Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks is excited to face the Golden State Warriors for a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday. The Suns’ 114-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday and the Warriors’ 126-121 win over the LA Clippers the following day set up the encounter.
When asked about which team between the Warriors and the Clippers he would have preferred to see in the do-or-die game, Brooks responded (via Arizona Sports):
“Steph (Curry) and Draymond (Green). That’s it. And Steve Kerr.”
Brooks has a long and testy playoff history with the Warriors. Last season, while still playing for the No. 2-seeded Rockets, he lost to the seventh-ranked Dubs. Brooks, Curry’s primary defender, earned the ire of Warriors fans after the rugged enforcer repeatedly swiped at the superstar point guard’s injured hand throughout the series.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr once called Dillon Brooks a “dirty player” who broke “the code” during the 2022 playoffs. While with the Memphis Grizzlies, Brooks’ foul on Gary Payton II resulted in Payton suffering a fractured elbow.
There is also no love lost between Brooks and Draymond Green. After the Rockets lost to the Warriors last year, the former refused to shake hands with the latter. Green hopped on his podcast and called Brooks a “sucker.”
In an interview with streamer N3on roughly three months ago, Brooks said that Green and Chris Paul are “not good at basketball,” because both are focused on their podcasts.
Brooks and Green have also had heated interactions on the court in the playoffs.
Fans React to Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green Squaring off for Do-Or-Die Encounter
Dillon Brooks will likely be Steph Curry’s main defender again, but the matchup fans want to see is that of Brooks and Draymond Green. With both players’ seasons on the line, many are expecting a slugfest between the two.
One fan wrote:
“The NBA should allow them 9 fouls each. This s**t is gonna be a sledgehammer fight.”
Another fan added:
“After the eighth foul, they should each get to choose a weapon.”
One more fan continued:
“Winner gets to take on Lu Dort in the octagon.”
Another fan commented:
“Forget the fouls. They should allow at least 4 technical fouls.”
One fan tweeted:
“Refs, please swallow the whistle. Don’t f**k up. … Let them eat with their antics.”
Brooks boldly told the media what he wanted for a win-or-go-home clash. Fans can’t hold back their excitement to see him go up against a player who has had success playing the same style Brooks has been using.
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