Frustrated Lakers believe fouls not being called equally

PHOENIX — All Lebron James All I could do was laugh on Sunday when I was asked about the free throw disparity in the the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 123-113 defeat toward phoenix suns.

Phoenix shot 19 free throws compared to just eight for Los Angeles, which is a season low for the Lakers and ties the fewest such attempts in any game for the team since James joined the franchise in 2018, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

While James was exasperated, his coach, Darvin Ham, was angry.

“I’m not one to use referees as an excuse,” Ham said. “But it’s getting harder and harder because of the inconsistency. I see our guys having the same contact with them that we’re supposedly making. And the whistle isn’t being blown.”

LA entered the game averaging 24.7 free throws per game as a team, sixth most in the league.

“That’s something we focus on, trying to win the free throw line every game,” Ham said. “And that’s hard. I tell my guys to drive downhill; we’re trying to love and live in the paint. And we don’t get calls. I see guys with their hands on our guys’ ribs or swinging, hitting their heads, trying blocking the shot but not receiving the ball, but a piece of the body. And it’s not that they whistle at you, as simple as that.

“So we have to find ways to not let that be a problem, but it’s difficult. Again, it’s frustrating when there’s so much inconsistency.”

The Lakers did not have a single free throw attempt in the second half on Sunday, marking the first time one of James’ teams did not attempt a single free throw in any half since December 2015.

“A lot of people, a lot of coaches, a lot of teams say, ‘All the Lakers do is get to the free throw line,'” James said. “It’s like this narrative that says all we do is get to the free throw line. I mean, we have attackers. That’s what we do. We have attackers. Yes, we shoot the ball from the perimeter, but we’re not shooting 40 to 50 threes a game. We’re not that team. We don’t have the luxury of being that team. So, working it in the paint, that’s what we’re really good at.

“Having eight free throw attempts is definitely not us. I know, definitely, when I got to the paint tonight I got hit a couple of times that weren’t called. But it is what it is.”

James, who averages 5.4 free throw attempts per game, was 1 of 4 from the line. Lakers big man Anthony Daviswho averages 6.9 free throw attempts per game, had no free throw attempts for the first time all season.

“We live getting to the line. We attack the basket,” Davis said. “Especially how much we fight from the 3, we’re up and down, so we try to live in the paint and get to the line. I’m not sure if it was just the refs that missed it or not.” Do not commit fouls. I felt like I was fouled a couple of times. But that’s part of our identity, our DNA, getting to the line and guys pick up rhythms like that and then play from there.”

It was the first time in Davis’ career that he played more than 40 minutes and did not attempt a free throw, according to data from ESPN Stats & Info.

As much as free throws were a factor, the Lakers did themselves no favors by allowing the Suns to score 45 points in the first quarter en route to a lead that grew to as many as 20 points. Los Angeles cut the deficit to just two points late in the third quarter, but couldn’t get any closer.

Davis admitted that the Lakers allowed referees’ calls (or non-calls) to affect their concentration.

“Whether we think we’ve been fouled or not, we have to come back.” [on defense] because the team is going to press,” Davis said. “We don’t want to be at a disadvantage. It happened a couple of times tonight. I think he had one in front of his bench. But we have to have a next-play mentality and come back knowing that teams are going to press and, more often than not, make us pay.”