Despite a lopsided 119-84 loss in Game 1, Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks feels confident heading into Game 2 against the OKC Thunder. Brooks was feeling so confident that he shared his personal game plan if he gets matched up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Brooks agreed to Suns coach Jordan Ott’s sentiments about not playing iso ball against the Thunder. However, Brooks won’t be adhering to it when it comes to SGA. He will be isolating if his fellow Canadian is playing him on defense.
Thanks for the submission!
“I think it is, but I’m going to iso Shai when I get a chance to,” Brooks said, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “I think it is, but I’m going to iso Shai when I get a chance to.”
•
Brooks further explained:
‘”He’s a good defender overall, but I just like the matchup. Team Canada, we’ve been going at it for awhile. I won’t forget our 1-on-1s that we had in Paris. You can ask him who got the best of who.”
Dillon Brooks added that he’s going to capitalize on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taking a rest on defense because he’s doing too much on the other side. Brooks will try to expose the reigning MVP as much as he can to possibly help the Phoenix Suns steal homecourt advantage.
Brooks is coming off his breakout campaign, so he has taken a bit of an offensive load this season. SGA is a pretty good defender, but he’s also surrounder by better ones like Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren.
Brooks and SGA are teammates for the Team Canada in international basketball. They have had battles in practice, so they know each other’s games down to a tee. It’s going to be an interesting battle that some fans might not appreciate since Brooks isn’t on the same level as SGA.
Dillon Brooks comments on viral pregame moment with Chet Holmgren in Game 1
In the same interview with reporters after practice, Dillon Brooks was also asked about what happened between him and Chet Holmgren. Brooks appeared to have been playing mind games with Holmgren before Game 1, refusing to give the OKC Thunder big man ball for his pregame.
“I just got a routine for what I do at the beginning of the game,” Brooks said, according to Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire. “I didn’t want to ruin that. … One time in this season, I gave the ball to the guy and regretted it,” Brooks said. “I didn’t want to do it this time.”
Even though his antics didn’t work in Game 1, Brooks is unlikely to change his ways for the rest of the series regardless if the Suns are down or not.
Edited by Juan Paolo David