Austin Reaves Says Lakers Must Control Emotions Toward Officials
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LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves acknowledged the team’s frustration with officiating but insisted the players have to move on quickly after calls do not go their way.
The issue surfaced during Sunday’s loss to the Boston Celtics at Crypto.com Arena. Midway through the second quarter, Reaves received a technical foul after a whistle on Celtics guard Marcus Smart. Reaves said he repeatedly yelled “offensive foul” and clapped his hands, actions referee told him trigger an automatic technical.
“I didn’t say anything disrespectful,” Reaves told reporters postgame. “I’ve heard way worse things said to officials with no tech.” He added that he believed Celtics forward Jaylen Brown had elbowed Smart before the foul and felt the sequence did not merit a technical against him.
Reaves conceded that the Lakers, known for attacking the rim and ranking high in free-throw attempts, can let missed calls affect their focus. “When you don’t get those calls, you can’t stay frustrated,” he said. “I’m a culprit of that. I’ve got to do better, and our whole team does as well.”
Head coach JJ Redick said the Lakers’ offense, not their defense, was the bigger problem in the defeat, calling the unit “awful” against Boston.
The loss dropped Los Angeles to 0–2 since the All-Star break.
Source: Lakers Nation
