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Lionel Hollins questions Brook Lopez’s toughness

By Wes Goldberg

Dec 20, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers defeated the Nets 121-120 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers defeated the Nets 121-120 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Is new Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins the man to make Brook Lopez an elite center?

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As is customary with a new Brooklyn Nets head coach, Lionel Hollins questioned center Brook Lopez’s toughness, and said he thinks he could be a force in the paint if he were to be more aggressive. It was Avery Johnson a few years ago who made this a thing, when he said he dreamt of his center one day getting 10 rebounds. Oof.

Via Stefan Bondy, the New York Daily News.

"Now he’s hearing it from a new coach with a reputation for conveying brutal honesty, Lionel Hollins, who singled out Lopez during Sunday’s practice while launching into a lesson on passing.“Just being more aggressive, being tougher, rebounding better. Just being a force in the paint,” Hollins said when asked later how he wants his 26-year-old center to improve. “When you’re 7-feet and 260 pounds, I’d like for him to be a force. I want all our big guys to be like that — be tougher, be more aggressive, be an inside player. If you’re an inside player, a big guy, control the paint and play outside last.”"

It’s true that Lopez often settles for jumpers rather than attack the rim. Lopez has the body and skills to be an elite center, and doing this is what stands in his way of taking the next leap. But it probably doesn’t help for Hollins to call him out in public, especially after he didn’t react to it well when Johnson did it.

Lopez, who used to average about eight rebounds per game, is now averaging about six per game the last couple of seasons as he continues to take more mid-range jumpers. Hollins, despite this remark, might be the guy to help Lopez get into the paint more. After all, he has the track record after coaching Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol to one of the league’s best front courts. Lopez doesn’t need to quit jumpers all together, he just needs to find a balance.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league as we close in on the regular season.

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