Grizzlies trash talk backfires as Lakers advance

The second-seeded, trash-talking Memphis Grizzlies were sent home after a 125-85 Game 6 loss to the Lakers. After Memphis won Game 2, Brooks said LeBron James was "old" and said, "I don't respect anyone until they come and give me 40." While James scored 22 points in Game 6, he may have earned Brooks' respect by giving him a 40-point loss.

Shaquille O'Neal argued that James already achieved that after Game 4 when he put up 22 points and 20 rebounds in an overtime win.

Ultimately, the Grizzlies' unstoppable confidence proved to be misguided. Anthony Davis had 16 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. James shot 9-13 and had six assists. New Laker D'Angelo Russell had a game-high 31 points on 17 shots, while Brooks and Morant scored just ten points each, combining to shoot 7-27.

We must reiterate that the Lakers are in fact in the West, and Morant was far from fine on Friday night.

Did free agent-to-be Brooks have any follow-up to his earlier boasts, after what might have been his last game in a Grizzlies uniform? He did not.