This is elite trolling.
I expect nothing less from Patrick Beverley.
Even though it was mostly LeBron and Thomas Bryant that led the improbable comeback against the Blazers.
Los Angeles Lakers starting “shooting” guard Patrick Beverley has basically become the NBA equivalent of an enforcer in hockey in the dotage of his playing career. Though he is no longer an All-Defensive Team level player, the 34-year-old remains an expert gets under opponents’ skin, needling other perimeter players with cheap-shot fouls and the occasional animated yapping more than with sound defensive acumen.
He’s already effectively annoyed the heck out of Portland Trail Blazers All-Star point guard Damian Lillard today in the first half of an ongoing battle in Portland, though it’s unclear if that ultimately had a positive or negative impact on the Lakers’ chances. Allow us to explain.
While Lillard was at the free throw line with Portland leading 40-38, Beverley started berating him. Lillard responded with a less-than-civil “I’ll beat your ass” during the semi-fracas. Beverley was assessed a technical, allowing Lillard to get yet another free throw try.
Even though the Blazers would go on a massive run after the trash talk, the Lakers would end up winning the game.
Flip the page for Beverley trolling and some of the Twitter reactions.