Memphis Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks quietly locking down Wolves’ best players

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been squarely in the spotlight for the Memphis Grizzlies for his poor play and inability to stay on the floor in this first-round series vs the Minnesota Timberwolves.

However, Dillon Brooks has not exactly been himself, either. Brooks doesn’t seem like he’s 100% out there on the floor, but then again who is by the time the playoffs come around?

Brooks’ offensive struggles came to a boiling point in Game 5 when the Memphis Grizzlies standout went 3 for 18 from the field (1-10 3PT)— that’s a staggering 16.7 FG%.

This whole series has been strange, but especially when you consider that the Memphis Grizzlies have won every game in which Brooks struggles on offense.

• Game 1: 24 points (7-14 FG) – Grizzlies lost
• Game 2: 11 points (3-11 FG) – Grizzlies won
• Game 3: 11 points (4-14 FG) – Grizzlies won
• Game 4: 24 points (10-20 FG) – Grizzlies lost
• Game 5: 8 points (3-18 FG)- Grizzlies won

Dillon Brooks using superb defense to stay on the floor for Memphis Grizzlies

Despite his offensive woes, Brooks has done a really great job on defense. No matter who he guards, he’s making their life difficult.

It doesn’t seem like Brooks has the same swagger that he had during last year’s first-round playoff matchup vs the Utah Jazz, but he’s more than getting the job done.

In Game 1 he primarily guarded Anthony Edwards, coving him on 35.60 partial possessions. Brooks allowed Edwards just 8 points, while the Timberwolves as a team scored 44.

In Game 2, Brooks was even better. He cycled through guarding D’Angelo Russell (15.7 partial possessions), Taurean Prince (9.60) and Anthony Edwards (8.80). Brooks gave up a combined 11 player points and forced the Wolves to score 26 team points in other ways.

Game 3, which saw the Grizzlies come back from a 26-point deficit, was Brooks’ best defensive performance of the series thus far. Brooks guarded Russell for 31.50 partial possessions and held him to 0 player points. The Wolves scored 14 team points while Brooks was guarding Russell.

Brooks also spent 11.90 partial possessions on Edwards, 8.60 on Jarred Vanderbilt and 6.10 on Karl-Anthony Towns, giving up a combined 6 player points on those three players, despite Minnesota recording 48 team points.

In Game 4, Brooks matched up with Russell again, allowing just 2 player points in 27.10 partial possessions, despite Minnesota racking up 34 team points.

Game 5 was the toughest game for Brooks on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. He scored just 8 points on 18 shot attempts. And he gave up 15 player points during the majority of his defensive assignments on 49 team points.

So, to put it plainly, Brooks has primarily guarded Edwards (98.9 partial possessions) and Russell (105.3 partial possessions) in this playoff series.

Edwards has scored a total of 121 points through five games. He’s only scored 22 points (8-18) in this series when Dillon Brooks is guarding him— 22 points on 98.9 partial possessions.

Russell has scored just 14 of his 65 total points (through Game 5) whenever Brooks is guarding him (3-11). That’s right, through 105.3 partial possessions, Brooks has given up just 14 points while guarding D-Lo.

There may be a little less “villain” in Dillon during these playoff games, but he’s still the same staunch defender fans have come to love and respect.