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Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets defends towards the dribble of Marcus Smart #36 of the Los Angeles Lakers, who’s making an attempt to fill in for injured Luka Doncic.
It was not what we’d have anticipated from the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday evening in the opening sport of their first-round collection towards the Rockets. Certainly, the Rockets had quite a bit to do with that, lacking star scorer Kevin Durant with a late-breaking knee harm, serving to to offset the truth that Lakers have been with out their two high scorers–Austin Reaves and MVP candidate Luka Doncic–due to accidents.
The issues the Lakers face have been apparent, made plain by the truth that the Rockets took 93 field-goal makes an attempt on the evening to a measly 66 for L.A., a reminder that the Lakers are primed to be dominated on the boards in this collection (it was 44-35 in Houston’s favor on Saturday) and that they’ll’t afford turnovers (the Rockets outscored them, 24-7 off TOs). But the Lakers shot 61% from the sector, and there was nothing Houston might do to sluggish that.
Lakers’ Marcus Smart Contributions Easy to Overlook
Certainly, LeBron James (19 factors, 13 rebounds, eight assists) deserves credit score for this one, as does Luke Kennard (27 factors on 9-for-13 taking pictures, 5-for-5 from the 3-point line). But Lakers coach JJ Redick identified, too, that one man being ignored is veteran function participant Marcus Smart.
Smart got here into the NBA as some extent guard, and although he’s principally a defense-first off-guard now, he’s reminding everybody that he can pitch in with ballhandling duties on the level. That’s factor, as a result of the Lakers badly need assistance with that.
Lakers Trying to Survive Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Absence
In reality, he mentioned, with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (indirect) maybe out for the collection, Smart is taking over a Swiss Army knife function. Smart had 15 factors and eight assists (although 5 turnovers) on Saturday.
Smart mentioned from the podium: “It’s important for me, especially without the two guys, Luka and Austin, we’re short on Ballhandling. Guys that can create not just for themselves but for others, so, the team, they lean on me a lot for that, just to be able to do it. Constantly, my coaching staff is telling me, be aggressive. Whether it is for you or for your teammates, be aggressive.
“That’s something I often can do, I haven’t been asked to do that, to play that role. I think that is what makes me unique, I am a Swiss Army knife, I can do a little bit of everything.”
Marcus Smart Has Plenty of Playoff Experience
Smart, in fact, is among the Lakers’ most skilled playoff performers in this postseason, with 109 profession playoff video games together with a visit to the NBA Finals on his resume, going again to his days with the Celtics.
He mentioned the youthful Lakers on the staff have been turning to him for recommendation as this distinctive L.A. playoff push will get underway.
Said Smart: “A lot of it is pulling guys to the side (to talk to them). Ironically, a lot of guys pull me to the side, right, asking me questions. They want to learn. There’s something about this young group, the guys that are on the bench that, you know, haven’t been in the playoffs. I think that right there shows the work we put in as a team, the trust that they have in me as a vet to be able to lead them in that way.
“It’s been a bit of both but definitely guys are doing it on their own, pulling me aside and I commend them for that.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports activities reporter overlaying the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has greater than twenty years of expertise overlaying the NBA, together with 17 years because the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the creator of seven nonfiction books, together with “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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