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Brook Lopez · Saying all of the right things publicly regarding their confidence in overcoming a slow start, the veteran-heavy Milwaukee Bucks set their sights on a full-season “360,” starting at home on November 12, 2024. Ever a leader by example, Brook Lopez decided that on the game’s opening play, such a maneuver could also be done literally. Seizing an opportunity against a similarly-wounded, struggling Toronto Raptors club, the 17-year center sets a pair of bodyguard-like screens in swift succession, loosening Toronto’s defense effectively enough to generate a size-friendly mismatch against Ochai Agbaji. In a move that confirmed that it wasn’t Lopez’s only advantage, the former All-Star barrels into a nifty spin-and-gather before taking on Jakob Poeltl’s help defense for a statement-sending double-sided poster. Lopez’s poised all-around play — illustrated through 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, three blocks, and two 3-pointers — helped Milwaukee secure a win, and three of the next four to follow, righting their path during NBA Cup play. · State of Mint