Scott Brooks sticks up LeBron’s performance in Game 5
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks joined guest host Chris Mannix to discuss the NBA Finals.
Mannix asked Brooks the one key to Dallas’ Game 5 victory. “J.J. [Barea], in my mind, he turned the game around,” Brooks said.
Brooks said he doesn’t think LeBron played poorly in Game 5. “He’s not a scorer naturally,” Brooks said. “He wants to make plays for his teammates. … I thought last night … a triple-doube in an NBA Finals game, that’s pretty good.”
Brooks pointed out that the Mavs double-teamed LeBron and when that happens a player like LeBron is always going to look for his teammates.
Mannix asked Brooks how to contain Miami. “Try not to turn the ball over,” Brooks said. “Once you turn the ball over, they pitch ahead, and once they get a head of steam, you’re not going to stop them.”
Brooks also had a lot nice things to say about Dallas, and how the Mavs are playing smart defensively. And he thinks that their interior defense is much better. “Tyson Chandler is a difference-maker,” Brooks said.
Brooks also talked about his own guard, Russell Westbrook. “He was hit pretty hard in this postseason,” Brooks said. “But without Russell, we’re not in the postseason and we’re not in the conference finals.”
Brooks said that he’s meeting with Westbrook this week. Brooks said everyone on his team has to become better passers.