When the guards are exhausted from their speedy, crafty play, someone has to pick up the slack. Some more versatile than others, big men on every team are essential to mixing up plays and grabbing boards. Both Al Horford and Brook Lopez are adept players who can take control of a game when necessary, but also compliment their respective guards in the art of the pick and roll.
For the Nets, Brook Lopez carries the majority of the offensive burden, feasting on weak interior defenses and poor rim protection. Al Horford tends to receive the ball within the flow of the Hawks’ offense and rarely demands the ball for multiple possessions in a row.