A passionate performance! The appearance of new players in the Lakers backcourt directly reversed the momentum of the game?

In the previous NBA regular season, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder once again defeated the Indiana Pacers at home 141-135 after a hard-fought double overtime. After this game, the Thunder won two consecutive games since the start of the new season, with a current record of 2 wins and 0 losses, while the Pacers suffered their first loss since the start of the new season, with a current record of 0 wins and 1 loss.

In this game, the Lakers' new backcourt player Marcus Smart performed quite well. He was also a key factor in the team's ability to establish a score advantage and ultimately win the game. Smart played for 20 minutes and 40 seconds, shooting 1 of 2 from the field and 1 of 1 from beyond the three-point line. He scored 3 points, 1 assist and 2 steals, as well as 2 turnovers and 1 foul. The plus-minus reached a game-high +24. Smart's contribution on the offensive end is relatively limited. His scoring ability has not been fully utilized, he has not completed more shots, and he has not played much role in passing and organization. But as soon as Smart came on the court, the team's defensive intensity increased significantly, and the enthusiasm and passion he showed on the court directly ignited the team's fighting spirit. It is no exaggeration to say that the Lakers' ability to reverse the momentum of the game is inseparable from Smart.

In the NBA regular season last season, Smart played 34 times on behalf of the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, averaging 20 minutes per game. He averaged 9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. He also had 1.6 turnovers and 1.6 fouls. He shot 39.3% from the field, 34.8% from the three-point range, and 76.1% from the free throw line. In the previous preseason games, Smart played a total of 2 times, averaging 21.8 minutes per game. He averaged 7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2 steals per game, as well as 0.5 turnovers and 1 foul. He shot 45.5% from the field, 25% from the three-point range, and 100% from the free throw line. In the previous opener when the team lost to the Golden State Warriors, Smart made 3 of 6 shots, 0 of 3 from beyond the arc, and 3 of 4 free throws in 22 minutes and 46 seconds of playing time. He scored 9 points and 1 steal, as well as 3 turnovers and 4 fouls, with a plus-minus of +2.

The Lakers signed Smart, whose contract was bought out by the Wizards, to a two-year contract worth $11 million this summer. The Lakers certainly have high hopes for Smart. They also hope that Smart can become a key figure in the team and provide more support to the team on both offense and defense. Judging from Smart's performance in these two games in the new season, he can indeed have a defensive effect. His personal defensive ability is quite good, and he can also inspire the team's overall performance. Of course, Smart has not fully demonstrated his characteristics on the offensive end, and his contribution on the offensive end is still relatively limited. I don’t know if the Lakers will further improve Smart’s playing time and his role on the court in the next games. It seems that Smart is capable of playing a more important role in the team, and he can also have a decisive impact on the court.