Dillon Brooks' trash talk falls flat as Lakers take commanding lead in series

ParallelDesk 01:26:48 PM, 27 April 2023

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In a move that he likely regrets now, Memphis Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks attempted to rile up Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James with some fiery comments after Game 2 of the first-round series between their teams. However, his trash talk did not have the desired effect as the Lakers took control of the series and went on to win back-to-back games in Game 3 and Game 4. Brooks' comments were made after the Grizzlies evened up the series in Game 2. Speaking to reporters, Brooks called James "old" and added that he expected him to talk trash earlier on. He said, "I poke bears. I don't respect no one until they come and give me 40." However, his comments only seemed to have motivated James, who did not engage in any verbal sparring and instead let his performance on the court do the talking. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, known for his blunt takes, was not impressed with Brooks' poor play over the past two games. On TNT's NBA Tip-Off, Barkley stated, "You can't talk all that noise and then play bad. You calling people old and the old man just kicking your a**. Let's be honest about it." Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal also took a dig at Brooks, pointing out that James' 20-point, 20-rebound performance in Game 4 still amounted to "40 points." Brooks has had a disappointing series so far, averaging just 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.3 steals per game while shooting just 33.3% from the field, 22.2% from 3-point range, and 71.4% from the field. He was even ejected from Game 3 after picking up a Flagrant 2 foul for striking James in the groin. In stark contrast, James has been a force to be reckoned with, averaging 24.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. His dominant play has helped the Lakers take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, with the Grizzlies facing elimination in Game 5. Despite his lackluster performance, Brooks remains confident that he and his team can turn things around. He declined to speak to the media following both Games 3 and 4, but with the season on the line, he may have no choice but to step up and back up his words with action on the court. As for James and the Lakers, they will be looking to close out the series and move on to the next round, where they will face either the Phoenix Suns or the Los Angeles Clippers.