LA Lakers coach JJ Redick yelled at the referees following a play that involved Deandre Ayton and the Houston Rockets’ star center Alperen Sengun in Game 3 on Friday. Ayton was called for a foul after jostling with Sengun under the boards while Amen Thompson shot a free throw.
After Ayton was whistled for a foul, Redick couldn’t hold back from complaining:
“He goes early EVERY FU**ING TIME!”
The NBA Rule book illustrates JJ Redick’s point:
“Players occupying lane spaces may not extend themselves over their lane spaces in front of an opponent or be touching the lane line or floor inside the line when the ball is released by the shooter.”
As a penalty, no point will be added to the free-throw shooter’s team if one of his teammates violates that rule. Redick called out the referees for allegedly allowing Alperen Sengun to repeatedly break this rule without consequence.
The Lakers-Rockets encounter got off to a sizzling start. LA had 39 points after 12 minutes while Houston tallied 32. The action turned chippy and testy in the second quarter as both teams buckled on defense. Ayton and Sengun were often in the midst of holding and grabbing in the blocks as the defensive anchors for their respective teams.
The bruising paint battle included jostling for positions to gain an advantage for every potential missed free throw. JJ Redick expressed his frustrations that the referees allegedly allowed Sengun to get an edge over Ayton during such plays.
Fans React to JJ Redick Calling Out Referees for Allegedly Giving Favorable Call to Alperen Sengun
JJ Redick’s rant along the sidelines after the referees called a foul on Deandre Ayton while battling Alperen Sengun for positioning went viral. One fan wrote:
“Bro, the refs are literally trying to extend the series.”
Another fan added:
“Lol. That one ref wanted the Rockets to win so bad.”
One more fan continued:
“Refs are trying their best to keep the Rockets in the game. Ridiculous.”
Another fan commented:
“Since Game 1.”
One fan tweeted:
“And fouls galore!!! But Lakers have to keep fighting.”
Sengun and Co. are desperate for a win, which is likely why they’re doing everything they can to get an advantage. A loss by the Rockets will drop them to a 0-3 deficit in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are just as determined to win to put themselves on the brink of a second-round appearance.
Redick expects a tough stand from the home team, but he wants the referees to give the Lakers a fair shake in the crucial encounter.
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