In the latest slate of in-season tournament games, Dillon Brooks and the Houston Rockets faced off against Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and the new-look Clippers. It was an interesting matchup from the start, but one particular moment in the game is going viral online. The video, which starts with a failed dunk attempt from Russell Westbrook, features Dillon Brooks talking some trash to the Clippers guard for his failed highlight play. He can be heard mouthing calling Westbrook “trash” as the former MVP just looks on with laughter.
“you aint got no bounce. trash.” pic.twitter.com/gfpRjAjf1u
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 18, 2023
Luckily for Brooks, who was nearly posterized on the play, Russ isn’t in his prime form and was unable to complete the dunk. While he did earn some free throws at the line (much to the chagrin of Dillon Brooks), it wasn’t a good game for Russell Westbrook, who finished the third quarter with five points in his first assignment off the bench. Brooks also struggled throughout the game, who shot just 33% heading into the final 12 minutes of play. Unlike Westbrook, however, Brooks was able to make himself valuable on the other end of the floor, where he was bothering the Clippers all night long.
A Fresh Start For Dillon Brooks
During his tenure in Memphis, Dillon Brooks earned a lot of criticism for his role in creating a toxic culture in Memphis. Along with abysmal shooting on the court, Brooks’ neverending trash talk became a liability for the Grizzlies and they were exposed to an embarrassing degree in the Western Conference playoffs. In the series loss to the Lakers, Memphis failed to win more than two games despite holding the higher seed. By the end, Dillon Brooks was tagged as the main scapegoat for the Grizzlies, a fact which he himself recently admitted.
Fortunately, Brooks is finding redemption with the Rockets. Under head coach Ime Udoka, Brooks is taking smarter shots and has accepted a secondary role in the offense behind Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, and Jalen Green. So far, he’s been thriving in Houston, posting 13.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on a career-high 55% shooting. For the season, he’s also shooting an astounding 53% from behind the arc. Combined those numbers with a solid performance on defense, and it’s easy to call this the best stretch of Dillon Brooks’ career. After all the hate he got this summer and last season, you have to give the guy credit for finally backing up his words.
Secret Beef Between Westbrook And Brooks?
Interestingly enough, the comment by Brooks might actually be revenge for something Russ said in the past. Back in March of this year, Westbrook had some choice words for Brooks after a particularly chippy encounter. Whether or not Brooks remembered that moment, it seems the shoe is on the other foot now. This time, instead of Westbrook and the Clippers thriving, it’s Brooks and the Rockets who are flexing their strength.
For now, it’s still far too early to say if the Rockets and Clippers are forming a new Western Conference rivalry, but their games are sure to be competitive with Westbrook, Brooks, and other high-level competitors being present on both rosters. Tonight, we got a taste of their competitive spirit and many fans are hoping we get to see more in the NBA playoffs this season.
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