The Sixers weren’t the only team to blame the officials after blowing a late lead. The Lakers got in on the action as well.
That’s a foul we all saw it on national television.
— D'Angelo Russell (@Dloading) April 23, 2024
Russell was complaining about being hit in the face by Michael Porter Jr. near the end of the third quarter, only to have the call overturned after Nuggets coach Michael Malone challenged.
Michael Porter Jr. hit D'Angelo Russell in the face. MPJ was called for a foul which was then challenged.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 23, 2024
Nuggets won the challenge.
Thought? pic.twitter.com/X01ufZXX4g
LeBron James was even more effusive in his complaints, using far stronger language than his teammate.
LeBron James full comments on the officiating: "I don't understand what's going on in the replay center, to be honest. ... D-Lo clearly gets hit in the face on a drive. What the f--- do we have a replay center for if it's going to go [like that]. It doesn't make sense to me." 1/2
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 23, 2024
"It makes no sense to me. It bothers me. ... That s--- it like ... And then I just saw what happened with the Sixers-Knicks game too. Like, what are we doing? ... It's f---ing stupid." 2/2
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 23, 2024
But while the missed call cost the Lakers two free throws, it’s not the reason they blew a 20-point lead in the second half. It sounds like the reaction of a team that wants to blame someone besides themselves for a close loss — the tenth loss in a row to the same team.
For a team that enjoyed a colossal free throw advantage all season, perhaps the Lakers feel betrayed that their traditional playoff allies, the referees, abandoned them Monday night. Just ask fans of the 2002 Sacramento Kings if they feel sorry for the Lakers not getting calls.
Anthony Davis gave a very angry press conference, while dressed like a character from “The Matrix Reloaded” who fights Keanu Reeves with medieval weapons.
Anthony Davis: "Jamal Murray made a shot." pic.twitter.com/jsiYMmSa8p
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 23, 2024
Davis didn’t blame the officials, though, and he contested Murray’s game-winner pretty well. He could have been mad at himself for not making a field goal for the final 19:15 of the game. Or Davis wasn’t happy with his teammates.
Anthony Davis: “We have stretches where we don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor.”
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 23, 2024
That’s a more pressing issue than the officiating. Once the Lakers figure out what they’re doing on the court, then they can focus on the referees.
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