is the one who always sets the tone for the Milwaukee Bucks offense against any team but in the win against the San Antonio Spurs, Brook Lopez did it for them.
Such shift was by design. Coach Doc Rivers tweaked his game plan a little because of the different type of opponent they had.
Victor Wembanyama came to Fiserv Forum on a hot streak but he was neutralized by the Bucks, thanks to Lopez who fulfilled his role.
Even the Spurs coaching staff pointed to Lopez’s three-point shooting as one of the main reasons behind their loss.
Rivers thinks Lopez’s two three point shots early in the first quarter is what set the tone for them and they were crucial in stopping Wembanyama.
“You don’t want to say one shot matters, but Brook’s first two 3s were huge for us because that pulled him away from the basket…We intentionally were trying to get Brook early because if he can make a couple early then we take that monster away from the basket.”
How did Victor Wembanyama fare vs Brook Lopez, Bucks?
Wemby appeared like an invincible player in the last few games before the Bucks. He even went toe-to-toe with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
A different Wemby showed up against the Bucks when Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo took turns on him.
He took just 10 shots in the game and finished with 10 points.
His defense was also noticeably non-existent as Lopez brought him outside.
He was kept busy by the Splash Mountain all throughout as the Bucks center took 11 shots from beyond the arc and converted five of them to finish with 22 points.
Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, finished with 25 points 16 rebounds, and eight assists.
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