TITLE: Marcus Smart Urges Lakers to Repair Defense After Blowout Loss
SLUG: marcus-smart-urges-lakers-to-repair-defense
CONTENT:
LOS ANGELES — Veteran guard Marcus Smart said the Los Angeles Lakers have to solve their mounting defensive problems quickly after Tuesday night’s lopsided defeat to the Phoenix Suns.
The 4–5 stretch over the club’s last nine games has been defined by porous defense. In the five losses during that span, the Lakers have surrendered more than 123 points per game and fallen by an average of 18 points.
“We’re being real — right now, and it’s showing,” Smart told reporters. “Every team goes through it, trying to figure it out. You just pray it happens early and we can fix it before it’s too late.”
Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, pointed to second-chance opportunities and dribble penetration as the most glaring issues. Phoenix shot 59 percent from the field and collected 12 offensive rebounds, turning the few misses it had into additional points.
“There’s no scheme we can run when we’re giving up offensive rebounds in crucial moments or guys are getting wherever they want,” Smart said. “There’s no help, no resistance, no urgency. It’s on us.”
Head coach JJ Redick echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that effort rather than tactics is the immediate concern. “Playing hard is a choice,” Redick said after the game.
The Lakers will try to shore up their defense before their next matchup, hoping to prevent the season from slipping further.
Source: Lakers Nation
