The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most impressive NBA teams this season. Skeptics questioned whether they had a chance against the top Western Conference squads even at full strength, but they’ve been among the league’s best. LeBron James missing most of the season to this point via injury surprisingly hasn’t hurt them at all.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both having dream seasons put the Lakers in a top four seed with an 11-4 record. Retired NBA player Chandler Parsons felt the team shouldn’t be viewed as credible due to the foul-baiting that occurs in games. The quote, transcribed by Fadeaway Media, showed Parsons calling the Lakers out for needing free throws to win.
“They’re getting a lot of calls,” Parsons said on his Run It Back show. “They’re dependent on this in their offense. So, if I’m a team scouting against them, I am saying, guys, let’s try. I know obviously it’s hard because they have mastered doing this just like Jalen Brunson has, just like a lot of other guys have.”
Parsons Feels Lakers Can’t With Ethically
The online debate about foul baiting being dubbed “unethical” basketball has led to criticism of players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson and others who hunt for fouls in recent years. Parsons believes that opposing teams playing smarter would limit the Lakers more than other top teams:
“Defend them without fouling, and they are gonna struggle, especially in the half court, because this is their game. They create contact, they flail into you, they throw their head back every time there are hands. So teams going forward have to realize, okay, they’re getting a lot of free throws, especially these two ball-dominant guys. You have to defend them without fouling, and I think their offense will obviously take a huge hit.”
The Lakers are second in free-throw attempts per game at 29.1, tied with the Dallas Mavericks. Only one team shoots more free throws, as the Orlando Magic average 31.7 per game. Parsons thinks the Lakers show a stronger flaw than the other true contenders by this reliance on free throws.
Is Parsons Right About The Lakers?
The overall talking point comes back to how much one believes in the Lakers being legitimate and carrying this strong play into the postseason. One major problem is that the Western Conference has three juggernaut teams. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets all have top six offenses and top six defenses right now.
Los Angeles must have a consistently dominant season just to secure home court in the first round and rely on that style of play to beat equal or better teams in the playoffs. Parsons’ point also highlights the postseason style of more intense basketball and fewer fouls being called.
Doncic and Reaves may not get many of the same calls that come easier in random weeknight games against poor teams in November. Parsons didn’t completely bury the Lakers, but he made it clear that this style makes them vulnerable in close games against better teams.
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