Lakers celebrity supports Smart! He reminds people of Bradley in 20 years, and Dong Zhan needs him to be a bad guy

A few days ago, a US media posted photos of several new players from the Lakers during the offseason, including Ayton, Smart, Laravia and others, and wrote: "Which new player do you expect the most in the new player in the new season?" For most Lakers fans, Ayton's performance may be what they expect most. After all, the Lakers' inside problem was too serious last season. If Ayton's performance was not good, then the Lakers' inside problem will be infinitely magnified in the new season. Not to mention competing for the championship, I'm afraid that even the top five in the West may not be able to rush forward.

But in fact, in the eyes of many NBA celebrities and media, the Lakers player that should be expected most in the new season is not Ayton, but Smart. This defensive champion introduced by the Lakers in the offseason, his performance almost determines the upper limit of the Lakers' new season. To a certain extent, Smart is almost the only reliable defense point on the Lakers' outside, and is the key to solving the Lakers' defense in the backcourt.

Recently, Lakers' celebrity James Worthy was a guest on a show, and during this period he talked about the impact of Smart's joining on the Lakers. Worthy said: "I remember when Phil Jackson introduced Ron Harper, Ron Harper not only could play, but more importantly, he performed very well in the locker room. The same is true for introducing Smart now. He still has an excellent defensive awareness and is also recognized as a locker room leader."

And some time ago, former NBA player Beverly also talked about Smart's value to the Lakers in a show. Beverly said: "The most surprising thing in this deal is Smart. Smart has something to prove. It's very different, right? Look at his previous injuries. Yes, he won the defense player of the year, but is he still the same player? Can he still defend like before? People don't understand , in the month and a half after the trading deadline, Smart played a very good game at the Washington Wizards. Everyone didn't realize this. Moreover, he has the motivation to fight for a new contract, and he has the motivation to return to the well-known Smart state. So, I think he will have an amazing season." ”

As Worthy and Beverly said, Smart's performance will determine the Lakers' system in the new season to a certain extent. Even in the eyes of some scouts, if Smart can perform well in the new season, he should replace Hachimura as the starter, because the Lakers are really short of defensive players now, and if Smart can return to his peak defense and shooting, he will become the Lakers' dream 3D player. Some scouts said that Smart can defend players like Edwards, Alexander and Curry, so that Doncic, Reeves and James don’t have to worry about defense and can focus on offense.

From a personal perspective, I think the Lakers' introduction of Smart this time had the taste of signing Bradley in that year, especially in the 2019-2020 season, Bradley played a very important role in the Lakers. Although it was not played in the playoffs and won the championship with the team, which made people feel a little regretful for him, but it must be admitted that the Lakers were able to play the first record in the West in the regular season that season. Bradley's performance was indelible. He could hit a steady shot on the offensive end, and he could stick to his opponent's core players like a dog skin plaster. It can even be said that Bradley was the third most important role in the Lakers' team after James and Davis.

Now Smart has a very good chance to become the new version of Bradley of the Lakers. And what's even better is that compared to the silent Bradley, Smart's personality is more like Beverly. He is very happy to play the role of a bad guy. For a championship team, a bad guy like Rodman, Beverly, and Dream Chasing Green is very important. The Lakers are currently in the team, and James and Doncic are also in good tempers. Because of this, the Lakers need to arrange for them a knife guard who dares to fight and rush. At present, Smart is very suitable for this role.

In previous interviews, Smart was also full of expectations for his role. He said: "It is to continue to be myself and do what I should do on the court. Becoming a tenacious defender, bringing the strength, leadership and basketball IQ, and at the same time, I will continue to be the 'noying guy' that has always been. Pursuing the championship is my ultimate goal, and I will do my best. So I want to return to that big stage and join a team that can work on me. I know I can make an impact and help, and the Lakers are perfect for me at the moment. I am full of motivation now."