It was not what we would have expected from the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night in the opening game of their first-round series against the Rockets. Certainly, the Rockets had a lot to do with that, missing star scorer Kevin Durant with a late-breaking knee injury, helping to offset the fact that Lakers were without their two top scorers–Austin Reaves and MVP candidate Luka Doncic–because of injuries.
The problems the Lakers face were obvious, made plain by the fact that the Rockets took 93 field-goal attempts on the night to a measly 66 for L.A., a reminder that the Lakers are primed to be dominated on the boards in this series (it was 44-35 in Houston’s favor on Saturday) and that they can’t afford turnovers (the Rockets outscored them, 24-7 off TOs). But the Lakers shot 61% from the field, and there was nothing Houston could do to slow that.
Lakers’ Marcus Smart Contributions Easy to Overlook
Certainly, LeBron James (19 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists) deserves credit for this one, as does Luke Kennard (27 points on 9-for-13 shooting, 5-for-5 from the 3-point line). But Lakers coach JJ Redick pointed out, too, that one guy being overlooked is veteran role player Marcus Smart.
Smart came into the NBA as a point guard, and though he is mostly a defense-first off-guard now, he is reminding everyone that he can pitch in with ballhandling duties at the point. That’s a good thing, because the Lakers badly need help with that.
Lakers Trying to Survive Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves Absence
In fact, he said, with Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) perhaps out for the series, Smart is taking on a Swiss Army knife role. Smart had 15 points and eight assists (though five turnovers) on Saturday.
Smart said 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, of course, is one of the Lakers’ most experienced playoff performers in this postseason, with 109 career playoff games including a trip to the NBA Finals on his resume, going back to his days with the Celtics.
He said the younger Lakers on the team have been turning to him for advice as this unique L.A. playoff push gets 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.”
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