The Los Angeles Lakers are massive underdogs in their second-round playoff series against the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, and that played out in Game 1 of the series in an 18-point loss.
The contest wasn’t a complete blowout, however, as the Lakers hung around for the first three quarters before the Thunder pulled away late. Without Luka Doncic, the Lakers have very little room for error against the Thunder and Marcus Smart noted that whenever they failed to execute their game plan, Oklahoma City made them pay.
“Yea we had a game plan and a few times we didn’t do exactly what we was supposed to do within the game plan,” Smart said after the loss. “And we got a little outside of ourselves of the game plan and they made us pay for it.”
But despite dropping Game 1 by double-digits, Smart is still confident in this Lakers team bouncing back despite the challenge they face in taking down the Thunder.
“Very high,” Smart said of his confidence in his team. “We started off great. We were doing very well, we were in the game. We held them to 101, 105ish before late in the end. You know we’re playing the defending champs, it’s gonna be tough. They’re gonna make some tough shots, some tough plays, we just can’t let that derail us right?
“We gotta stay with it. But I’m very positive in the way that the game plan is. Teammates, we’re getting Austin [Reaves] back in his groove and just getting guys back. So I’m definitely confident, but it’s definitely gonna be a challenge.”
There were certainly a handful of positives to take away from the first game of the series with how they contained reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Lakers were able to generate some decent looks offensively, but failed to knock down open shots.
Without a doubt, figuring out how to get Reaves going is a top priority after he shot just 3-of-16 in Game 1, but if the rest of the Lakers can embrace that same confidence level Smart has, and better execute the game plan, they have a chance to surprise everyone and make this a series.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic discusses injury timeline
The hope for the Lakers coming into this series against the Thunder is that Doncic would be able to return at some point. And while that still might be the case, he revealed that his original injury timeline would have him out for three more weeks.
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