OKLAHOMA CITY Maybe Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks is onto something here.Brooks talked after the April 21 practice about looking to iso Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Game 2 of the Suns' playoff series on Wednesday, April 22, at Paycom Center even though his head coach, Jordan Ott, said they cant play that way versus the defending NBA champions.Why not? said Brooks, when asked why he wants to take Gilgeous-Alexander 1-on1. He's a good defender overall, but I just like the matchup. Team Canada, we've been going at it for a while. I won't forget our 1-on-1s that we had in Paris. "You can ask him who got the best of who, but you see a guy like that going hard on the offensive end all game and trying to get a rest on defense, I'll find a way make him use his legs, use his hands, use his mind on that defensive end, most of the time, he's going to break down and then you can go out and make plays."I think it is, but I'm going to iso Shai when I get a chance to."Dillon Brooks when asked about Jordan Ott saying the Suns can't "iso" the Thunder and that being a point of emphasis going into Game 2 as he referencing to fellow Canadian, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander."Why not? pic.twitter.com/HrWdHau9KP Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 21, 2026The latter part of Brooks comments fall in line with what Hall of Famer and NBA champion Gary Payton said on Fanatic Sportsbooks Hot Take when asked how to guard Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP.Luka, hes going to try to muscle you, Payton said. Slow ball you and then all the sudden hell step back and hit a shot. Youve got to frustrate him.And Gilgeous-Alexander?Shai, I think that hes so crafty, I would have to go back at him on the other end to tire him out, Payton said. You cant let a person like him get comfortable.Fanatics' Hot Take was presented as an advertisement on InstagramOtts thinking stems from the Suns shooting just 34.9% from the field and committing 19 turnovers that led to 34 Thunder points in Sundays 119-84 loss."It's important. Always is important, but especially versus this team. We know how they shift for each other. We know how they help each other on the defensive end. Iso ball will not get it done."Devin Booker as Suns face OKC for Game 2 after losing Game 1 by 35 points. #Suns pic.twitter.com/Z2Vzw0dFs1 Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 22, 2026We can't iso this team, Ott said after Game 1 April 19. We can't hold the ball against this team. We can't take tough 2s all night against this team.After Wednesdays morning shootaround, Devin Booker addressed the importance of ball movement against Oklahoma City with a clear closing point."It's important, Booker said. Always is important, but especially versus this team. We know how they shift for each other. We know how they help each other on the defensive end. Iso ball will not get it done.Have opinions about the current state of theSuns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin atdmrankin@gannett.comor contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at@DuaneRankin.Support local journalism: Subscribe toazcentral.comtoday.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dillon Brooks 'iso' strategy for SGA similar to Hall of Famer