LeBron James and Magic Johnson were aware of disciplinary risk with Lakers roster - pundit
LOS ANGELES LAKERS’ scrap with the Houston Rockets on Sunday was to be expected.
Lakers and Houston throw punches at LeBron James' home debut
That is according to FOX Sports broadcaster Colin Cowherd.
Lakers’ Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo got into an altercation with Rockets point guard Chris Paul during their 124-115 loss.
Ingram ignited the tense atmosphere when he, seemingly unprovoked, pushed James Harden in the back.
Opposite numbers Rondo and Paul then clashed soon after, the former allegedly spitting in Paul’s face.
Paul naturally took exception and the pair tried to exchange blows, but it was swiftly broken up, despite Ingram running over with flailing fists.
Ingram was handed a four-game suspension by the NBA, Rondo three and Paul two.
Cowherd, who has covered basketball for over 30 years, believes no one should be surprised by Sunday’s fracas.
“If you were wondering what kind of Lakers team this was going to be, well this is it,” he said on The Herd.
This is what the Lakers are going to be - LeBron James and Magic Johnson knew when they put this puppy together
“You don’t bring Rondo, Michael Beasley JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson - scrappy players - and then say; ‘They got in a big scrap on Saturday night.’
“This is what the Lakers are going to be. LeBron James and Magic Johnson knew when they put this puppy together.
“Why did they buy those players? Because this is how they’re going to win.
“This was a one-point game and this happened and Houston are a lot better than the Lakers.
“This team is tough and annoying and agitating and scrappy; that’s the way they’re going to win.
“Magic and LeBron knew they didn’t have enough shooters, and it’s a shooter’s league. So they added scrappy guys.
“This is off-brand, because Lakers teams are usually skill and fun and smiles. This team is the badboys with palm trees.
“They have a lot of young and emerging players, but this locker room is controlled by Rondo and LeBron James.”