Marcus Smart drives Los Angeles Lakers resurgence after hand injury
Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart is spearheading a late-season playoff push, overcoming a devastating past hand injury to shut down elite scorers and revitalise his team’s defensive identity.
The veteran guard was scanning Anthony Edwards’ shooting statistics following a crucial 120-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
This hard-fought win on 10 March vaulted Los Angeles from fifth to third in the highly competitive Western Conference.
As the 32-year-old reviewed the box score, his physical exhaustion quickly morphed into a profound sense of satisfaction.
Silencing the critics
Edwards, Minnesota’s explosive 24-year-old superstar, had been comprehensively stifled by the former Defensive Player of the Year.
The Timberwolves guard managed just 14 points, going a dismal two-for-15 from the floor during the contest.
In the 23 possessions where the former Boston Celtics star guarded him, Edwards missed all five of his field goal attempts.
This defensive masterclass was a far cry from last spring, when Edwards tormented Los Angeles during a five-game playoff elimination.
A remarkable career revival
Joining the purple and gold on a discount deal, the tenacious defender was not expected to still be locking up All-Stars.
He endured a difficult recent stretch, playing just 20 games for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023-24 and 15 for the Washington Wizards the following year.
During this frustrating period, he watched his former team-mates in Boston secure an NBA championship without him.
Moreover, the experienced playmaker is lucky to even be holding a stat sheet with his right hand.
Eight years ago, a devastating, self-inflicted wound involving broken glass nearly cost the Texas native his hand entirely.
Inspiring a star-studded roster
That harrowing experience has forged a resilient attitude that he is now instilling in a talented Lakers squad.
He is relentlessly pushing team-mates LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to alter the franchise’s trajectory over the season’s final months.
Despite enduring widespread criticism regarding their inconsistency, Los Angeles now boast a renewed sense of belief.
“We’re tired of hearing people talk s—, basically,”
Smart explained regarding his team’s newfound motivation.
“I know I am. And if you’re a competitor, if you have any type of competitor in you, you’re going to be tired of that too. So you want to try to prove ’em wrong.”
Through 56 games, the revitalised guard leads his team with an impressive plus-minus rating of plus-209.