“My goal is to get inside other people’s heads, and when you complain to the referees, that’s what I like, that’s when I know I have you”. That’s what it said Dillon Brooks before the start of the World Cup, and on Wednesday he achieved his goal by causing the expulsion of Luka Doncic. Admittedly, he then joined him in the locker room, but the Canadian winger has fulfilled his mission, and Canada is in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
“I thought that yesterday we did a great collective job in defense, and especially Dillon” emphasizes his coach. “He signed a defensive clinic, and at some point, we should find that in the FIBA museum. »
A defensive clinic
But he also asks him to calm down because Canada needs him to get the title.
“He has to do better. We need him on the pitch. You can’t get kicked out. We must have more composure collectively ” insists Jordi Fernandez. “But Dillon Brooks and Lu Dort are the best outside defenders in this competition. I think today was a defensive clinic in the way of defending with the torso, showing his hands and applying pressure all over the court. And if you think otherwise, it’s because you don’t like basketball! »
Over the years, Dillon Brooks has carved out a good reputation as a defender in the NBA with a selection in the All-NBA Defensive Teams, but also as a head slapper by his provocations. In Manila, he is the most whistled player at the presentation of the teams, and he responds with kisses sent to the spectators at each basket. Before the World Cup, he also explained that he was simply playing a role.
Next target? Bogdan Bogdanovic
“Kind of like Kobe (Bryant) was doing when going through his ordeal creating the ‘Black Mamba’. It’s trying to turn away from all that outside noise.” explained Dillon Brooks, seen yesterday with boxing gloves to congratulate his staff and his teammates. “I think that’s why they gave me or created this villain role because I play aggressively and physically, and I also do a bit of ‘trashtalking’. »
This role of villain, he will play it again tomorrow against Serbia, and after taking care of Evan Fournier, the Hernangomez brothers and therefore Luka Doncic, he will focus on Bogdan Bogdanovic, the master to play for Serbia . His coach confirmed that Dillon Brooks, but also Lu Dort, would take turns on the Serbian leader.
“He’s a very good shooter, a very good basketball player, he can play pick-and-roll, he can score in different ways. He’s very active, he’s running around so it’s a tough job and as I told you before I think we have enough guys who can defend on him, not just one but many, so we will defend about him collectively” concludes the coach of Canada.
