Several players from the Los Angeles Lakers looked like they were ready to throw it down on Sunday night as Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart repeatedly charged at LeBron James following an on-court altercation between the pair. Carmelo Anthony stood by LeBron's side throughout the incident and it appeared like Melo himself wanted to protect his teammate and good buddy at all costs.

Footage of Anthony after the melee has now surfaced and it has taken the mean streets of Twitter by storm. The Lakers veteran is seen talking to a game official about Stewart in a rather forceful manner which also included a bit of a confrontation with Pistons guard Cory Joseph (h/t Bleacher Report on Twitter):

Melo was telling the referee that Stewart wasn't “coming this way” which presumably means that he wasn't going to let the Pistons stud get past him as if he was LeBron's bodyguard. For some reason, Anthony decided to bark at Cory Joseph a bit as the Pistons guard passed by. Needless to say, emotions were still running high at that point.

Anthony's antics did not exactly sit well with the infamous trolls of Twitter. Many of them believed that the Lakers star was merely putting on a brave face:

https://twitter.com/2fly_lo/status/1462847898333462536

Some keyboard warriors clearly weren't buying Anthony's tough-guy act. However, there were others who were quick to point out that the Lakers forward does have a bit of a history when it comes to fighting on the hardcourt:

It is worth noting that Melo and LeBron have been friends for a very long time now. It looks like Anthony was merely trying to stand behind his buddy here after seeing how Stewart literally tried to charge at James several times over. I guess most of us would have done the same for our friends. Right?