The Lakers contacted the NBA about what they believe were numerous foul calls involving LeBron James in Monday’s loss to the Heat, sources told ESPN.
Los Angeles Lakers They contacted the offices of the NBA on Tuesday to investigate what they consider numerous missed fouls in Monday’s 108-107 loss to the Miami Heatsources told ESPN.
The main point of contention of the Lakers is how the officers treated LeBron James, according to sources. The Lakers shared several clips showing what they believe to be clear illegal contact by Heat defenders against James that went unnoticed by the referees.
LeBron James reacts during the second quarter of the game between Lakers and Heat. Megan Briggs/Getty Images
James attempted four free throws against Miami, dropping his season average to 5.7 attempts per game, which would match his single-season career low if he persists. The four-time league MVP has been fouled on just 6% of his drives this season, according to data from Second Spectrum, which is the eighth-lowest rate among the 34 players who have recorded 70 or more drives so far in 2023-24.
James brought up his free throw total after Monday’s game, dissatisfied with the way the officiating crew explained the fouls.
One of the failed decisions to which James referenced (when Heat center Thomas Bryant made contact with his face after missing a dunk attempt with 1:01 left in the third quarter) was one of the clips that Lakers shared with the NBAaccording to sources.
“What they are telling me is not consistent with what is really happening on the field,” he said. James. “When I made the dunk attempt against Thomas Bryant, he clearly elbowed me, like an arm in the face. And I asked him for the explanation. Well, one of the referees said he was facing up, with his hands facing inwards in the air. “Two of the referees said they were blocked and didn’t see it.”
The coach of the LakersDarvin Ham, was penalized with his first technical foul of the season, and only the third of his career, with 39 seconds left in the third quarter for arguing the play in which there was no penalty in favor of James.
“I see Bron shooting four free throws,” Ham said after the game, “and the number of times he attacked the rim, the number of times he took hits on the arm, which I could see clear as day, don’t sing That’s why he’s missing, man… he’s not pretending. I’m seeing him get to the rim with force.”
Los Lakers They also identified a sequence midway through the second quarter when it appeared Heat guard Duncan Robinson shoved James in the back while the 19-time All-Star was pushing the ball in transition and no decision was made, sources said.
“I mean, I don’t know what to say,” said a James exasperated after the defeat left The Angels with a 3-4 record this season. “I approach them respectfully and tell them what’s happening on plays and I consistently go to the line three or four times a game. “Sometimes I don’t even get to make free throws, which is strange.”
James has attempted four or fewer free throws in three of the seven games of the Lakers this season, including four in Monday’s game in Miami. “So we just have to keep driving, keep pushing the rim and see if it turns,” he said. James. “But we sure had some tough decisions tonight, and not in our favor.”
2023-11-07 19:36:00
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