Dillon Brooks not actually shutting down LeBron James this series

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 103-93, on Wednesday night, evening the first-round series at 1-1. The game was highlighted by an exchange between LeBron James and Dillon Brooks, which has carried over in recent days.

After the game, Brooks poured additional fuel on the fire.

“I don’t care — he’s old,” Brooks said of James. “I poke bears. I don’t respect no one until they give me 40.”

James refused to engage in the back-and-forth with Brooks, and also rebuffed any notion that Brooks was shutting him down — a perception the Grizzlies star has been all too happy to indulge.

That apparently comes with good reason.

Although James is averaging just 24.5 points per game, which is lower than both his season and career averages, it’s not the result of Brooks’ defense. In fact, of the 49 points James has scored this series, 26 of them have come against Brooks. He’s also shooting 61.1% with the small forward defending him, which is a significantly higher clip than the 51.3% he’s averaging this series.