The irony: Lakers complain to league about calls

[FrobeBryant]

Oh yeh, this magical strategy that Lakers fans say..what is it again? oh, that "don't foul strategy" hahahahahhaha

It's not magical, it's pretty straight forward. The fact that you think it has to be magical or a conspiracy to pressure the rim and limit fouls around the rim is not as funny as you think it is.

Every single team would have the same strategy bro.

Don't foul and put pressure on the rim.

Lakers near the top in blocks. Lakers top half in points allowed in the paint.

Even then, that's not the point. Some games, you guys foul a lot..Some times you don't. But whichever way it is, it doesn't matter. You're 81% more likely to have more free throws than the other team.

There's been games you've given up 24 free throws, but you've had 34.

Games you've only had 18 free throws, but the other team only has 10.

See what I mean. It's not whether you're fouling a lot or a little. It's the disparity in the count on each game.

I mean 2 out of the 3 times you've lost the count, it's been within 1, yes 1 trip to the free throw line. I'm sorry, it just doesn't happen without some sort of direction or assistance from the refs.

Disparity is not an accurate measure either. If team A is shooting jumpers for 75% of their shots and team B is getting the same amount in the paint, would it make sense that they both end up with the same amount of free throws?

[KyRo23]

Everyone talking about the FT disparity clearly didn't watch the game. In the 2nd and 3rd, Phoenix was literally in the bonus with 7+ minutes to go in each of those quarters. What they do after that is on them. Not gonna attack? Cool. Let's look at actual context rather than just saying it's rigged for LA

[NbaAllDay]

Trying to have a discussion with someone who wilfully ignores the 3 missed calls that favour PHX all in the last 2 minutes, while pulling out the but but "+4 FT disparity to the Lakers" is probably someone not worth talking to.

[AussieCeltic]

Trying to have a discussion with someone who wilfully ignores the 3 missed calls that favour PHX all in the last 2 minutes, while pulling out the but but "+4 FT disparity to the Lakers" is probably someone not worth talking to.

No I was adding it to the list of games this season that Lakers have won the free throw count.

81% of games in their favour in a thread full of Laker fans complaining about calls. Imagine being a fan of one of the other 29 teams that don’t get these calls?

Use a last 2 minute report from one game all you want, that doesn’t erase a year of stats that have favoured the Lakers immensely.

“Yeh we win 81% of free throw counts but but did you see the 3 missed calls in the last 2 minutes of one game, I told you it’s not rigged in our favour”

[KyRo23]

Trying to have a discussion with someone who wilfully ignores the 3 missed calls that favour PHX all in the last 2 minutes, while pulling out the but but "+4 FT disparity to the Lakers" is probably someone not worth talking to.

No I was adding it to the list of games this season that Lakers have won the free throw count.

81% of games in their favour in a thread full of Laker fans complaining about calls. Imagine being a fan of one of the other 29 teams that don’t get these calls?

Use a last 2 minute report from one game all you want, that doesn’t erase a year of stats that have favoured the Lakers immensely.

“Yeh we win 81% of free throw counts but but did you see the 3 missed calls in the last 2 minutes of one game, I told you it’s not rigged in our favour”

There isn't much context in that though. Maybe LA leads the disparity and should also be getting more FTs. Both can be true... check last night for example. Lakers did lead... but they should have had more

[NbaAllDay]

Trying to have a discussion with someone who wilfully ignores the 3 missed calls that favour PHX all in the last 2 minutes, while pulling out the but but "+4 FT disparity to the Lakers" is probably someone not worth talking to.

No I was adding it to the list of games this season that Lakers have won the free throw count.

81% of games in their favour in a thread full of Laker fans complaining about calls. Imagine being a fan of one of the other 29 teams that don’t get these calls?

Use a last 2 minute report from one game all you want, that doesn’t erase a year of stats that have favoured the Lakers immensely.

“Yeh we win 81% of free throw counts but but did you see the 3 missed calls in the last 2 minutes of one game, I told you it’s not rigged in our favour”

Ironically you are doing exactly what you claim others are doing here.

It's pointed out that in the crunch time PHX were heavily favoured by missed calls in this game (Factual based calls which are black and white) and in response to this you dismiss it with a +4 disparity in that game (with 0 context t how that disparity happened) and continue to try to double down with info on previous games. I really hope you see not only the hypocrisy of your approach, but also the fact that these 2 things have almost nothing in relation.

[AussieCeltic]

Trying to have a discussion with someone who wilfully ignores the 3 missed calls that favour PHX all in the last 2 minutes, while pulling out the but but "+4 FT disparity to the Lakers" is probably someone not worth talking to.

No I was adding it to the list of games this season that Lakers have won the free throw count.

81% of games in their favour in a thread full of Laker fans complaining about calls. Imagine being a fan of one of the other 29 teams that don’t get these calls?

Use a last 2 minute report from one game all you want, that doesn’t erase a year of stats that have favoured the Lakers immensely.

“Yeh we win 81% of free throw counts but but did you see the 3 missed calls in the last 2 minutes of one game, I told you it’s not rigged in our favour”

Ironically you are doing exactly what you claim others are doing here.

It's pointed out that in the crunch time PHX were heavily favoured by missed calls in this game (Factual based calls which are black and white) and in response to this you dismiss it with a +4 disparity in that game (with 0 context t how that disparity happened) and continue to try to double down with info on previous games. I really hope you see not only the hypocrisy of your approach, but also the fact that these 2 things have almost nothing in relation.

I’ve provided stats throughout this thread.

After Jan 28 last season lakers had a +11 FTA advantage every game. Fact

Lakers have won 81% of free throw counts this season. Fact

Or within 2 free throws of their opponent in 96% of games this season. Fact

You’ve provided 2 mins of factual evidence to counter 1056 mins from this season and 1536 mins last season.

So what you’re providing is .00007% of evidence to try counter the other 99.99993% of evidence provided. Congrats to you

[NbaAllDay]

No I was adding it to the list of games this season that Lakers have won the free throw count.

81% of games in their favour in a thread full of Laker fans complaining about calls. Imagine being a fan of one of the other 29 teams that don’t get these calls?

Use a last 2 minute report from one game all you want, that doesn’t erase a year of stats that have favoured the Lakers immensely.

“Yeh we win 81% of free throw counts but but did you see the 3 missed calls in the last 2 minutes of one game, I told you it’s not rigged in our favour”

Ironically you are doing exactly what you claim others are doing here.

It's pointed out that in the crunch time PHX were heavily favoured by missed calls in this game (Factual based calls which are black and white) and in response to this you dismiss it with a +4 disparity in that game (with 0 context t how that disparity happened) and continue to try to double down with info on previous games. I really hope you see not only the hypocrisy of your approach, but also the fact that these 2 things have almost nothing in relation.

I’ve provided stats throughout this thread.

After Jan 28 last season lakers had a +11 FTA advantage every game. Fact

Lakers have won 81% of free throw counts this season. Fact

You’ve provided 2 mins of factual evidence to counter 1056 mins from this season and 1536 mins last season.

So what you’re providing is .00007% of evidence to try counter the other 99.99993% of evidence provided. Congrats to you

It's pretty clear you are missing the point entirely. Trying to dumb it down for you again will just hurt my brain at this point.

I would have been happy to talk further on the free throw disparity and dive deeper into the reasons behind it but it's pretty clear you haven't even entered a discussion to learn or actually discuss anything, simply regurgitate the same point with surface layer context with the aims of scoring a few points. Enjoy 

[zimpy27]

Every single team would have the same strategy bro.

Don't foul and put pressure on the rim.

Lakers near the top in blocks. Lakers top half in points allowed in the paint.

Even then, that's not the point. Some games, you guys foul a lot..Some times you don't. But whichever way it is, it doesn't matter. You're 81% more likely to have more free throws than the other team.

There's been games you've given up 24 free throws, but you've had 34.

Games you've only had 18 free throws, but the other team only has 10.

See what I mean. It's not whether you're fouling a lot or a little. It's the disparity in the count on each game.

I mean 2 out of the 3 times you've lost the count, it's been within 1, yes 1 trip to the free throw line. I'm sorry, it just doesn't happen without some sort of direction or assistance from the refs.

They don't have that strategy though. Celtics don't pressure rim, they go for 3 pointers. Plenty of teams try defend rim and will foul on purpose to stop a 2. Plenty of teams.arent as good defensively. Plenty of teams don't have players that drive and try draw fouls.

Believing in magic and conspiracies is not a good basis for logical discussion. But I'd be interested to know how your theory explains Lakers having negative free throw disparity in previous years.

Why did it magically turn around after the blown call on Lebron vs the Celtics last year? When Lebron and the Lakers organisation acted like children and cried about the treatment from refs?

You guys were negative free throw disparity before that and then all of a sudden, it changed to the record breaking all time disparity that has not slowed down.

There was a huge line in the sand moment and you guys have benefited ever since. Or are you going to say Ham just happened to implement his non fouling at the rim strategy? Why don;t the Hornets and Pistons have high free throw disparity counts when they attempt more field goals at the rim than the Lakers?

Once again, sometimes you guys do get fouled at a high rate and some times you don't. But that doesn't change the fact, in those games, whichever way that happens, the other team always (81% of time) has a worse free throw count.

Lakers make formal complaints all the time, you think they just got acknowledged because of one time they complained?

What line in sand are you talking about? Here are splits looking at FTA per month of Lakers and opponent.

What was the outlier?
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2023/splits/

[AussieCeltic]

They don't have that strategy though. Celtics don't pressure rim, they go for 3 pointers. Plenty of teams try defend rim and will foul on purpose to stop a 2. Plenty of teams.arent as good defensively. Plenty of teams don't have players that drive and try draw fouls.

Believing in magic and conspiracies is not a good basis for logical discussion. But I'd be interested to know how your theory explains Lakers having negative free throw disparity in previous years.

Why did it magically turn around after the blown call on Lebron vs the Celtics last year? When Lebron and the Lakers organisation acted like children and cried about the treatment from refs?

You guys were negative free throw disparity before that and then all of a sudden, it changed to the record breaking all time disparity that has not slowed down.

There was a huge line in the sand moment and you guys have benefited ever since. Or are you going to say Ham just happened to implement his non fouling at the rim strategy? Why don;t the Hornets and Pistons have high free throw disparity counts when they attempt more field goals at the rim than the Lakers?

Once again, sometimes you guys do get fouled at a high rate and some times you don't. But that doesn't change the fact, in those games, whichever way that happens, the other team always (81% of time) has a worse free throw count.

Lakers make formal complaints all the time, you think they just got acknowledged because of one time they complained?

What line in sand are you talking about? Here are splits looking at FTA per month of Lakers and opponent.

What was the outlier?
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2023/splits/

Did you even look at link you provided? Like seriously?

Lakers v Opponent FTA attempts

Oct - 22.3 v 24 = -1.7
Nov - 27 v 21.5 = +5.5
Dec - 24.3 v 20.9 = +3.4
Jan - 27.3 v 25.5 = +1.8
Feb - 27.9 v 16.5 = +11.4
Mar - 29.3 v 18.7 = +10.6
Apr - 25 v 17.6 = +7.4

Shock me. A complete turnaround post Jan 28th. The fact you posted the link and ask what outlier when it’s right in front of you, just goes to show how Laker fans think. Insane

* edit to add this season

Oct - 25.3 v 19.3 = +6.0
Nov - 25.6 v 18.2 = +7.4
Dec - 26.0 v 19.5 = +6.5

The gravy train continues

[AussieCeltic]

Ironically you are doing exactly what you claim others are doing here.

It's pointed out that in the crunch time PHX were heavily favoured by missed calls in this game (Factual based calls which are black and white) and in response to this you dismiss it with a +4 disparity in that game (with 0 context t how that disparity happened) and continue to try to double down with info on previous games. I really hope you see not only the hypocrisy of your approach, but also the fact that these 2 things have almost nothing in relation.

I’ve provided stats throughout this thread.

After Jan 28 last season lakers had a +11 FTA advantage every game. Fact

Lakers have won 81% of free throw counts this season. Fact

You’ve provided 2 mins of factual evidence to counter 1056 mins from this season and 1536 mins last season.

So what you’re providing is .00007% of evidence to try counter the other 99.99993% of evidence provided. Congrats to you

It's pretty clear you are missing the point entirely. Trying to dumb it down for you again will just hurt my brain at this point.

I would have been happy to talk further on the free throw disparity and dive deeper into the reasons behind it but it's pretty clear you haven't even entered a discussion to learn or actually discuss anything, simply regurgitate the same point with surface layer context with the aims of scoring a few points. Enjoy 

No I am here to learn. Please feel free to enlighten everyone here with your knowledge.

[levon]

Why did it magically turn around after the blown call on Lebron vs the Celtics last year? When Lebron and the Lakers organisation acted like children and cried about the treatment from refs?

You guys were negative free throw disparity before that and then all of a sudden, it changed to the record breaking all time disparity that has not slowed down.

There was a huge line in the sand moment and you guys have benefited ever since. Or are you going to say Ham just happened to implement his non fouling at the rim strategy? Why don;t the Hornets and Pistons have high free throw disparity counts when they attempt more field goals at the rim than the Lakers?

Once again, sometimes you guys do get fouled at a high rate and some times you don't. But that doesn't change the fact, in those games, whichever way that happens, the other team always (81% of time) has a worse free throw count.

Lakers make formal complaints all the time, you think they just got acknowledged because of one time they complained?

What line in sand are you talking about? Here are splits looking at FTA per month of Lakers and opponent.

What was the outlier?
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2023/splits/

Did you even look at link you provided? Like seriously?

Lakers v Opponent FTA attempts

Oct - 22.3 v 24 = -1.7
Nov - 27 v 21.5 = +5.5
Dec - 24.3 v 20.9 = +3.4
Jan - 27.3 v 25.5 = +1.8
Feb - 27.9 v 16.5 = +11.4
Mar - 29.3 v 18.7 = +10.6
Apr - 25 v 17.6 = +7.4

Shock me. A complete turnaround post Jan 28th. The fact you posted the link and ask what outlier when it’s right in front of you, just goes to show how Laker fans think. Insane

* edit to add this season

Oct - 25.3 v 19.3 = +6.0
Nov - 25.6 v 18.2 = +7.4
Dec - 26.0 v 19.5 = +6.5

The gravy train continues

LA gave up a lot of FTA in December and January because AD went down halfway through December. That +1.8 is actually an outlier and would be even higher. October was a disaster in which the Lakers were just chucking threes at a high rate, hence the low FTA. From Feb on, AD played almost every game and feasted at the line. Schroder and Reaves are legendary foul merchants and got a lot more minutes after the Westbrook trade. Also notice the opponent 3PA bump in February, and how February and beyond corresponds to the team being reformed at the deadline. Believe it or not, not everything revolved around the Celtics game.

Like the effect you're outlining is actually how the Lakers are a good team. They score primarily at the rim (highest frequency of FG made <5 feet) and guard you conservatively through deterrence or funneling to AD in the drop, often giving up wide open perimeter threes in favor of you driving in. And they also employ a top 3 defender in the world at worst. When AD's not there, they actually don't up their fouls -- they just allow a layup line.

The flip side is they can't shoot for ****, ever, which basically means so many of their wins are uber close, which means there are calls and foul disparities for everyone to latch onto. It's a chicken or egg thing. You're welcome to believe this free throw disparity is a concerted effort to pay LA back for the Celtics game, and there's really no way to convince you out of that.

I wish they could win shooting 50% from 3 like the Celtics, but alas they're going to have to run into defenders and defend without fouling to keep winning close, highly rigged games.

[Tor_Raps]

For those playing at home. The stats for the Lakers are.

Games played - 22
Free Throw counts won - 18
Free Throw counts lost - 3 (-2 vs Heat and Cavs, -13 v Sixers)
Free Throw counts tied - 1

The strategy works..

Celtics have the best 3 shooting disparity in the league. They take more than their opponent.

Their strategy works, it's not a conspiracy

Oh yeh, this magical strategy that Lakers fans say..what is it again? oh, that "don't foul strategy" hahahahahhaha

Didn't you know... Nuggets only won the title last year because they employed the "win a championship" strategy. It was so smart of them since no other team thought of that loll

[AussieCeltic]

Lakers make formal complaints all the time, you think they just got acknowledged because of one time they complained?

What line in sand are you talking about? Here are splits looking at FTA per month of Lakers and opponent.

What was the outlier?
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2023/splits/

Did you even look at link you provided? Like seriously?

Lakers v Opponent FTA attempts

Oct - 22.3 v 24 = -1.7
Nov - 27 v 21.5 = +5.5
Dec - 24.3 v 20.9 = +3.4
Jan - 27.3 v 25.5 = +1.8
Feb - 27.9 v 16.5 = +11.4
Mar - 29.3 v 18.7 = +10.6
Apr - 25 v 17.6 = +7.4

Shock me. A complete turnaround post Jan 28th. The fact you posted the link and ask what outlier when it’s right in front of you, just goes to show how Laker fans think. Insane

* edit to add this season

Oct - 25.3 v 19.3 = +6.0
Nov - 25.6 v 18.2 = +7.4
Dec - 26.0 v 19.5 = +6.5

The gravy train continues

LA gave up a lot of FTA in December and January because AD went down halfway through December. That +1.8 is actually an outlier and would be even higher. October was a disaster in which the Lakers were just chucking threes at a high rate, hence the low FTA. From Feb on, AD played almost every game and feasted at the line. Schroder and Reaves are legendary foul merchants and got a lot more minutes after the Westbrook trade. Also notice the opponent 3PA bump in February, and how February and beyond corresponds to the team being reformed at the deadline. Believe it or not, not everything revolved around the Celtics game.

Like the effect you're outlining is actually how the Lakers are a good team. They score primarily at the rim (highest frequency of FG made <5 feet) and guard you conservatively through deterrence or funneling to AD in the drop, often giving up wide open perimeter threes in favor of you driving in. And they also employ a top 3 defender in the world at worst. When AD's not there, they actually don't up their fouls -- they just allow a layup line.

The flip side is they can't shoot for ****, ever, which basically means so many of their wins are uber close, which means there are calls and foul disparities for everyone to latch onto. It's a chicken or egg thing. You're welcome to believe this free throw disparity is a concerted effort to pay LA back for the Celtics game, and there's really no way to convince you out of that.

I wish they could win shooting 50% from 3 like the Celtics, but alas they're going to have to run into defenders and defend without fouling to keep winning close, highly rigged games.

A lot does revolve around the Celtics game. There was so much media attention around it because of the missed call on Tatum and a few other questionable calls in the Celtics favour. No one remembers the big conspiracy around ref Eric Lewis growing up a Celtics fan? He got death threats so ended up retiring.

I knew someone would bring the trade up but let's dive a bit closer post Celtics game but pre trade.

Away vs Nets (no Lebron) - 37 to 19 = +18 FTA
Away vs Knicks - 31 to 32 = -1
Away vs Pacers - 31 to 6 = +25
Away vs Pelicans - 33 to 20 = +13
Home vs OKC - 26 to 20 = +6
Home vs Bucks (no Lebron) - 21 to 18 = +3

So +10.6 FTA post Celtics game but pre trade which is in line with the rest of the month.

Lakers were actually ranked 11th in terms of % of points in the paint last season and 12th in opponents points in the paint.

Do you know the Grizz were number 1 in both categories? Based off your arguments and your theory on why the Lakers free throw disparity is so high, they should also be right? They also had the DPOY last season. Let's have a look at their splits in comparison.

Oct - 26.0 v 24.9 = +1.1
Nov - 24.5 v 21.9 = +2.6
Dec - 25.1 v 25.8 = -0.7
Jan - 26.1 v 22.8 = +3.3
Feb - 22.8 v 21.8 = +1.0
Mar - 21.6 v 25.0 = -3.4
Apr - 18.4 v 21.0 = -2.6

[zimpy27]

Why did it magically turn around after the blown call on Lebron vs the Celtics last year? When Lebron and the Lakers organisation acted like children and cried about the treatment from refs?

You guys were negative free throw disparity before that and then all of a sudden, it changed to the record breaking all time disparity that has not slowed down.

There was a huge line in the sand moment and you guys have benefited ever since. Or are you going to say Ham just happened to implement his non fouling at the rim strategy? Why don;t the Hornets and Pistons have high free throw disparity counts when they attempt more field goals at the rim than the Lakers?

Once again, sometimes you guys do get fouled at a high rate and some times you don't. But that doesn't change the fact, in those games, whichever way that happens, the other team always (81% of time) has a worse free throw count.

Lakers make formal complaints all the time, you think they just got acknowledged because of one time they complained?

What line in sand are you talking about? Here are splits looking at FTA per month of Lakers and opponent.

What was the outlier?
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2023/splits/

Did you even look at link you provided? Like seriously?

Lakers v Opponent FTA attempts

Oct - 22.3 v 24 = -1.7
Nov - 27 v 21.5 = +5.5
Dec - 24.3 v 20.9 = +3.4
Jan - 27.3 v 25.5 = +1.8
Feb - 27.9 v 16.5 = +11.4
Mar - 29.3 v 18.7 = +10.6
Apr - 25 v 17.6 = +7.4

Shock me. A complete turnaround post Jan 28th. The fact you posted the link and ask what outlier when it’s right in front of you, just goes to show how Laker fans think. Insane

* edit to add this season

Oct - 25.3 v 19.3 = +6.0
Nov - 25.6 v 18.2 = +7.4
Dec - 26.0 v 19.5 = +6.5

The gravy train continues

You said negative differential. None of those numbers are out of variation.

They are in line for Lakers FTA and opponent FTA in prior months.. you're just adding two stats together to make it seem bigger.

[zimpy27]

Lakers make formal complaints all the time, you think they just got acknowledged because of one time they complained?

What line in sand are you talking about? Here are splits looking at FTA per month of Lakers and opponent.

What was the outlier?
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2023/splits/

Did you even look at link you provided? Like seriously?

Lakers v Opponent FTA attempts

Oct - 22.3 v 24 = -1.7
Nov - 27 v 21.5 = +5.5
Dec - 24.3 v 20.9 = +3.4
Jan - 27.3 v 25.5 = +1.8
Feb - 27.9 v 16.5 = +11.4
Mar - 29.3 v 18.7 = +10.6
Apr - 25 v 17.6 = +7.4

Shock me. A complete turnaround post Jan 28th. The fact you posted the link and ask what outlier when it’s right in front of you, just goes to show how Laker fans think. Insane

* edit to add this season

Oct - 25.3 v 19.3 = +6.0
Nov - 25.6 v 18.2 = +7.4
Dec - 26.0 v 19.5 = +6.5

The gravy train continues

LA gave up a lot of FTA in December and January because AD went down halfway through December. That +1.8 is actually an outlier and would be even higher. October was a disaster in which the Lakers were just chucking threes at a high rate, hence the low FTA. From Feb on, AD played almost every game and feasted at the line. Schroder and Reaves are legendary foul merchants and got a lot more minutes after the Westbrook trade. Also notice the opponent 3PA bump in February, and how February and beyond corresponds to the team being reformed at the deadline. Believe it or not, not everything revolved around the Celtics game.

Like the effect you're outlining is actually how the Lakers are a good team. They score primarily at the rim (highest frequency of FG made <5 feet) and guard you conservatively through deterrence or funneling to AD in the drop, often giving up wide open perimeter threes in favor of you driving in. And they also employ a top 3 defender in the world at worst. When AD's not there, they actually don't up their fouls -- they just allow a layup line.

The flip side is they can't shoot for ****, ever, which basically means so many of their wins are uber close, which means there are calls and foul disparities for everyone to latch onto. It's a chicken or egg thing. You're welcome to believe this free throw disparity is a concerted effort to pay LA back for the Celtics game, and there's really no way to convince you out of that.

I wish they could win shooting 50% from 3 like the Celtics, but alas they're going to have to run into defenders and defend without fouling to keep winning close, highly rigged games.

Trying to explain this but they seem convinced in the magic of reffing power helping the Lakers only at this specific time for reasons that aren't quite clear.

[AussieCeltic]

Did you even look at link you provided? Like seriously?

Lakers v Opponent FTA attempts

Oct - 22.3 v 24 = -1.7
Nov - 27 v 21.5 = +5.5
Dec - 24.3 v 20.9 = +3.4
Jan - 27.3 v 25.5 = +1.8
Feb - 27.9 v 16.5 = +11.4
Mar - 29.3 v 18.7 = +10.6
Apr - 25 v 17.6 = +7.4

Shock me. A complete turnaround post Jan 28th. The fact you posted the link and ask what outlier when it’s right in front of you, just goes to show how Laker fans think. Insane

* edit to add this season

Oct - 25.3 v 19.3 = +6.0
Nov - 25.6 v 18.2 = +7.4
Dec - 26.0 v 19.5 = +6.5

The gravy train continues

LA gave up a lot of FTA in December and January because AD went down halfway through December. That +1.8 is actually an outlier and would be even higher. October was a disaster in which the Lakers were just chucking threes at a high rate, hence the low FTA. From Feb on, AD played almost every game and feasted at the line. Schroder and Reaves are legendary foul merchants and got a lot more minutes after the Westbrook trade. Also notice the opponent 3PA bump in February, and how February and beyond corresponds to the team being reformed at the deadline. Believe it or not, not everything revolved around the Celtics game.

Like the effect you're outlining is actually how the Lakers are a good team. They score primarily at the rim (highest frequency of FG made <5 feet) and guard you conservatively through deterrence or funneling to AD in the drop, often giving up wide open perimeter threes in favor of you driving in. And they also employ a top 3 defender in the world at worst. When AD's not there, they actually don't up their fouls -- they just allow a layup line.

The flip side is they can't shoot for ****, ever, which basically means so many of their wins are uber close, which means there are calls and foul disparities for everyone to latch onto. It's a chicken or egg thing. You're welcome to believe this free throw disparity is a concerted effort to pay LA back for the Celtics game, and there's really no way to convince you out of that.

I wish they could win shooting 50% from 3 like the Celtics, but alas they're going to have to run into defenders and defend without fouling to keep winning close, highly rigged games.

Trying to explain this but they seem convinced in the magic of reffing power helping the Lakers only at this specific team for reasons that aren't quite clear.

You keep bringing up the Magic.

Magic differential is:

October = +7.9 (4 games)
November = +1.6
December = -1

Not even remotely the same. If that’s your argument then you really don’t have one.

[KyRo23]

What I noticed from this page of arguing is we're assuming the refs started giving LA the benefit of the doubt on whistles after the Celtics game... so the last 4 years of people saying LA gets all the calls is untrue and only started happening after the Celts game?

The Lakers have potentially the best rim protector in the league and guys who attack the paint. LA does not shoot the 3 well. Instead of throwing the numbers out there that they do lead the league in FT disparity, it has to be argued WHY instead of just "they lead it, so it's rigged". Didn't the Hornets or something odd like that lead the league in FT disparity by a huge margin a couple years ago?

[NO-KG-AI]

Be prepared for the Pelicans to take a much larger percent of shots at the rim, and the Lakers to end up with more free throws, somehow.

[RB34]

What I noticed from this page of arguing is we're assuming the refs started giving LA the benefit of the doubt on whistles after the Celtics game... so the last 4 years of people saying LA gets all the calls is untrue and only started happening after the Celts game?

The Lakers have potentially the best rim protector in the league and guys who attack the paint. LA does not shoot the 3 well. Instead of throwing the numbers out there that they do lead the league in FT disparity, it has to be argued WHY instead of just "they lead it, so it's rigged". Didn't the Hornets or something odd like that lead the league in FT disparity by a huge margin a couple years ago?

Is there any other reason for the massive FT discrepancy since that game? Or is it after that game the Lakers employed don’t foul/get fouled strategy?