Grizzlies Should Be Embarrassed After Game 3, But They’re Not Done

From a nine-point first quarter to Dillon Brooks’s ejection, Memphis miserably failed to back up its constant trash talk in a 111–101 loss to the Lakers.

Pathetic.

There’s no other word for the Grizzlies’ first-quarter effort against the Lakers on Saturday. Memphis came out of the gates slower than a sloth in quicksand, scoring an anemic nine points—nine points!—in the opening 12 minutes of its eventual 111–101, Game 3 loss to the Lakers. The final score was frankly closer than the actual game, and the Grizz now trail 2–1 in the first-round series. And after constant trash talking of their opponent, the Grizzlies should be embarrassed by the wire-to-wire beatdown they took in Game 3.

Remember, this series started with irritant Dillon Brooks saying he wanted to face the Lakers.

“I wouldn’t mind playing LeBron in a seven-game series,” Brooks said ahead of Game 1. “The legacy is there. First time back in the playoffs, knock him out right away.”

Okay, fine, I can respect that sentiment. Every team should be confident headed into Round 1. Except Memphis came out and then immediately dropped the opening game at home. Only that didn’t stop the skepticism from Desmond Bane, who wasn’t impressed with Rui Hachimura’s 29 points in Game 1.

“I mean, that was our gameplan going in,” Bane said after Game 1. “Make [Hachimura] hit shots and you know, he did. You know, tip your cap. It’s probably the best game of his career. It’s a seven-game series. Let’s see if he can do it again Wednesday.”

Brooks (left) was ejected for striking LeBron James in the groin early in the third quarter / AP

Since then, Hachimura has outscored Bane over the next two games. He’s also shooting 66.7% from the floor in the series, outperforming Bane from three and the floor, for good measure.

And then we had Brooks again, for seemingly no reason whatsoever, deciding to go at LeBron James before Game 3.

“He’s old. You know what I mean?” Brooks said after Game 2, adding that he likes to “poke bears” and that doesn’t respect “no one until they come and give me 40.”

So how did Brooks follow up this relatively unsolicited trash talk? He chucked up 13 shots in Game 3, missing 10 of them. Then he was ejected not even 20 seconds into the second half for striking James in the groin. And for the icing on the cake, the normally talkative Brooks decided against speaking with the media after the game.

Look, I enjoy the Grizzlies’ brash attitude. It’s made this series much more entertaining than it would have been otherwise. It wouldn’t even be an issue if Memphis lost a closely contested game Saturday. But to come out and lay a massive egg, bricking open shot after open shot? The Grizzlies looked shook from the opening tip. We can’t even celebrate Ja Morant’s epic 45-point performance—including 24 in the fourth—because all that stands out from Game 3 is how Memphis thoroughly, unequivocally failed to back up all of its trash talk even in the slightest.

James and the Lakers brushed off Brooks’s trash talk to take a 2–1 series advantage :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Brooks especially needs to figure out if he wants to be remembered for his personality or actually contributing to playoff wins. Again, I have no issue with the attitude. But Brooks hurt his team in numerous ways on the floor Saturday night. If you’re going to put your team in the position in which it has to back up your words, the least you could do is back them up yourself. Not only did Brooks play miserably—his offense was sinking the team, his defense not particularly special or effective—he then ducked the media after, leaving his coach and teammates to answer for his pitiful display.

If we know anything about the Grizzlies, it’s that they won’t be humbled. I may argue they should be embarrassed, but they won’t be. Memphis is much more likely to double or triple down than give an inch to the Lakers. And thanks to the brilliance of Morant, the Grizz still very much have a chance in this series. Even if they clanked them left and right, at least you could say Memphis generated some good looks in Game 3.

Regardless of what talk happens between now and Game 4, this series is far from over. The Grizz are too good—and honestly, too arrogant—to lay down. But their brash attitude can only bring them so far. As entertaining as all the theatrics have been, the Grizzlies performed better in front of the microphones leading up to Saturday than during the game itself. If their play doesn’t catch up to their talk, this series will end like Brooks’ Game 3: early.