Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt central to Lakers’ plan for stronger perimeter defense
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Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt central to Lakers’ plan for stronger perimeter defense
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said this week that veteran guard Marcus Smart and forward Jarred Vanderbilt will be vital to upgrading the team’s perimeter defense during the upcoming season.
“With a healthy Vando and hopefully a healthy Marcus, our ability to put more pressure on the basketball earlier in the defensive possession will be a real thing,” Redick told reporters at training camp.
Smart, the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, has been limited at the start of camp by Achilles tendinopathy. Redick expects the issue to resolve by the end of the week, adding that the coaching staff plans to rely on Smart as a perimeter anchor. The guard has played only 54 games combined over the past two seasons because of injuries.
“I’ve talked with JJ about what he expects from me on both ends, especially the defensive end,” Smart said. “It’s everything I’ve been doing my whole career. He told me, ‘If we’re going to get the Celtics Marcus Smart, that’s who we need.’ So for me, it’s about giving everything I’ve got every night.”
Vanderbilt enters camp fully healthy after undergoing surgery on both feet last summer and delaying his 2023-24 debut until January 25. The forward said an uninterrupted offseason allowed him to build confidence and conditioning.
“It feels great being able to have a full summer under my belt,” Vanderbilt said. “I was able to work on my game and my body, and it’s a different level of preparation when you’ve already put the work in and can start fresh.”
Source: Hoops Wire
