Ja Morant said he was fine in the West. Dillon Brooks said he wouldn't mind playing LeBron. Now they're both going home.
“I’m fine in the west.”
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 29, 2023
The Lakers had something to say about that pic.twitter.com/FXHEZfQND9
The second-seeded, trash-talking Memphis Grizzlies were sent home after a 125-85 Game 6 loss to the Lakers. After Memphis won Game 2, Brooks said LeBron James was "old" and said, "I don't respect anyone until they come and give me 40." While James scored 22 points in Game 6, he may have earned Brooks' respect by giving him a 40-point loss.
Shaquille O'Neal argued that James already achieved that after Game 4 when he put up 22 points and 20 rebounds in an overtime win.
"Dillon Brooks said he doesn't respect anybody until they get 40. 20 & 20 is 40." @SHAQ on @KingJames 20-20 performance in Game 4 pic.twitter.com/UTbl27qI0Z
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 25, 2023
Ultimately, the Grizzlies' unstoppable confidence proved to be misguided. Anthony Davis had 16 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. James shot 9-13 and had six assists. New Laker D'Angelo Russell had a game-high 31 points on 17 shots, while Brooks and Morant scored just ten points each, combining to shoot 7-27.
Anthony Davis blocks Ja Morant on the shot attempt like an uncle at a BBQ pic.twitter.com/r83bvXxsSZ
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) April 29, 2023
We must reiterate that the Lakers are in fact in the West, and Morant was far from fine on Friday night.
Did free agent-to-be Brooks have any follow-up to his earlier boasts, after what might have been his last game in a Grizzlies uniform? He did not.
Dillon Brooks exited the locker room before the media was allowed to enter postgame.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 29, 2023
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