the former DPOY<\/a> has once again become the foundational defensive piece and high-level facilitator that he used to be. But what was once a thorn in the side of the Lakers, now Smart is doing it for them, and doing it in the biggest moments of the year.<\/p>\nIt’s hard to overestimate just how important Smart has been for this team. All Lakers free agency signings are hyped up; but Smart’s signing actually deserved all the fanfare it got. In fact, it may have deserved more hype than it got, as he looks more like the $20 million per year man he was for the Celtics right now than at any moment in recent years. <\/p>\n
In fact, every game he plays like he did on Friday moves him closer to a contract in that range in the offseason. But that’s a conversation for another day.<\/p>\n
Marcus Smart has been everything the Lakers could ask for \u2014 and more<\/p>\n
It wasn’t that long ago Marcus Smart was a crucial part of a Boston Celtics team that had ambitions of an NBA title. He was Brad Stevens’ defensive anchor, his energy guy, the foundation of so many things the C’s were able to accomplish.<\/p>\n
In just one season, he’s become that guy again, this time in Los Angeles for JJ Redick. Props are due for Redick too for believing Smart can be this guy again. Redick, in year two, has shown a pretty impressive ability to nail down what guys do best and letting them flourish.<\/p>\n
How far the Lakers go this season isn’t on the shoulders of Smart; it’s more about how healthy the Lakers two missing stars can get before the (presumed) series against the Oklahoma City Thunder starts. But the Lakers even being in position to look forward to a second round series is in large part because Marcus Smart remembered exactly who he used to be \u2014\u00a0or maybe who he still is.<\/p>\n
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