The Lakers contacted the NBA league office Tuesday to discuss their belief that referees missed a number of foul calls in the team’s 108–107 loss to the Heat on Monday night, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The “main point of contention” for Los Angeles is how LeBron James was officiated, per the report. The Lakers apparently shared numerous video clips with the NBA of James, in their view, getting hit with illegal contact on plays that were not called fouls on the floor.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots the ball around Miami Heat center Thomas Bryant during the first half at Kaseya Center. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
James attempted just four free throws in the game, and through seven games, is averaging just 5.7 attempts from the charity stripe, which would tie a career low across an entire season.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who was assessed a technical foul for arguing one of the no-calls Monday night, was vocal in his criticism of the officiating after the game.
“I’ve been around this league a long time, man,” Ham said. “We just want balance and consistency. That’s it. I see ‘Bron shooting four free throws, and the amount of times that he attacked the rim, the amount of times he was slapped on the arm, which I could see plain as day, for that not to be called? Man, he’s not flopping. I’m watching him go to the hole strong.”
James was vocal regarding the officiating as well.
“I’m going over to [the officials] respectfully and telling them what’s going on in the plays, and I consistently go to the line three or four times a game. Sometimes not even at all, which is weird,” James said. “So, just got to keep driving, keep putting pressure on the rim and see if it turns.”
Time will tell if the calls will start going James’s way. The Lakers (3-4) are back in action against the Rockets (3-3) on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET.
