“ Next question. » During a passage unenthusiastic in front of journalistsLeBron James did not want to speak on the angry subject: Dillon Brooks. At the heart of the big victory of the Rockets over the Lakersthe Texan not only stood out for his defense and his 17 points scored (7/12 on shots).
First “feat of arms” at the start of the second quarter when Dillon Brooks was guilty of a stroller in the back of Jarred Vanderbilt who rose to finish with the dunk, before collapsing on the floor. The kind of dangerous and perfectly useless gesture as the Rockets player was late.
“ Being competitive is one thing. But putting players in danger of injury with certain gestures… I watched the action again just before coming here, he pushes him in the back, a guy who is in the air. In the air, defenseless “, describes Darvin Ham who considers Dillon Brooks to be “ one of the biggest competitors in our league ”, but fully supports his player.
Anthony Davis thinks he should have been kicked out
“ Guys get hurt like that. And you need to know what type of player he is. The referees let it happen and Brooks provoked him. He speaks and says what he wants to the referees, to the players », adds Anthony Davis, according to whom he should have been expelled for this first gesture, referring to the second act caused by Dillon Brooks.
Because a minute later, he came back into contact with the Lakers player who couldn't stand it: a stroller after a rebound, then a more frank gesture, with his finger at head level. Enough to be sent to the locker room following two consecutive technical fouls…
“ He felt like I had done something wrong. And when he feels like that, he likes to hustle. And it's basketball, we push each other and I feel like he went a little too far », Dillon Brooks seems to have fun afterwards. “ No one will talk to another man like he did to Vando. So Vando did what he had to do », retorts Anthony Davis while Dillon Brooks would have called his opponent “ fiotte » (“pussy”) according to a Lakers player cited by ESPN.
LeBron James KO
End of construction for Dillon Brooks? Negative, because in the second half, he attacked his favorite target: LeBron James. In addition to classic trashtalking, he made a bad move six minutes from the end: while trying to grab an offensive rebound in front of the “King”, he left a hand hanging at his face. KO, as rarely, the Lakers player remained on the ground for long seconds.
Dillon Brooks was penalized with a level 1 flagrant foul, while his opponent twice failed to penalize at the free throw line. “ Maybe Dillon Brooks shouldn't have been in the match either… », suggests Darvin Ham, thinking of this gesture and of his entire work.
But the person concerned, sanctioned by five personal fouls in the match, remained until the end with his “ alpha male mentality » as he says.
“ Last year I let things go too far. Today, I feel like I have some control over the situation. It's just about bringing the energy to knowing that some of the things you do might go too far. And play within the limits. » Very limited…
