Frustrated Lakers believe fouls not being called equally

PHOENIX — All LeBron James could do was laugh Sunday when asked about the free throw disparity in the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix shot 19 free throws compared to just eight for Los Angeles, marking a season low for the Lakers and tying the fewest such attempts in any team game 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 are having the same contact that we're supposed to be committing. And the alert isn't being raised.”

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

“That’s something we focus on, trying to get to the free throw line every game,” Ham said. “And so it's tough. I tell my guys to go down the hills; we try to love and live in the paint. And you don't get calls. I see guys with their hands in the ribs of the ours or swinging, hitting their head, trying to block the shot, but not getting the ball, but getting a piece of the body. And it's not called, simple as that.

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

The Lakers had no free throw attempts in Sunday's second half, marking the first time one of James' teams did not attempt a single foul shot in a half since December 2015.

“A lot of people, a lot of coaches, a lot of teams say, 'That's all the Lakers do, is get to the free throw line,'” James said. “It's like this narrative that all we do is get to the free throw line. I mean, we have forwards. That's what we do. We have forwards. Yes, we shoot the ball from the perimeter, but we're I'm not shooting 40 to 50 3s a game. We're not that team. We don't have the luxury of being that team. So working in the paint is what we are really good at.

“Making eight free throw attempts, that's definitely not us. I know, for sure, I got hit a few times when I got to the paint tonight, which wasn't called. But it's like that.”

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

“We live by getting to the line. We attack the basket,” Davis said. “Especially how much we're struggling from the 3, we're kind of up and down, so we're trying to live in the paint and get to the line. I don't know if it was just the refs who missed it or if they were” “I didn't make a mistake. I felt like I was wronged several times. But it's part of our identity , part of our DNA is getting to the line and guys picking up rhythms like that and then playing 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 ESPN Stats & Info data.

Although free throws could have been 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 as high as 20 points. Los Angeles cut its deficit to just two points late in the third quarter, but couldn't get any closer.

Davis admitted the Lakers let the officials' calls — or not calls — affect their focus.

“Whether we think we have done something wrong or not, we have to come back [on defense] because the team is going to push,” Davis said. “We don't want to be at a disadvantage. This happened several times this evening. I think I had one in front of their bench. But we have to have a next play mentality and come back knowing that teams are going to push and, most of the time, they're going to make us pay. »