Los Angeles Lakers fans sound off on officiating vs. Phoenix Suns: 'Rigged from the start'
Los Angeles Lakers fans are not taking their team's loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday well.
And they have found some people to blame for their team's loss: the officials.
Lakers fans took to social media in the aftermath of the game to slam the referees for their team's 123-113 loss at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Why are they so upset?
Many pointed out the fact that Los Angeles took just eight free throw attempts in the game, making four of them, while Phoenix went 18-for-19 from the line.
The Suns were plus-14 in the game in points from the free throw line, while taking 11 more attempts from the charity stripe than the Lakers in the game.
Interestingly, the Lakers had 14 fouls in the game, while the Suns had 12, but Los Angeles' fouls sent Phoenix to the line more often.
Phoenix also had a 51-34 advantage in rebounds (including a 14-3 advantage in offensive boards), but all Lakers fans seemed to want to do after the game was blast the officiating.
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VOTE: How big of an impact did the officiating have on the outcome of Sunday's #Lakers vs. #Suns game? ('Rigged from the start': https://t.co/TFJH0FfQmL) #LakeShow #ComingInHot
— Jeremy Cluff (@Jeremy_Cluff) February 26, 2024
Lakers fans claim game vs. Suns was 'rigged from the start'
Here are some comments from Lakers fans on the officiating in Los Angeles' loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday:
rigged from the start. refs ignored 3 travels that led to 6 phx points in the first quarter alone. then Bron and AD couldn't buy a single call. lakers needed this game and the NBA took it from them.
— Matthew (@MatthewR2415) February 25, 2024
But there's a reason why nobody was getting any calls from the refs especially the Lakers so many fouls were looked over it's like the refs were blindfolded out there .@SpectrumSN #LakersNation https://t.co/aXaoQi3qsJ
— big jay (@Jrwill9090) February 26, 2024
LeBron gets no calls. It’s insane
— Mikey22bullet (@mikey22bullet) February 25, 2024
We will not stand for this injustice
— Khaled (@khaled74) February 26, 2024
Sounds like a big reason for the loss
— Tim McLaughlin (@timthebim123) February 25, 2024
Yup, those refs getting fired 😭
— salas (@el_chava92) February 26, 2024
I been saw the refs giving the whistle to suns since the beginning of the game and letting AD and Lebron get hacked in the paint.
— James Mc (@McLuvlee1) February 26, 2024
Booker gets to butcher the guy he’s guarding and gets the Jordan treatment on jump shots
— Dark Knight (@Droidus_Maximus) February 26, 2024
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Free throws are usually on the Los Angeles Lakers' side
If that seems like a lot of complaining from the Lakers, it might be because fans of the team are used to seeing their team get to the line.
The Lakers have averaged 24.5 free throw attempts per game this season, sixth in the NBA. The Suns are at 25.2 attempts per game, fourth in the league.
Los Angeles, however, has an overwhelming advantage in free-throw differential over any NBA team this season. The Lakers have shot 325 more free throws than opponents in 2024, through games last Wednesday.
Forgive us if we have a hard time feeling bad for Lakers fans after Sunday's loss to the Suns.
Do you think Los Angeles Lakers fans have a right to be upset with the officiating in their team's loss to the Phoenix Suns?
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Free throw attempt differential leaders in the 2023-24 season:
Los Angeles Lakers: +325
Phoenix Suns: +181
New York Knicks: +160
Milwaukee Bucks: +156
Lakers have shot 325 more free-throws than their opponents! 😳 pic.twitter.com/stAuM4rEEG— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) February 23, 2024
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Lakers fans sound off on officiating vs. Suns: 'Rigged from the start'
