Frustrated Lakers Allege Unequal Fouls in Loss to Suns
In a surprising turn of events, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Phoenix Suns in a game marred by what the Lakers perceive as an unfair discrepancy in fouls. The Suns shot a staggering 19 free throws, while the Lakers only managed to earn eight. This marked a season low for the Lakers and tied their fewest attempts since LeBron James joined the team in 2018.
LeBron James, the face of the Lakers, could only laugh when asked about the free throw disparity. However, his coach, Darvin Ham, was far from amused. Ham expressed his frustration with the inconsistency in officiating, stating, “I’m seeing our guys get the same contact on them as we’re supposedly committing. And the whistle is not being blown.”
The Lakers entered the game with an average of 24.7 free throws per game, ranking them sixth in the league. Ham emphasized the importance of winning the free throw battle and expressed his disappointment in the lack of calls in their favor. He observed opposing players making contact with his team, yet no fouls were being called.
The Lakers’ frustration was further compounded by the fact that they did not attempt a single free throw in the second half of the game. This marked the first time one of LeBron James’ teams had failed to earn a single foul shot in any half since December 2015.
LeBron James addressed the perception that the Lakers rely solely on free throws, stating, “A lot of people, a lot of coaches, a lot of teams are like, ‘That’s all the Lakers do is get to the free throw line.’ It’s like this narrative out there that that’s all we do is get to the free throw line. I mean, we have attackers. That’s what we do.”
James acknowledged that while the Lakers do shoot from the perimeter, they are not a team that solely relies on three-pointers. Their strength lies in driving to the paint and utilizing their attacking style of play. The Lakers’ frustration stems from the fact that their identity was not reflected in the number of free throw attempts they received.
Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers’ star players, expressed their disappointment in the lack of foul calls. James, who averages 5.4 free throw attempts per game, went 1-for-4 from the line. Davis, who averages 6.9 free throw attempts per game, did not earn a single free throw attempt for the first time this season.
Davis emphasized the Lakers’ reliance on getting to the line and their struggles with three-point shooting. He believed that either the referees missed fouls or the Suns simply weren’t fouling. Getting to the line and establishing a rhythm is a crucial part of the Lakers’ game plan.
While the free throw disparity was undoubtedly a factor in the Lakers’ loss, they also struggled defensively, allowing the Suns to score 45 points in the first quarter. Despite mounting a comeback in the third quarter, the Lakers were unable to close the gap and ultimately fell short.
Anthony Davis acknowledged that the Lakers allowed the officials’ calls, or lack thereof, to affect their focus. He stressed the importance of maintaining a next-play mentality and not allowing missed calls to hinder their defensive efforts.
In conclusion, the Lakers’ frustration with the unequal fouls in their loss to the Suns highlights the challenges they face in maintaining consistency in officiating. While they acknowledge their defensive shortcomings and need for improvement, they also feel that their attacking style of play warrants more foul calls. The Lakers will need to regroup and find ways to overcome these obstacles as they continue their pursuit of success in the NBA.