The Los Angeles Lakers are down 2-0 in their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Game 2 was obviously frustrating for them in several ways. The one constant during the game was their complaints with the referees, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves being the two players in the fold.
James was seen having conversations with the refs throughout different times of the game, and he did not look happy in any of the interactions. It seemed like he ended up taking his frustration out on Alex Caruso at one point, who was a former teammate of his.
As for Reaves, he seemed to have those same interactions with the refs, and after the game, he went to the officials in the middle of the court and had some words for them as his teammates surrounded him. During postgame interviews, Reaves explained his gripes with the refs.
“I felt like I was respectful to all of them all night. A million times in the past, I've said way worse stuff. And when we were doing the whole tip ball and they were switching spots, I wanted to get on the other side because they had a guy on the other side, was just trying to keep an advantage. And he turned around and yelled in my face,” Reaves said via Spectrum SportsNet.
“I just thought it was disrespectful.”
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That had to have been a distraction for the Lakers in Game 2, and the Thunder were able to take advantage of it in the second half. Now, with the series shifting back to Los Angeles, it's time for the Lakers to get back on track, and they should.
Home cooking is a real thing, and the Lakers should be more efficient going back home. Reaves also seemed to find a rhythm in Game 2, and that should carry over into the next game.
Officiating also seems to go in favor of the home team, which means the Lakers may actually get some of the calls they were lobbying for in the first two games.
Game 3 would be the one where the Lakers would need to win if they want a chance to stay alive in the series, because teams don't come back after being down 3-0.
The Los Angeles Lakers are down 2-0 in their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Game 2 was obviously frustrating for them in several ways. The one constant during the game was their complaints with the referees, with LeBron James and Austin Reaves being the two players in the fold.