LeBron James’ return has Marcus Smart becoming Lakers’ ‘Swiss Army knife’
In the starting lineup, coming off the bench or even on the pickleball court, Marcus Smart knows he can provide what the Lakers need. So the return of LeBron James and the question of how that might affect his role isn’t slowing Smart down.
“I like [think of] myself like a Swiss army knife,” Smart said Saturday as the Lakers prepared for a game at Utah on Sunday. “It’s not one thing I do well, but I do everything very well. … People come back, people get hurt. People make good games, but also bad games. You have to adapt to what the game demands at the time.
With four days to get their act together after James made his long-awaited season debut, the Lakers (11-4) want to continue their strong start. Smart had started nine straight times before James returned. Smart then played a season-low 17 minutes in Tuesday’s 140-126 win over the Jazz at home, scoring five points and three rebounds. He only made two shots, but coach JJ Redick praised Smart’s play off the bench as well as the performances of Jake LaRavia, Jaxson Hayes and Gabe Vincent.
Vincent returned from a sprained ankle that cost him 11 games to score six points on two-for-three three-point shooting. LaRavia led the bench group with 16 points and four rebounds. He was six of 10 from the field, including two three-pointers.
Signing as a free agent this offseason, LaRavia knew playing with James was part of the deal. He had to wait until training camp, preseason and 14 games to get his wish, but it was worth it. LaRavia, 24, who was five days shy of his second birthday when James made his NBA debut, knocked away a shot in the first quarter on an assist from James.
“It was great to finally get on the field with him,” LaRavia said. “He brings something to this team that I don’t think we really had. It’s another level of passing ability that he’s able to do, and just how hard he is on offense in transitions and just when he has the ball in his hands.”
The Lakers are tied for second in transition possessions per game, but they have picked up the pace. Through the first nine games, the team has scored 9.5 percent of its points in transition. That mark has increased to 13.4% over the last five games.
Utah (5-10) is one of the fastest teams, averaging 102.6 possessions per game. As the pace has increased over the years, heavier workloads have made minor soft tissue injuries an unfortunate reality in the NBA. They also take extended breaks between games, like the four-day reprieve the Lakers enjoyed last week, a major luxury.
Between much-needed rest and effective workouts for a team that has only been fully healthy for a week, the Lakers also used the time for team bonding in the form of a chatter-filled pickleball tournament.
Smart and Redick along with a third teammate, head video coordinator Michael Wexler — whom Redick anonymously accused of eating throughout the tournament — made it to the semifinals. They lost to Luka Doncic and player development coach Ty Abbott. LaRavia and assistant coach Beau Levesque won the championship. Redick raised questions about the fairness of the team pairs.
As with anything involving ultra-competitive athletes, even innocent pickleball games have gotten heated. Smart was trying to be careful not to push his limits too much.
“The last thing I need to do is roll my ankle trying to play pickleball,” said Smart, who said he would rather play tennis.
It was still a welcome break from the monotony of the season, Redick said. He graded this experience with an A.
“We got through this week not wanting to kill each other,” Redick said with a smirk.
Etc.
Center Deandre Ayton missed practice Saturday due to illness. He was scheduled to join the team on the trip to Utah.
