Marcus Smart emphasized composure and adaptability as the Los Angeles Lakers closed the regular season with a 131-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena.
“It’s going to be our ability to stay poised under pressure,” Smart said when assessing the broader playoff picture. “Things are going to get really adverse for us and we understand that but understanding that we got to stick together.”
He added, “We can bend a little bit but we can’t break,” highlighting the team’s approach entering a postseason run shaped by injuries and rotation changes.
Smart also addressed the uncertainty surrounding potential first-round matchups as results were still unfolding elsewhere in the league. “Just it’s going to be our ability to stay poised under pressure,” he reiterated, reinforcing the emphasis on stability regardless of opponent.
The veteran guard discussed his return rhythm after missing time earlier in the stretch. “Feeling really good. Just trying to get my rhythm and really get my conditioning,” Smart said. “My shot obviously didn’t fall like one for seven but that’s going to come.”
He pointed to the upcoming break before Game 1 as a key factor. “This week that we have off before we play is definitely going to help. I think it’s just going to help everybody overall to get even more healthier.”
With Los Angeles managing multiple absences in primary creation roles, Smart described the shared responsibility on offense. “We’re going to be splitting some time,” he said, referencing his on-ball duties alongside Luke Kennard, LeBron James, Nick Smith Jr. and others.
He noted the tactical benefit of spreading creation duties across multiple handlers. “So we don’t give defenses a steady dose of one thing and then we don’t wear ourselves out on that end of the floor trying to bring the ball up.”
Smart finished the regular season leading the team in plus-minus impact, a reflection he acknowledged without overstatement. “For sure,” he said when asked about taking pride in that metric. “Just making an impact in any way that I can.”
He also framed his role through leadership and consistency. “As a vet just trying to show these young guys how to be professional,” Smart said, adding that effort must remain steady even when shots are not falling.
LeBron James led an early surge in the same game, while Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton each posted 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers secured the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and will open the playoffs against Houston.
