By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
A late timeout called by LeBron James saved a crucial possession for the Lakers in the knockout quarterfinal of the in-season tournament against the Suns and Phoenix didn’t hide their objections.
“It’s a loose ball, and you can’t call a timeout on a loose ball,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said. “The whistle blows. I don’t know why. Everything in the league is reviewable. I don’t know why that can’t be reviewable. … We got the trap, we got the turnover, [and the] damn whistle blows. It’s just frustrating.”
Reaves said he thought Devin Booker probably fouled him an instant before the timeout was granted, and LeBron found a solution.
“There was no call, and LeBron made a high-IQ play he’s made a million times,” Reaves said.
The ball was DEFINITELY loose. I don’t see how the referees grant a timeout here. pic.twitter.com/ZlaxGXpCx6
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 6, 2023
The tune was different by Devin Booker: “We’re not asking for favoritism, just a fair chance.”
Kevin Durant, on the other hand, missed the last shot of the game and the chance to send it to overtime and has a different view on the whole situation: “That’s not the ballgame. That’s one play. It’s a 48-minute game. I don’t like to complain about calls. Sometimes the ref ain’t going to get it right all the time. Sometimes it’s on us to play through all that stuff and not worry about putting the game in the ref’s hands.”