A flagrant 2 is a foul that is generally given for excessive and unnecessary contact. While the referees generally allow more contact in the playoffs than the regular season, sometimes fouls just absolutely need to be called.
Dillon Brooks has recently been ejected for a flagrant 2 on Gary Payton II during Game 2 of the Warriors-Grizzlies series. It looked as though Brooks was trying to block a layup from Payton II, but ended up missing entirely and hitting him in the head.
Dillon Brooks was ejected for this flagrant 2 on Gary Payton.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 4, 2022
There’s no doubt that this was unnecessary contact from Dillon Brooks. It was also a very questionable decision not only due to the fact that the contact was excessive but also due to the fact that it was very early in the game. The Memphis Grizzlies will now be without Dillon Brooks for the entire game, and there’s no doubt that his two-way presence will be missed, in particular his perimeter defense. His actions also made coach Steve Kerr star Klay Thompson very angry, with both players using expletives to express their reaction to the hard foul on their teammate.
Steve Kerr screaming down at the Memphis bench after that Dillon Brooks foul and ejection: "Get the f*** out of here." Klay Thompson: "That's bull****." As upset as I've seen them at a foul.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 4, 2022
Steve Kerr screaming down at the Memphis bench after that Dillon Brooks foul and ejection: “Get the f*** out of here.” Klay Thompson: “That’s bull****.” As upset as I’ve seen them at a foul.
This series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors has clearly been very physical and tense. In Game 1, Draymond Green was ejected for a Flagrant 2 on Brandon Clarke after hitting him in the face and pulling him. It is clear that neither team will be backing down from the other.
We’ll see how the rest of this series goes. The Warriors will now be without Gary Payton II, who is their best guard defender. However, they still have the talent to win Game 2, and we’ll see if they are able to pull it out against a very young and athletic Memphis Grizzlies team.
