Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks: 5 Takeaways from Monday’s Preseason Opener
4. Robin Lopez is a good basketball player
Whoever wins the power forward starting spot is going to like playing with Robin Lopez this season.
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Lopez isn’t a flashy player. He’s not going to play with the fire and emotion that Joakim Noah played with during his Chicago days, but he’s a guy that knows his role and that showed on Monday.
With about 5:18 left before halftime on Monday night, Lopez made a great play around the rim to help Jimmy Butler out on a drive by Jabari Parker. As Butler went to take a charge on Parker, he was knocked out of the play by Parker with no call, but Lopez rotated over to block Parker’s shot attempt.
Is it a game-changing play? At that point (and in the first preseason game), no … but those are the kinds of plays Lopez will make this season. He’s an intelligent player that knows where to be on the floor and is much better protecting the rim than, say … Pau Gasol.
Lopez actually took eight shot attempts on Monday night in 20 minutes of action, including a couple jumpers, and blocked three shots.
He’s not an All-Star, but he’s solid, and he showed that against the Bucks.