The Los Angeles Lakers seized the opportunity to bring Marcus Smart on board during free agency, aiming for his veteran presence to enhance their defensive capabilities. So far, Smart has exemplified the competitive edge the Lakers were hoping for. However, his contributions alone have not fully alleviated the team’s ongoing defensive challenges, as they currently rank among the league’s weakest defensive squads.
In a recent matchup, the Lakers surrendered 135 points to the Charlotte Hornets, struggling particularly against their taller guards and wings. Smart recognized the trend, noting that opposing teams often elevate their offensive performance when playing against Los Angeles. “It doesn’t matter who it is. The team or the player doesn’t matter, when they play [against] us, everything goes through the roof,” he expressed. He emphasized the necessity for the roster to adopt a more urgent approach defensively.
Smart elaborated on the defensive vulnerabilities, stating, “Teams are doing a really good job of picking straight matchups and picking certain plays that they want to help them.” He underscored that playing for the Lakers comes with unique pressures, as they are perpetually the target, prompting every competitor to deliver their best performance against them. Smart stressed the need for the team to regain control over their defensive strategy.
Looking ahead, the Lakers are faced with a schedule that is notably road-heavy, but Smart perceives this as a chance to rediscover their winning form. “Our schedule is a little chaotic right now. But everybody’s going through it at some point in the season. We got to figure it out. Nobody’s going to come save us,” he said. Smart pointed out the importance of resilience, recalling their previous strong performance against the Atlanta Hawks as a benchmark to aim for moving forward, starting with their upcoming game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Throughout the season, despite the struggles, Smart has maintained an optimistic outlook regarding the team’s progress and remains confident in their potential to improve. The Lakers will need to harness that determination and perform at their best to get back on track in the coming matches.