LeBron James and the Lakers complaining about officiating after blowing another lead is pathetic

This is the only thing the Lakers have left against the Nuggets.

This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.

Gooood morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thanks so much for tapping in with us today. We appreciate you.

There’s nothing worse in sports than a sore loser. That’s what LeBron James and the Lakers look like today.

The Nuggets evaporated another double-digit lead behind a 20-20-10 triple-double from Nikola Jokic.  Then Jamal Murray sealed the game with an impossible stepback fadeaway over Anthony Davis.

It was absurd, sure. But here’s the thing: The absurdity of it all feels regular. At this point, I guess it is. The Nuggets have beaten this team 10 straight times. They’re just better in every way than the Lakers. It’s very clear.

That’s probably why, instead of just tipping their cap to Denver after a tough win, the Lakers are opting to complain about *checks notes* officiating? Sure. Yup. Ok.

Specifically, James and the Lakers were complaining about an overturned call on Michael Porter Jr. And, to be fair, that foul probably shouldn’t have been overturned! Porter Jr. clips Russell’s face after the ball is released.

But here’s the thing: At that point, the Lakers were nursing a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter. The Lakers still had every opportunity to win this game. No, scratch that. LA should’ve won this game.

But they didn’t. And now, here we are, with two of the team’s biggest stars complaining about officiating instead of just taking the L on the chin.

LeBron James went out of the way to call out officials at the end of his press conference, asking reporters, “What the [expletive] do we have a replay center for?” D’Angelo Russell ran to Twitter to tell everyone he was fouled as if there was something we could do about it.

Look, y’all. This isn’t a 76ers situation where officials missed a few calls at the end of Game 2 that led directly to Philly’s loss. That’s a team with plenty of room to complain.

RELATED: Mike Breen’s call at the end of the 76ers game is fantastic btw

Instead, we’re talking about a play that had no bearing on the game’s final moments. It didn’t matter. There was an entire quarter between that overturned call and the game’s final buzzer. The Lakers still had a lead and lost it.

That’s probably why we’re talking about this — the Lakers just realized there’s nothing they can do here. The reality is the Nuggets are just better. Denver has beaten LA 10 consecutive times in every way possible.

Instead of whining about fouls, maybe the Lakers should think about a way to defend Nikola Jokic a bit better. Because they don’t seem to have much of anything for that guy right now.

And Scott Foster ain’t coming to the rescue.

The saddest QB room ever?

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve seen some pretty bad quarterback rooms in my day — especially living here in D.C. and seeing the Commanders up close.

But, man. The Broncos quarterback club might be the saddest one we’ve ever seen when opening weekend rolls around. Christian D’Andrea has more here: 

“The most likely situation is either Denver stands pat at No. 12 and adds a passer there, or trades back to address other needs (there are several) and slides to a place where it’s a little more logical to take a non-top-four QB. Either way, the best rookie for which the Broncos can hope is probably either Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr..

Which means their training camp quarterback room would look like this:

• Jarrett Stidham (incumbent starter, somehow)
• Zach Wilson
• Ben Dinucci
• Bo Nix/Michael Penix Jr./Rookie QB X
• the smoking crater Russell Wilson’s $35.4 million in dead salary cap space left behind

Gross! There are other iffy situations across the league. The New England Patriots currently have Bailey Zappe, Jacoby Brissett and Nathan Rourke under contract. The Washington Commanders have Marcus Mariota, Jake Fromm and Jeff Driskel. The Vikings are desperate enough for competence that they staked a $10 million bet on Sam by-god Darnold.

But each of those teams has the draft assets to at least instill some legitimate hope for 2024 and beyond. The Broncos are in worse shape.”

Jarrett Stidham, the incumbent starter? YUCK. Also, who in the world is Ben DiNucci? Definitely sounds like a created player.

Nobody deserves that. Sorry, Broncos fans.

We need reverse ejections in baseball

Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

That’s what should’ve happened to umpire Hunter Wendelstedt during yesterday’s Yankees game. He ejected Aaron Boone for something he didn’t even do.

Here’s Andrew Joseph on that:

“In the first inning of the Yankees’ game against the A’s, Aaron Boone was evidently upset over a lead-off hit by pitch call. And ironically said something to Wendelstedt just as the ump missed a call in the Yankees’ favor.

Wendelstedt warned Boone to stop chirping and threatened him with an ejection. Boone seemed to take the message and stood at the edge of the dugout steps quietly. Yet, Wendelstedt mistook a fan’s heckling for Boone and ejected the Yankees manager anyway. The scene was absolutely wild.”

Wendelstedt literally admits that he doesn’t care what actually happened and that Boone was being ejected regardless.

That’s malpractice. Major League Baseball needs to step in here.

Quick hits: Anthony Davis is mad, too … Six NFL prospects who may not live up to the hype … and more

— WHEW boy the Lakers are upset. Anthony Davis didn’t have too much to say after Murray’s game-winner. Here’s Charles with more.

— Here’s Christian with more on six NFL draft prospects who may not live up to the hype this fall.

— The Nuggets live moneyline ticket is good money right now. Prince Grimes has more.

— Mark Stone’s goal last night has hockey fans kind of salty. Mary Clarke has more on why here.

— Cory Woodroof has five games that defined Matt Ryan’s Falcons career here.

— Cavs-Magic was somehow blacked out and fans were absolutely livid. Tyler Nettuno has more here.

That’s a wrap, folks! Thanks so much for reading today. Appreciate you. Have a fantastic Tuesday. Peace.

-Sykes