The Los Angeles Lakers are heading to Houston with a 2-0 series lead in the first round, despite missing both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Head coach JJ Redick has cooked up a near-perfect scheme for Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, but it’s been the unexpected leaps from Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard that have really helped L.A.
Through two games, Smart has 40 points, 15 assists and six steals. He has been a leader on both ends of the floor, fitting himself perfectly next to LeBron James, and has been one of the team’s rallying figures off the court. Redick, who has seen Smart from the perspective of a player, retiree and coach, is not surprised by any of it, though.
“Number one, I competed against him and I competed against him in the playoffs, so I know what kind of competitor he is,” Redick said of Smart. “I got to watch him as a newly-retired player compete at the highest level and play in the Finals. So I knew that the moment and the stage was not going, being a Laker, was not going to affect him.
“We talked about when you kind of go to places that maybe aren’t talked about, or let’s be honest, as relevant nationally as the Lakers or the Celtics, it can be frustrating. I think every player wants to feel like they’re on a team that’s playing for something. And I know he was looking for that in free agency.
“We did a deep dive on a bunch of things on him, particularly what some of the analytics showed. It’s easy to write somebody off as being older and not being as good, but all the analytics defensively, all the analytics as a secondary playmaker were very favorable. So we felt really comfortable bringing him on board.”
Smart’s on-court play has obviously been stellar in the first two games, but Redick credits that off-court leadership for why the Lakers are where they are right now.
“Him and I had a conversation coming off those three losses, we had a conversation in San Francisco,” Redick said. “I’m not gonna share those details, but the biggest thing was because he has the voice he has, he can help create the belief and confidence in our group. I think he’s done that.”
The Lakers being in the driver’s seat to win this series at all can be partially credited to Smart, as he has been everything L.A. hoped he would be, and more, when they signed him in the offseason.
Marcus Smart grateful to be back contributing in playoffs
Smart was nearly out of the league after two consecutive injury-riddled seasons for non-contenders. But he has found a home with the Lakers and is grateful for that opportunity.
“For me, it’s very important,” Smart said. “I’m very grateful to be doing this. I thank God every day, because I could’ve been out of the league, right? Injuries and things like that. So to be able to be back on this stage again, making the plays that I’m making with these guys, with this team, this organization, I’m just grateful.”
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