After two great years on the boards, Brook Lopez regresses in the paint last season, much to the ire of the New Jersey Nets fans. For him, it’s time to make amends …..
New Jersey Nets star Brook Lopez has admitted he did not put in the effort to rebound last season. The Nets centre was criticized for what was a dismal showing on the boards by him last season, averaging just around 6 rebounds a game.
Lopez actually regressed last season.
In his rookie season, he was just an OK rebounder. He got better in his sophomore year and was expected to firmly establish himself as a double-double force last season. That though didn’t pan out, Lopez actually took a step back and his numbers dropped.
The centre had to face the ire of Nets fans as well as that of New Jersey head coach Avery Johnson, and has now admitted he slacked off.
“It was a number of things — I was being lazy, first and foremost,” Lopez said according to the New York Post.
His poor showing on the boards coincided with the rise in stature of teammate Chris Humphries. Humphries crashed the boards hard all season and has reaped the rewards with a contract extension this offseason.
Lopez said with Chris and his other teammates putting in the shifts, it was easier for him to shirk responsibilities.
“Hump was doing such a good job a lot of the time, that I’d see him doing his thing and kind of leak out offensively. I didn’t really crash the offensive boards. There’s really no excuse for that because I didn’t leak out defensively at all.”
He is looking for all that to change in the coming NBA season. The player says he has worked on his game and on the mental aspect of rebounding.
“It’s just been a constant focus daily. And it does help keeping those rebound attempts.”
That is something his coach pointed out as well. Last season, Lopez didn’t show the desire to go after the ball when it came down from the rim and that really hurt his game. Avery wants Lopez to get in the mindset of an elite rebounder because he has the necessary tools to be one.
The coach will be paying special attention to Lopez this season and ensure that the talented big man gets it right this time around. He has backed Brook to achieve the task before him.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in him,” Johnson said. “But it’s about consistency and that’s what we’re looking for, night in and night out.”
If Lopez can indeed get his head sorted out and be the double-double force the Nets want him to be, he would be set as an All-Star for years to come. If he doesn’t show any signs of improvement next season, rumours linking him with an exit in exchange for Orlando Magic super star Dwight Howard could gather pace.
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