There was plenty of focus on the Memphis Grizzlies’ 134-95 rout of the Warriors at FedExForum on Wednesday night, but there might have been nearly as much attention given to Steph Curry’s “Whoop That Trick” comments made ahead of the Western Conference semifinal Game 5 matchup.
And after the game, Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks wasn’t having it. He told reporters he didn’t know that Curry had referenced the Memphis rallying cry when telling ESPN’s Kendra Andrews of Golden State’s plan for the close-out game, but still had thoughts.
“I wasn’t aware, I just know that we need a win,” Brooks said. “I don’t even care if [Curry’s] going to add the fuel to the fire, that’s phony stuff. [We] just came in, ran the game plan, did it to a tee and got a lot of deflections to increase our transition.”
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There has been plenty of fuel on said fire during the second-round NBA playoff series, from controversial injuries to NSFW gestures directed at fans.
The “Whoop That Trick” chant echoed throughout the arena multiple times on Wednesday as Memphis shrank the Warriors’ series lead to 3-2. Curry didn’t hide, however, smiling along with the enthusiastic crowd while Draymond Green danced to the troll job.
The two-time NBA MVP was even the topic of conversation on Twitter as NBA stars such as CJ McCollum and Trae Young joined in on the fun.
Brooks’ teammates Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Tyus Jones told reporters that Curry’s pregame comments didn’t provide them with any extra motivation to win Game 5.
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“I mean it’s 3-1,” Jones said of the team’s mindset coming into the game.
“We don’t need no extra motivation,” Bane added.
As the Warriors head back to San Francisco to again try and close out the series in Game 6 on Friday, the Grizzlies can expect the crowd at Chase Center to have a little bit of fun at their expense, too.