Robin Lopez concedes 'crappy center' and brother Brook 'was good' Monday

It takes an awful lot for sibling rivals to give each other their due.

It took a 32-point, nine-rebound effort in a 106-96 victory on Monday for Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez to finally earn some credit from twin brother Robin Lopez, who was manning the pivot for the opposing Portland Trail Blazers.

Prior to the game, Robin had been talking a good deal of trash, as is his modus operandi. 

"It's amazing how far you can go with a crappy center," Robin said before the game. "But I guess he fooled the NBA, for a couple weeks at least."

They've been here before, with Robin bringing their mother into the argument after Brook called him an idiot and a moron before their November meeting. It's all in good fun, of course, but it speaks volumes when Robin puts the joking aside to pay a compliment, however slight.

"Yeah, he was good," Robin said after the game.

He wasn't just good. He was terrific, and he's averaging 26.2 points on 60.7-percent shooting during a 9-2 stretch that has the Nets firmly in the playoffs, a standing that seemed tenuous all season. He's earned back-to-back Player of the Week honors as a result, but Brook is staying humble.

"Well, it might have been a fluke," Brook said.

It probably isn't. Brook is now averaging 20.3 points on 56.6-percent shooting in nine career games against his floppier-haired half, while Robin's averaged 10.7 points on 58.6-percent shooting. 

He's also red-hot for one of the league's hottest teams at exactly the right time.