Rockets' Dillon Brooks on Grizzlies' struggles: 'The girlfriend that you used to have'
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks had an interesting analogy for the horrendous start to the season of his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies.
“[I am] like the girlfriend that you used to have,” Brooks said, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “You don’t know how good she is until she’s gone."
The Grizzlies (3-10) are tied for the second-worst record in the Western Conference, and with the return of All-Star guard Ja Morant from suspension still at least another month away, things are looking bleak for a team that finished second in the West last season.
While the Grizzlies' early-season struggles can be mainly attributed to the loss of Steven Adams and suspension of Morant, Brooks' absence is another key factor.
Last season, Brooks was the Grizzlies' leader in minutes played and second in points allowed per 100 possessions (-4.3), per Cleaning the Glass. Overall, the Grizzlies had the second-best defense in the league, with Brooks regularly being tasked with guarding the opposing team's best wing player.
This season, the Grizzlies have dropped to the 14th-ranked defense, while the Rockets — Brooks' new team — are fifth. It's no coincidence this success coincides with Brooks' arrival.
Before the start of the season, ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on "The Lowe Post" podcast that new coach Ime Udoka specifically sought out Brooks.
"Ime Udoka wanted him. He valued him. He’s in Houston in large part because of that. It’s on Ime Udoka to deal with that and get the best version of Dillon Brooks that also creates the best possible scenario for these young guys to grow."
Despite Brooks' struggles last postseason against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, he is still a player who provides elite perimeter defense and reliable three-point shooting. This season, Brooks is averaging 13.9 points and leads the team in three-point percentage (50) and steals per game (1.3).
As things stand, the Grizzlies made a huge mistake by letting Brooks walk. The team is in shambles and in danger of missing the playoffs if it doesn't turn around things soon. The Houston Rockets, meanwhile, are in a great position to secure their first playoff appearance since 2020.
The Rockets play the Grizzlies on Wednesday, so look for Brooks to be eager to get some payback on his former team.
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