Before facing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers managed to win four straight games without Marcus Smart in the lineup. Almost immediately from the tipoff, the chances of that streak being extended to five games were emphatically crushed.
The Lakers were battered, bruised, and dominated until the final score reflected just how ugly of an affair it was. Los Angeles got pummeled in a brutal 139-96 beatdown at the hands of Oklahoma City. It was a game that screamed mightily loud about just how important Smart is for the Lakers.
Their veteran defensive leader has now missed six games during this current absence. The Lakers have gone 4-2. It is hard to believe that both of the losses coming against tough and physical teams was a coincidence. That is where they missed Smart's ability to set the tone the most.
Marcus Smart's relentless energy is sorely missed by the Lakers
The Lakers' four wins came against the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Three of those four teams are competing for lottery positioning. The Cavaliers are a borderline contender, but far from the most physically demanding of matchups.
Losses to the Thunder and the undermanned Detroit Pistons have that same common denominator. Those are two teams who make you work for every little inch and punish you in the process. The games are a slugfest, a dog fight, a test of wills.
No Smart, no dice — especially in this last one. The Lakers were hammered in a way that not only cost them their superstar player, but offered low-hanging fruit to every pundit that wants to torch and discredit everything Los Angeles accomplished in their rejuvenation following the All-Star break.
As LeBron James said: "They beat the s*** out of us tonight, obviously, from the start."
Keeping up with the toll these types of matchups bring requires someone willing to combat that energy. Smart has been that player for the Lakers when given the opportunity.
Not only was Los Angeles without their best defender against an excruciatingly difficult offense to hold down, but they were missing the guy who would have butted heads and matched Oklahoma City's tenacity. It was a prime example of just how much the intangibles matter.
Smart has spoken his mantra of the toughest team setting the rules on multiple occassions throughout the season. It is a saying the former Defensive Player of the Year lives by through his play. The Lakers were shown just how valuable having that extra component is.