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Frustrated by the officiating during their 126-111 loss to the Houston Rockets, several Los Angeles Lakers players, including LeBron James and Lonzo Ball, played a series of defensive possessions with their hands behind their back. 

James said that the Rockets "got guys that can sell calls really good -- Chris [Paul] and James [Harden] -- so you got to try to keep your hands out of the cookie jar". 

Ball and Kyle Kuzma both added that "you can't touch" Rockets players when playing defense. 

Of his players' frustration, Luke Walton said "I thought we could've done a better job of keeping our composure as a group. I think that's a great learning experience for us as we try to prep for becoming a type of team that can win toward the end of the year. We have to be able to succeed in tough environments and when things aren't going in our favor. And the only way to learn how to do that is to go through it. And I thought tonight was an example that we could've done things better."

The Rockets shot 32 free throws on the night, while the Lakers went to the line 27 times. James Harden had his fourth career 50-point triple double, and went 18-19 from the line. 

Via Dave McMenamin/ESPN

The lakers played zone all game and never doubled teamed harden
What do you expect

The real james with the real beard and mohawk

"James said that the Rockets "got guys that can sell calls really good -- Chris [Paul] and James [Harden] "

Coming from LeBron, the guy who got a lot of calls off similar flops...umm, selling calls... this is comedy gold.

There's no proof that it was in protest.

As the announcers and Lebron himself have said, it was because they wanted to make sure they didn't foul.

The title of this wiretap reads as though the Lakers were protesting on the Rockets behalf

I hate the Rockets offense which is basically designed to fool the moronic officials but LeFlop is the wrong messenger.

32:27... That's practically the same

mixerball wrote:32:27... That's practically the same

And that's never an indication of how the game was called.

Nutty Nats Fan wrote:

mixerball wrote:32:27... That's practically the same

And that's never an indication of how the game was called.

Still, no need to be "hands behind back protest" drama Queens.

mixerball wrote:

Nutty Nats Fan wrote:

mixerball wrote:32:27... That's practically the same

And that's never an indication of how the game was called.

Still, no need to be "hands behind back protest" drama Queens.

If the refs were really being that bad, why not?

Lakers won't be getting any calls for a few games now though.

Lakers have been benefitting from the refs the most this season, but it's never enough for LeBum and scrubs.

never forget

Don't be surprised if this "new defensive strategy" appears in nba 2k20.

What is Lebron's first on court lesson for the youngsters in front of the world? To teach them to be passive aggressive when you're having an on-court temper tantrum. I never expected anything less from him...

Lebron hasn't played good defense or made an all defense team since the 2012-2013 season. No reason to pretend he has a right to complain about fouls anymore. He commits them and whines, that's his MO since leaving the Heat.

Hoopzilla wrote:What is Lebron's first on court lesson for the youngsters in front of the world? To teach them to be passive aggressive when you're having an on-court temper tantrum. I never expected anything less from him...

Lebron hasn't played good defense or made an all defense team since the 2012-2013 season. No reason to pretend he has a right to complain about fouls anymore. He commits them and whines, that's his MO since leaving the Heat.

This is what I was thinking and really shows how the predictions of LBJ stunting the young Lakers are coming true... he's training this group to be whinny b!tches to get wins/calls because he knows they aren't good enough spot up shooters to get him to another finals.
LBJ is going to leave the Lakers in a horrible position when he's done there, just like he's done to Cleveland twice already.

7:52 in the 3rd quarter. I mean ... Harden travels going backwards and shoots a fading 3 taking off behind the line. Harts feet are well inside the 3 point line. Harden kicks his feet forward and falls down entangling his feet, Hart called for a foul. If they are going to call that a foul and fall for it 1/2 the time what else are opposing players supposed to do? If every player in the league acted like Harden and Paul nobody would even watch. The league doesn't seem to want to fine them for flopping, acting, kicking, etc.. I would just put my 11th player in and when Harden tries that crap just undercut him under his ankles shatter.

hyberx wrote:"James said that the Rockets "got guys that can sell calls really good -- Chris [Paul] and James [Harden] "

Coming from LeBron, the guy who got a lot of calls off similar flops...umm, selling calls... this is comedy gold.

Just because you get a lot of calls doesn't mean you can't notice or point out others who do, and Lebron has many times not gotten calls he should because of his size.

Also just because you get calls doesn't mean you always do and doesn't mean you won't ever get screwed by refs on calls.

Lebron gets the Shaq treatment from refs. Anyone thinking he gets most of the calls he deserves isn't watching him play.

Lol @ Lebron being upset about fouls other players draw.

On one hand, the Lakers are the last franchise in sports that should ever be protesting the officiating.

On the other hand, Harden deserves to be publicly embarrassed like this by every team he plays. He doesn't play real basketball, he plays refball. It's a disgrace to the game.