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So Bol Bol has been balling out his past two games... - Bright Side Of The Sun The offensive identity of the Los Angeles Lakers is based on their ability to score free throws and pound the paint. There was obvious frustration on the part of LeBron James and Darvin Ham’s team throughout and after Sunday’s 123-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns due to their failure to draw any cheers.

The Lakers entered Sunday averaging 24.7 free throw attempts per game. They rank second in average paint points (55.9). Against Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Suns, the Lakers shot a season-low eight freebies (missing four), while Phoenix converted 18-of-19 from the charity stripe (total fouls: Lakers 14, Suns 12).

“I’m not one to use referees as an excuse, but it’s becoming increasingly tough because of the inconsistency,” said Ham. “I’m seeing our guys get the same contact on them as we’re supposedly committing and the whistle’s not being blown. And that’s something we focus on, is trying to win the free throw line every day. That’s tough. I’m telling my guys to drive downhill. We’re trying to love and live in the paint. And you’re not getting calls. I see guys with their hands in our guys’ ribs, or swiping at their heads trying to block the shot but not getting the ball but getting a piece of the body, and it’s not being called. Simple as that. So we have to figure out ways to not let that be a problem. But it’s tough. It’s frustrating when there’s so much inconsistency.”

LeBron, who finished 1-of-4 from the free throw line but still managed 28 points, sadly answered “yes, for sure” when asked if the Lakers were unfairly targeted by the whistle in Phoenix. LeBron made use of the postgame stage to draw attention to his Los Angeles Lakers’ deficiency in lasers and consequent need on physicality.

“That’s who we are,” said LeBron. “But a lot of people, a lot of coaches, a lot of teams, are like, that’s all the Lakers do, is get to the free-throw line. There’s like this narrative out there that all we do is get to the free throw line. I mean, we have attackers. That’s what we do. Yeah, we shoot the ball from the perimeter, but we’re not shooting 40, 50 threes a game. We’re not that team. We don’t have the luxury of being that team. We’re getting to the paint. That’s what we’re really good at. To have eight free throw attempts is definitely not us. I know definitely I got hit a couple times going to the paint tonight that wasn’t called, but it is what it is.”

Although the Suns (who effectively used massive lineups with Durant, Jusuf Nurkic, and Bol Bol) were the more physical team, as shown by their +17 edge on the glass, the Lakers did outscore Phoenix by 12 in the paint.

Although Anthony Davis’ final stat line of 22 points, 11 of 17 shooting, 14 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals appears outstanding, it masks the reality that Nurkic (18 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists) dominated the game for the most part. Three offensive rebounds were grabbed by the Lakers, while 14 were by the Suns.

The Lakers can use their role as referees to air their grievances, but they made their own grave. They gave up 45 points in a careless opening quarter that brought back memories of November, when they frequently fell down by double digits in the first quarter.

The Lakers retaliated by putting more pressure on the game. They successfully contained Durant (22 points, 7–20 FG) and Devin Booker (21 points, 8–18 FG), but the Suns’ bench players, especially Royce O’Neal (20 points) and Grayson Allen (24 points), took advantage of their stars’ gravitas.

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