LeBron James on the officiating: ‘What the fuck do we have a replay center for?’

LeBron James on the officiating: ‘What the fuck do we have a replay center for?’

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LeBron James on the officiating: ‘What the fuck do we have a replay center for?’

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What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Chris Palmer @ChrisPalmerNBA
This is about as pissed as you’ll ever see LeBron after a game.pic.twitter.com/PUbyEQvsS91:42 AM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Through the 2023-24 season, Lakers enjoyed a best-case scenario of LeBron+AD staying healthy/playing great… yet are two losses away from a sweep in the first round.
Sobering. – 1:24 AM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Lakers’ LeBron James: “I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest. … [D’Angelo Russell] clearly gets hit in the face on the drive. What the f— do we have a replay center [for]… It doesn’t make sense to me. It makes no sense to me. It bothers me.” – 1:23 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron James talks Game 2 loss to Denver, LA’s offense stagnating in the second half, NBA Replay Center pic.twitter.com/QaxbWvcUao1:22 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James full comments on the officiating: “I don’t understand what’s going on in the replay center, to be honest. … D-Lo clearly gets hit in the face on a drive. What the f— do we have a replay center for if it’s going to go [like that]. It doesn’t make sense to me.” 1/2 – 1:21 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James is very direct in his criticism of the overturned foul call on Porter Jr. against Russell: “What f— do we have a replay center for? … What are we doing?” – 1:19 AM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
My initial “why they blew it” theory, before I go back and rewatch.
Why did the Lakers go away from the LeBron-AD pick-and-roll? – 1:08 AM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Who’s the best player LeBron has ever faced in a playoff series? – 1:00 AM
Matt George @MattGeorgeSAC
Is it possible to lose a playoff series in 2 games?
How the hell do the Lakers rally back from that? LeBron gave it everything he’s got and they still blew a 20 point lead. – 12:42 AM
Jimmy Spencer @JimmySpencer
LeBron shoots 52% on game-tying or go-ahead field goals with less than 10 seconds left.
Kobe shot 23% in those same situations. – 12:40 AM
David Locke @DLocke09
Jamal stole the night, but what LeBron did tonight at this point of his career is once again unfathomable.
The back to back threes.
The late game steal and dunk
The drive and bucket
just crazy – 12:38 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Anthony Davis started the game 14-for-15 from the field; D’Angelo Russell tied a Lakers franchise postseason record with seven made 3s; LeBron had 12 of his 26 pts in the 4th to go with 12 ast 8 reb.
And L.A. still lost to the Jason Voorhees Nuggets that just keep on coming. – 12:38 AM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
What a finish! Wow. Fantastic game.
Even LeBron putting on his cape again couldn’t beat the Nuggets. That’s 10 Ls in a row.
And then a clutch shot by Jamal Murray. – 12:38 AM
Dave Mason @DeuceMason
4th quarter numbers
Murray: 14 pts
Jokic: 7 pts, 5 rebounds, 4 asts
LeBron: 12 pts and 3 rebounds
AD: 0 pts and 1 rebound – 12:37 AM
David Locke @DLocke09
Michael Jordan fans ..
See Michael is better than LeBron. Michael shoves off and makes it and LeBron shoves off and misses it.
🙂
Tonight was insane NBA basketball !!!! – 12:37 AM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
What a GAME. LeBron did everything to make sure that one didn’t slip away. Jokic trading with him and then the Blue Arrow got hot. Playoff basketball! – 12:36 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron in the loss:
26 PTS
8 REB
12 AST
2 STL
2 BLK
The oldest player in NBA history with a 25/5/10 playoff game. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb…12:35 AM
Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
LeBron left it all out there, as if he could sense they needed this one. That’s a tough, tough finish – 12:35 AM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Putting LeBron on Murray and switching the Murray/Jokic PnR was one of the coverages Darvin Ham was apparently holding in reserve. Jamal Murray scored 6 points in 3 possessions against that coverage to win the game. – 12:34 AM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
LeBron is FURIOUS. Followed the officials off of the court. Lakers are in disbelief. – 12:33 AM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron with a clutch drive and finish! – 12:31 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers switch up the matchups and put LeBron on Jamal Murray to switch the Jokic-Murray two-man game.
cc: @Tim_NBA – 12:30 AM
Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
WHAT A SEQUENCE!!!
LeBron steal and slam, and chaos leads to MPJ’s 3 pic.twitter.com/TN7qbjfjih12:29 AM

Marcus Thompson @ThompsonScribe
LeBron is so ridiculous – 12:29 AM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
LEBRON JAMES – 12:28 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James was 4-for-10 through the first 3Q but has given LAL a much needed offensive lift here in the 4th with 10 pts on 4-for-7. – 12:28 AM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
This game is wild.
That’s a crazy dunk by LeBron James and an even crazier shot by MPJ. Wow. – 12:28 AM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
LeBron really still doing this shit man, what a legend – 12:28 AM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Hell of a shot by LeBron… AND 1 – 12:23 AM
Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
The matchup switch to have Gordon check AD, Jokic on Rui and KCP on Bron has changed this game. Gordon’s defensive versatility is remarkable – 12:20 AM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
The Lakers have been targetting Jokic in PnRs with LeBron James as the ball handler down the stretch, but hasn’t been as effective as it was early in the 3Q. – 12:19 AM
Dalton Johnson @DaltonJ_Johnson
Whewwww LeBron
Those 3s were cold-blooded – 12:17 AM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
Back-to-back 3s from LeBron James gives the Lakers an 89-81 lead. – 12:16 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Back-to-back 3s from LeBron and the Lakers are back up eight. – 12:16 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron was 4 for 11 from the field before he drilled back-to-back 3’s to put LAL up 89-81 after Denver had trimmed the margin to just 2. – 12:16 AM
Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
AD was 14/15 from the field at one point
D Lo has made 7 threes
LeBron controlled the tempo
Jamal has been brutal
Jokic pretty much went scoreless the 2nd+3rd Q
And yet… It now feels like the Lakers season is on the line – 12:12 AM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
It’s going to be extremely hard for the Lakers to win this game. Their legs are gone, LeBron has no explosion and the Nuggets have increased their intensity and execution on both ends.
Also: Why the hell is Rui guarding Jokic? – 12:11 AM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Get LeBron back in this game ASAP. He’s only played 30 minutes. He can go the rest of the way. – 12:10 AM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
I get Laker fans frustration with Darvin Ham….When the Lakers got that stop up 82-75, he should have been diving for a timeout to get Reaves and LeBron in the game….Instead, they get a rushed shot, Denver scores and we are at 82-77…. – 12:10 AM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron making his way back to check in – 12:08 AM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
LeBron is just smoking finishes around the rim, most of these are only lightly contested but he’s 2-7 at the rim. – 12:08 AM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
LeBron James, who appears to be exhausted, just subbed himself out at the 9:55 mark of the 4Q. Anthony Davis and Rui Hachimura sub in, with Jaxson Hayes also subbing out; Lakers 82-73.
Nikola Jokic just subbed back in for DEN. – 12:07 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Danger zone here for the Lakers. AD had been on the bench with 4 fouls and DEN has come out with energy to start the 4th. Davis checks in for LeBron with 9:55 to go and LAL up by 9. – 12:06 AM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
AD checking in for LeBron… No Jokic, tho – 12:05 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Third quarter: Lakers 79, Nuggets 69
Denver outscored LA 21-11 over the final 10 minutes of the third. AD has 32 points (14-18 FGs) and 10 rebounds. DLo has 21 points (postseason career-high seven 3s). LeBron has 14/5/12. Jokic has 20/16/6. MPJ has 19. Both teams are gassed. – 12:00 AM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Denver is right where it wants to be. The Nuggets were down 20, they have shaved it to 10, they have first fourth quarter possession and the Lakers are tiring….But Davis is coming back and Jokic has to sit. Let’s see if LeBron James sits or if Ham tries to go for this now – 12:00 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Two calls went DEN’s way to close the 3rd, as Russell didn’t get FT’s on the MPJ contact, and Jackson drew a charge on LeBron.
But Jokic missed a 3, and Murray a floater, as Denver failed to capitalize.
Denver pulled 5 points off LAL’s 15-point halftime lead and trail 79-69. – 11:59 PM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
LeBron — or anybody — needs to come over and help Hachimura when Jokic gets him down in the post. – 11:54 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Jokic hit 8 of 10 FG’s on the smaller Hachimura in Game 1, and just scored on B2B trips. We’ll see if the Lakers can find another answer with Davis sitting in foul trouble.
Meanwhile, Russell’s 7th 3, and 2 LeBron FT’s have the lead at 12. – 11:53 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
LeBron keeps looking off DLo because he knows he’s going to shoot it immediately. He finally got stuck in the air and passed it to him, and yep, it went up right away. – 11:47 PM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
Nuggets switched Aaron Gordon onto Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic into Rui Hachimura after the Lakers scored on three consecutive possessions involving a LeBron James-Anthony Davis pick and roll. – 11:39 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers have 20 assists on 26 made field goals and LeBron James has 10 of them.
LAL up 68-48 with 10 mins to go in the 3rd Q.
Timeout Denver – 11:31 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron’s up to 10 assists with 3 in the first 2 minutes of the 3rd Q, with a pair to AD (30 points on 13 of 14 FG’s), then one to Reaves for his first triple to put LAL up 68-48.
Time out, Nuggets. – 11:31 PM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
Austin Reaves makes a catch-and-shoot 3 out of a kickout from LeBron James after a James-Anthony Davis pick and roll. Lakers leading Nuggets 68-48. Michael Malone calls a timeout two minutes into the 3Q. – 11:31 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL start the 3rd Q with screen/roll action between LeBron and AD, and Davis finished plus a foul on Murray to put the Lakers up 18.
Davis has 27 points on 12 of 13 FG’s. – 11:27 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
1st half: Lakers up, 59-44
AD: 24 pts (11-12), 6 rebs, 2 asts, stl, blk
DLo: 18 pts (6-7 3PT), 5 asts, 3 rebs
LeBron: 10 pts, 7 asts, 6 rebs, 2 blks, stl – 11:17 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Weird looking box score for LA. AD/Russell are 17-22, Reaves and Rui 2-11, and LeBron has six FGA (plus four FTs). 3 points off the bench. 12 FTs total for both teams. BK – 11:16 PM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
HALFTIME: Lakers 59, Nuggets 44.
Anthony Davis: 24 points (11-12 shooting), six rebounds, two assists and one block. D’Angelo Russell: 18 points (6-7 on 3s), five assists. LeBron James: 10 points (3-6 shooting), seven assists, six rebounds. – 11:12 PM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Awful half from Jamal Murray: 4 points, 2-10 shooting, missed Nikola Jokic late in the 2nd quarter when he had LeBron James pinned in the post. He’s got to be better. – 11:12 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Lakers 59, Nuggets 44
LA carries a 15-point lead into the half. AD has 24 points (11-12 FGs), 6 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block. DLo has 18 points (six 3s) and 5 assists. LeBron has 10/6/7. LA is shooting 56.1% and 57.1% on 3s (8-14). Jokic has 12 and 12. MPJ has 14. – 11:11 PM
Danny Cunningham @RealDCunningham
The stuff LeBron has done tonight should be unfathomable for someone his age. – 11:09 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
KCP gave LeBron a hard foul on that break, but LeBron somehow got it to go after absorbing the contact. He makes the and-one free throw to put L.A. up 56-44 – equaling the largest lead LAL had in Game 1. – 11:08 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
How did LeBron make that – 11:08 PM
Vivek Jacob @vivekmjacob
LeBron my goodness – 11:08 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
LeBron is unbelievable – 11:08 PM
Chris Herring @Herring_NBA
LeBron plays like a 26-year-old still – 11:08 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Jamal Murray needs to give that ball up to Nikola Jokic. That’s another bad decision, and it led to a LeBron James And-1 in transition because he didn’t get back.
He’s got 4 points on 2/10 from the field. – 11:08 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron … somehow scored that. – 11:07 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Welp, that didn’t stop LeBron from driving to the hole. LBJ to the line. – 10:48 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Nuggets win a challenge on a call on Murray with LeBron driving to the rim, saying Murray got the ball.
Denver ball with 11:31 to play in the 2nd Q, LAL up 4. – 10:46 PM
Nick Wright @getnickwright
LeBron dared them to challenge it and they foolishly took the bait despite the fact that Murray *clearly* slaps him dead on the wrist. – 10:44 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Scott Foster called a foul on Jamal Murray defending LeBron James in transition.
Michael Malone swiftly challenges.
The crowd reaction was…strong. – 10:43 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Key stretch here … this LeBron-led bench unit with Hayes in has been really good. Lakers didn’t get to it in Game 1 since LeBron played the entire 1st Q.
Jokic is sitting, so, a chance for LAL to make a push. – 10:43 PM
Nick Wright @getnickwright
That “Most Series Wins When Losing Game 1” graphic TNT just showed was wrong. It actually should’ve read this:
1: Lakers- 15
2: Celtics- 14
3: LeBron James- 12 – 10:38 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron getting physical in the paint fronting Jokic – 10:27 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
The first time Jokic challenged Davis tonight resulted in Davis blocking Jokic.
Here’s what Jokic did in Game 1:
Vs Anthony Davis: 2 of 7 FG’s, 1 of 2 3’s, 5 points, 2 assists
Rui Hachimura: 8 of 10 FG’s, 16 points, 2 assists
LeBron James: 6 of 7 FG’s, 12 points – 10:27 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
This block by LeBron is the same he pulled on Thiago Splitter in 2013 pic.twitter.com/MLA3Ir5zZw10:23 PM

Khobi Price @khobi_price
Another strong start for the Lakers in Game 2 vs. the Nuggets, with LAL leading 15-9 midway through the 1Q after LeBron James’ hit ahead pass to Anthony Davis for a dunk, with DEN calling a timeout. – 10:23 PM
Nick Wright @getnickwright
Someone better at the internet than me please put the LeBron block on Jamal side by side with the Finals block on Splitter from TEN YEARS AGO. – 10:23 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
That block and outlet pass might be the two best plays LeBron has made this entire season. – 10:22 PM
Rob Peterson @ShotDrJr
LeBron with the casual 55-foot cross-chest shovel pass – 10:22 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
A second straight strong start for the Lakers here, as they go up 15-9 into the first time out, punctuated by a beautifully quick pass from LeBron to AD in transition for a dunk.
LeBron also had an and-1, plus a ridiculous block of Jamal Murray at the rim on the defensive end. – 10:21 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
That was an absurd outlet pass by LeBron James. – 10:21 PM
Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
D’Lo already with three 3’s and an assist to Bron – 10:20 PM
Bob Garcia @bgarciaivsports
Huge confidence 3s for DLo and follows it with LeBron with a nasty block at the rim. – 10:17 PM
Nick Wright @getnickwright
Hey @kevinwildes what happened on that funk attempt on LeBron? – 10:17 PM
Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Jamal Murray tried LeBron James at the rim. It did not go well for Jamal.
Lakers up 6-5 early behind D’Angelo Russell’s 2-2 start from 3-point range. – 10:17 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
LeBron just yeeted a Jamal Murray dunk attempt into the seats. – 10:17 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
MONSTER BLOCK BY LEBRON 👀 – 10:16 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Cavs go up 2-0 on the Magic.
They haven’t won a playoff series since taking Game 7 of the 2018 East Finals in Boston.
If Cleveland and Boston advance, it will be the 9th time they’d meet in the playoffs, but just the second without LeBron James or Larry Bird. (1976 ECF) – 9:37 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ starters for Game 2 vs. Denver:
D’Angelo Russell
Austin Reaves
Rui Hachimura
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Record as starters: 19-7 – 9:34 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Anthony Davis (low back soreness) and LeBron James (left ankle peroneal tendinopathy) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game at Denver. – 9:27 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
LeBron James & Nikola Jokic locked in 😤
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/we5aEKAi6I8:48 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
A few shots from deep for LeBron pic.twitter.com/Jd6sYQQ9GO7:56 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
LeBron James warming up early again. pic.twitter.com/maIEiGBuHj7:53 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Some post work for LeBron with Phil Handy pic.twitter.com/L3kQL7XxtZ7:51 PM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
LeBron getting ready for Game 2 pic.twitter.com/9NkXGIiKQC7:50 PM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
If MVP of the Playoffs was a thing, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan and LeBron James would combine for 26 awards.
Our research:
hoopshype.com/lists/nba-play…4:00 PM
Josh Martin @Bulls_Wire
LeBron James catching up to Michael Jordan in The Athletic’s GOAT poll bullswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/22/chi… pic.twitter.com/ABO7R3lMew2:05 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Total playoff points:
8,050 — LeBron James
6,612 — Every active Nugget combined pic.twitter.com/qlsCFmi7Dj1:58 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron in 44 playoff games for the Lakers:
25.9 PPG
9.8 RPG
7.8 APG
1.2 SPG
52.7 FG%
The only Laker to average 25/5/5 in the playoffs since the merger. statmuse.com/nba/player/leb…1:32 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
The Magic offense will break my TV.
LeBron is trapped in a time loop.
Herb Jones vs. SGA is the best matchup of the first round.
@zachkram examines one overreaction from Game 1 of each series: theringer.com/nba/2024/4/22/…12:53 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
New edition of THE LIST on game 1.
✅ Quick doubles on Jokic and how he attacked them
✅ Trapping Murray during bench minutes
✅ 5-4 PnR success
✅ LeBron on Jokic in the post
➡️ youtu.be/AVNssPqyCGs?si… pic.twitter.com/l27ZfCniIV12:04 PM

Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
Anonymous NBA player poll 2024: LeBron or Jordan as the GOAT? Most overrated? Finals favorite? theathletic.com/5433545/2024/0…9:27 AM

More on this storyline

ClutchPoints: LEBRON JAMES MET JAMAL MURRAY AT THE RIM 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UwpCOVABsx -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / April 22, 2024
And James feels like he was robbed of becoming the first. He hasn’t particularly taken kindly to it and seemingly threatened to expose the voter who did so. “I also had an opportunity to be the first unanimous MVP if I’d gotten all 120 votes,” he said. “But I got 119.” “I know who the one vote was,” James added. “He voted for Carmelo… It was a writer from Boston – of course. I know his name, too, but I ain’t gonna give him that light just yet. I’ll wait for the doc on that one.” -via Awful Announcing / April 22, 2024
Jorge Sierra: ACTIVE PLAYERS IN TOP 50 PLAYOFF SCORING LIST 1. LeBron James 7. Kevin Durant 11. Stephen Curry 17. James Harden 27. Klay Thompson 29. Chris Paul 32. Kawhi Leonard 34. Russell Westbrook 42. Jimmy Butler 47. Paul George 49. Jayson Tatum -via Twitter @hoopshype / April 22, 2024

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