Letters To Sports: Two Sides To Lakers Crying Foul After Game 2

Broderick Turner and Thuc Nhi Nguyen reported that Lakers coach JJ Redick said, “The Thunder is 1 of nan top teams ever successful NBA history.” Maybe Redick is right. The Lakers were capable to incorporate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and pinch Jalen Williams not playing, OKC still won Games 1 and 2 by 18 points each.

Hopefully nan Lakers tin debar a expanse erstwhile they return to The Crypt, but it doesn’t look very likely, not erstwhile committing 39 turnovers successful 2 games.

Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood

It was truthful bush convention to spot nan Lakers crowd astir nan beleagued referees astatine nan extremity of an 18-point nonaccomplishment to nan Thunder successful Game 2. The number of free throws was astir even, favoring OKC 26-21. There are nary bigger whiners successful nan convention than LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton, who person successful their minds ne'er committed a foul and are ever fouled pinch nary telephone connected immoderate possession. This is playoff hoops — turn up and play ball. The results successful this bid speak for themselves.

Bob Goldstone

Corona del Mar

You cannot show maine that nan protect “mauling” allowed by NBA officials during nan playoffs would beryllium tolerated during nan regular season. It almost looks for illustration nan NBA precocious brass — Adam Silver and his cohorts/consultants — person straight aliases indirectly “suggested” that referees simply “let ‘em play.”

This inconsistency and alteration of “style“ by nan officials has either confused aliases disappointment galore violative players arsenic good arsenic immoderate fans. To me, a foul is simply a foul, period! Considerations for illustration superstar aliases rookie, location squad aliases visitors, nan 4th fourth versus nan first, closing minutes aliases seconds of a game, regular play versus nan playoffs should not matter.

Rick Solomon
Lake Balboa

I’m watching Lakers-Thunder Game 2 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is moving into group and getting nan Michael Jordan treatment. Everything is simply a foul against nan Lakers. On nan different hand, LeBron James is getting nan stuffing hit retired of him and nary calls. Coach JJ Redick needs to bring this bias up pinch nan media and put nan spotlight connected nan refs. That’s what Phil Jackson and Pat Riley would do. Lakers fans tin commencement a go-fund-me page for nan fine.

Ed Villanueva
Chino Hills