The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Chicago Bulls on Monday night in what was another exciting game in the 2021-22 season. Sadly, many will focus on Anthony Davis getting tossed from the game rather than the exquisite display from the Bulls team.
Davis got T’d up for the second time in the game after he had words with one referee following a decision to let the game continue while he tied his shoe. Footage has shown that a similar situation occurred with Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro, but the referee waited before allowing resumption.
Basketball lovers took to Reddit, where the video surfaced, to express their displeasure with the call.
“Yeah, that was absolutely ridiculous.”
“Regardless of the rule – would you want to lose a Game 7 because the refs rushed the ball inbounds while your guy was tying their laces?”
“There’s should be a consistent call about that. Let AD or anybody tie his shoe before resuming the play.”
“Interesting cuz the dude who threw him out looks like an older ref. Definitely stupid by the ref especially to throw him out; should be fined/ suspended (the ref) I’ve seen refs wait a lot for shoes to be tied.”
“There’s should be a consistent call about that. Let AD or anybody tie his shoe before resuming the play.”
“I think the biggest issue is that it’s not a set rule so like technically the ref didn’t do anything wrong even if it is an unwritten rule type of thing so even if the Lakers/AD/fans complain the ref can be like technically I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I hate the Lakers, but that’s some bulls**t.”
“If you can get a delay of game for having your jersey untucked, then there should be a similar attention to detail when it comes the rest of the uniform. Just let the man tie his damn shoe at a dead ball.”
“If anyone tries to argue some bulls**t about the AD situation they are a clown and haven’t watched the nba apart from highlights.
“My humble take on this: Tying shoes is not only about attire but also about safety of that player himself and also other players on the court. It may not be specified in the rules, but it’s a fair thing to do. Otherwise, one team would have 4 players while the other have 5 and that’s biased. Also, refs should be more accountable with their decisions. Nobody holds refs accountable on the court during the game, especially when they make bad calls, and it happens all the time.”
“I think what a lot of people are missing is the refs never wait for the opposing team when you inbound after a score – it’s how Kyle Lowry gets so many quick outlets. On the other hand refs always wait for defenses to be ready in deadball situations. This wasn’t an inbounds after a score, but visually it was very similar with the rest of the Lakers and Bulls getting back up the court and Bradley asking for the ball on the baseline to inbound to Lonzo who was by himself in the backcourt. I imagine the refs lizard brain took over in the similar circumstances which is why he gave up the ball over to Bradley, when he should have held onto it. It’s understandable, but the ref is still at fault and AD had a legitimate gripe.”
Despite the unfortunate incident, it was going to be an insurmountable task to steal the victory as they were 20 points down late in the third quarter. Davis had 20 points but was double-teamed 15 times, the most since he first put on a Lakers jersey.
Anthony Davis was ejected for the 2nd time in his career. He was double teamed 15 times tonight, his most in any game with the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/fVjIADD2e1
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) November 16, 2021
The Bulls cruised to victory comfortably, with DeMar DeRozan finishing the game with 38 points while Lonzo Ball outshot the entire Lakers team from beyond the arc. He made seven three-pointers with ten attempts.
