標籤: Smart

Boxing icon Roy Jones Jr believes David Benavidez may have missed a golden career opportunity if he did not make heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk his next opponent.

Last week, “The Mexican Monster” took his record to 32-0 with a sixth-round knockout of WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez. This victory was a very successful debut for Benavidez in a new weight class. This also means that he is now a three-division world champion.

The 29-year-old’s status in the game has never been higher, and he can now make his own decisions. Because he’s no longer a hunter, he’s a big-money star that other fighters are hunting. That’s why former four-division titlist Jones Jr. believes Benavidez should change divisions again, this time making the move to heavyweight.

Roy Jones: Benavidez vs. Usyk ‘one of the biggest fights of this decade’

in a new version of sports hall Podcast with fellow boxing great Andre Ward, Jones Jr. claimed that a super fight between Benavidez and Usyk would be “one of the biggest fights of this decade.” He believes Benavidez should take advantage of the opportunity and not get caught up in other fights.

“It wouldn’t be wise for David Benavidez to give Jay Opetia a chance right now because he’s hot,” Jones Jr. said.

The boxing legend explained that with the value of his name as strong as ever, Benavidez will have to seize the biggest money-making opportunities. Especially since a long-expected clash with Canelo Alvarez has eluded him.

“You can always come back and fight Opetaiya if you want. If you lost to Usyk, the Opetaiya fight is still there. If you lost to Opetaiya, the Usyk fight is over. So be smart about this thing,” he said.

There has been speculation about a Benavidez vs. Usyk bout in 2026. However, as boxing fans know, it is always difficult to get a matchup of that magnitude. Luckily, both men are very game fighters and are ready for big challenges. Which gives it a better chance of becoming a reality.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers will take the field to conclude their East Coast trip with a game against the Indiana Pacers. Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura’s injury reports for this contest list Hachimura as questionable and Smart as questionable. Here’s everything we know about Smart and Hachimura’s injuries and their game status on Wednesday against the Pacers.

Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura playing against Pacers

For the game against the Pacers, Marcus Smart is listed as questionable due to a right ankle injury. Hachimura has been named questionable with right calf soreness. Both Smart and Hachimura missed the Lakers’ last game, a loss against the Detroit Pistons that snapped the team’s nine-game winning streak. The Lakers also include Edou Thirou on the injury report, who is questionable due to knee soreness.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have several players listed on the injury report, with Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith all listed as probable with various ailments. Meanwhile, Ivica Zubac will be out of the lineup with a rib fracture.

In theory, a game against the league’s worst Pacers should give Los Angeles a good chance at a comeback, although if all of Indiana’s prospects end up playing, it’s the same core that made it to the NBA Finals last year, except, of course, the injured Tyrese Haliburton.

The Pacers recently suffered an upset on the road against the Orlando Magic, so this is definitely not a game the Lakers will want to take lightly.

Los Angeles currently sits comfortably in third place in the Western Conference and will look to end their current road trip on a high note before returning to the Crypto.com Arena this weekend.

The Los Angeles Lakers come into their matchup with the Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons with a lot of positives. They are currently on an eight-game winning streak and have enjoyed some great basketball from their offensive unit led by Luka Doncic.

However, his performance continued despite minor injury issues and the same appears to be true for the Detroit game. According to Benjamin Royer of the OC Register, both Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura are now scheduled to miss this contest, with Smart dealing with right ankle soreness and Hachimura dealing with right calf soreness. This comes on the heels of Luka Doncic’s one-game suspension that came as a result of his 16th technical foul in their recent win over the Orlando Magic.

However, it’s not only negative news for the Lakers, Maxi Kleber has been upgraded to available despite his back strain. Of course, the Pistons have their own injury concerns despite the current three-game winning streak.

Cade Cunningham suffered a ‘constricted lung’ during the Pistons’ win over the Washington Wizards and will be reevaluated in about two weeks. Marcus Sasser is out with a hip injury, while Isaiah Stewart is also recovering from a calf strain and will be out for the time being.

Nonetheless, even in Cunningham’s absence, Detroit looked comfortable in their win against the Golden State Warriors. Jalen Duren and Dennis Jenkins combined for 45 points against Golden State and will once again be expected to handle the offensive responsibilities.

The Lakers are in the middle of a six-game road trip and have won four games in a row. They have undoubtedly found their offensive rhythm with Deandre Ayton, showing a greater willingness to anchor the paint and run the floor for LA. Luka Doncic is in absolute form and is getting points with ease even on his off days.

He returned with 33 points in a win against the Orlando Magic despite going 12-30 from the field and 3-13 from the three-point zone. The Lakers’ attack will undoubtedly be tested in his absence, although they will be confident about their firepower even in the absence of the Slovenian international.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a big test coming up against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Monday, and they’ll have Luka Doncic in the lineup after his 16th technical was voided by the NBA. But the Lakers may have shortcomings elsewhere as injury reports surfaced on Sunday from key players like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura.

Both Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura were listed as questionable on the Lakers’ injury report ahead of their upcoming game against the Pistons. Smart is dealing with right ankle soreness while Hachimura has right calf soreness. In addition to Hachimura and Smart, veteran big man Maxi Kleber is also questionable against the Pistons.

Smart missed the Lakers’ win against the Chicago Bulls on March 12 due to a hip problem, and he has been dealing with minor ailments throughout the season. But Smart has been one of the team’s most important players this season, along with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

Smart has appeared in 60 games, including 53 starts, averaging a little over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 39.9 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from the 3-point line and 81.6 percent from the free-throw line. Smart’s impact goes far beyond his shooting percentage, and he has been one of the league leaders in deflections.

Coincidentally, Hachimura was taken out of the starting lineup by Smart. He has been in a reserve role since returning from a calf injury in December.

He has appeared in 59 games, including 35 starts, at a pace of just over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds with splits of 50.5 percent shooting from the field, 43.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 75.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Lakers have won nine consecutive games against the top team in the Eastern Conference. They are currently the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings, and a full three games ahead of the No. 4 Houston Rockets.

洛杉矶——休赛期期间，洛杉矶湖人队签下马库斯·斯玛特可能不是自由球员市场上最大的举动，但随着常规赛最后阶段的临近，这绝对是最具影响力的举动之一。只要问问湖人队队友杰克·拉拉维亚就知道了。拉拉维亚第一次与斯玛特一起回归孟菲斯灰熊队，作为新秀，他可以立即看出斯玛特对球队的价值。

在拥有卢卡·东契奇、勒布朗·詹姆斯和奥斯汀·里维斯的球队中，马库斯·斯马特有理由成为湖人队第四好的球员。根据杰克·拉拉维亚的说法，斯玛特打篮球的方式往往会渗透到球队的其他成员身上。

“我已经谈了很多斯玛特对我和我的防守之旅的影响。当我在孟菲斯时，他是一个非常直言不讳的领导者，帮助我跳入防守角色，”拉拉维亚在最近的湖人训练中说道。 “当我第一次进入联盟时，这并不是我真正擅长的。他帮助了我很多，让我在防守上变得更好，并且非常直言不讳。

“很明显，他把这一点带到了这里，以及他所在的每支球队。他的声音、他带来的能量，然后这是一种连锁反应。这会影响到所有其他球员。当他这样做时，我们都想努力打球。”

斯玛特在湖人队最近的几场重大胜利中发挥了重要作用。 3月8日，在战胜纽约尼克斯队的比赛中，斯马特的投篮命中率仅为10投1中。但赛后，由于他整场比赛的防守破坏和强度，他被主教练 JJ Redick 点名批评。尽管只投中一球，他最终还是打出了+27的成绩。

紧接着，在对阵明尼苏达森林狼队的比赛中，斯马特在防守安东尼·爱德华兹的回合中，让安东尼·爱德华兹的投篮命中率为5投0中。爱德华兹全场15投2中。那场比赛斯玛特的三分球只有 4 投 1 中，但你很难找到任何人相信他对比赛没有产生影响。

斯玛特产生重大影响的一个领域是进攻犯规。据《Basketball Reference》报道，他目前以 36 次进攻犯规领先湖人队。正如拉拉维亚所说，这产生了连锁反应，奥斯汀·里夫斯（34 岁）和卢卡·东契奇（18 岁）等球员也加入了这一行列。

斯玛特带来了湖人队上赛季所缺乏的东西；这是真正的进攻点防守者，可以在不得分的情况下影响比赛。虽然没有人认为湖人队会得到这位赢得 2021-22 年度最佳防守球员奖的球员，但他也产生了类似的影响。随着NBA季后赛的临近，看看斯玛特扮演的角色有多大将会很有趣。

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers’ signing of Marcus Smart may not have been the biggest move in free agency during the offseason, but with the final stretch of the regular season approaching, it has certainly been one of the most impressive. Just ask Lakers teammate Jake Laravia. Laravia first played with Smart at running back with the Memphis Grizzlies, and as a rookie, he could immediately tell Smart’s value to a team.

On a team with Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves, it can be claimed that Marcus Smart has been the Lakers’ fourth-best player. According to Jake Laravia, the way Smart goes about playing basketball rubs off on the rest of the team.

“I’ve talked a lot about Smart’s impact on me and my journey with defense. He was a very vocal leader when I was at Memphis, so that helped me jump into that defensive role,” Laravia said during a recent Lakers practice. “When I first came into the league, I wasn’t really good at it. He helped me a lot in getting better at defense and being very vocal with it.

“And then obviously, he brings it here, and whatever team he’s on. How vocal he is, how much energy he brings and then it’s kind of an impact. It rubs off on all the other players. When he does that we all want to play harder.”

Smart has made an impact in some big recent wins for the Lakers. In a win against the New York Knicks on March 8, Smart shot only 1 of 10 from the field. But after the game, head coach JJ Redick benched him due to defensive interference and intensity throughout the game. He was plus-27 despite making only one shot.

Shortly thereafter, in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Smart held Anthony Edwards to 0-of-5 shooting from the field where he had guarded Edwards. Edwards made 2 of 15 shots overall. Smart was only 1 of 4 from 3-point range in that game, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who believes he had no impact on the game.

One area where Smart has had a big impact is drawing offensive fouls. According to Basketball Reference, he currently leads the Lakers in offensive fouls with 36. As Laravia says, this has had a widespread impact, with players like Austin Reeves (34) and Luka Doncic (18) also getting in on the action.

Smart brings something that the Lakers lacked last season; This is a true point of attack defender who can impact the game without scoring a single point. While no one thought the Lakers were getting the player who won the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year award, he has had the same impact. With the NBA playoffs approaching, it will be interesting to see how important a role Smart plays.

When the Los Angeles Lakers signed free agent Marcus Smart over the summer, they were determined to prove he could still compete for a championship contender. And while his team hasn’t been consistent enough this season to earn that label, Smart and the Lakers have the third-best record in the Western Conference standings. Marcus knows he is fortunate to still have an NBA career.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, after helping the Lakers earn a 127-125 overtime win against the Denver Nuggets, Smart reflected on his 2022 injury that resulted in him nearly losing his right arm.

“I was taken to the ER and lost a lot of blood,” Smart told ESPN. “I passed out. …That’s how I lost a lot.”

Smart, who missed the game-winning shot against the Lakers during his time with the Boston Celtics in 2018, regained consciousness after receiving 20 stitches.

“The doctor looked me in the eyes and told me, ‘I don’t know how you still use your right hand,'” Smart said. “‘You should thank God sincerely every day.'” The piece of glass that had cut into his hand was just millimeters away from ceasing its use completely.

“They said it fit perfectly between every tendon in my hand without causing any damage,” Smart said. “And they had to leave the extra piece in, because they said it would cause more damage if we took it out.”

That piece of glass is still in Smart’s right hand.

“For six years after the incident with the glass, I still had the glass in my hand and I used to play with it. And there were times when my hand would go numb because of it. Many times, in many games, I couldn’t control it. I had to play and there were times when I was shooting the ball and just, I had no feeling in the arm, in the hand.”

Still, the 32-year-old Smart can impact wins at a high level, which he proved by finishing with 21 points and five steals against the Nuggets.

Marcus Smart criticizes Lakers haters

Lakers veteran Marcus Smart hasn’t let the haters stop him. Reflecting on the most horrific injury of his career, Smart had time to reflect on those who do not consider the Lakers a legitimate threat to win a title.

“Basically, we’re tired of listening to people,” Smart said. “I know I am. And if you’re competitive, if you have any kind of competitor in you, you’re going to get tired of that too. So you want to try to prove them wrong.”

The Lakers beat the Rockets 100-92 on Monday, extending their winning streak to six.

Recently, Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart raised eyebrows when he claimed he was pressured to return to the lineup prematurely while he was injured during his stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. Smart was a member of the Grizzlies for two seasons before joining the Washington Wizards and then the Lakers.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Smart said, “I wanted to be 100%, give it everything I got.” “As I’m still working out and getting ready, they’re just like, ‘No, your doctor said you’re ready now.’ And I’m like, ‘I hear what my doctor said, but… this is how I feel.’ Yes, the finger is fine after surgery. But physically, no.”

Now, McMenamin reports that “when contacted by ESPN about Smart’s claims, the Grizzlies had no comment.”

If those claims prove true, it certainly wouldn’t look good for the Grizzlies and their medical staff, although Smart acknowledged that the finger was fine from a surgical standpoint.

The Grizzlies are in full-on tank mode at the moment, having recently removed their starters from a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter to ensure a loss, and many believe the team will once again explore trade scenarios for point guard Ja Morant this summer after they sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline.

Meanwhile, Smart has fit in well with the Lakers, who are currently on a six-game winning streak, having defeated the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

It remains to be seen if the Grizzlies will ever break their silence on Smart’s claims, but for now, this doesn’t bode too well for the franchise.

The Los Angeles Lakers not only beat the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night; He defeated them. While Luka Doncic made headlines with his game-winning block, the Lakers had that edge thanks to the high-IQ game of Austin Reaves and some veteran guidance from Marcus Smart.

With the game hanging in the balance, Reeves found himself at the charity stripe. Instead of the usual routine, Smart pulled the young guard aside with some very specific instructions.

“I told him to miss it,” Smart explained after the 127-125 overtime win. “I said listen, don’t go out there, don’t do your routine. As soon as you get the ball, one dribble if anything, but shoot it quickly. Nobody’s expecting it, they’re not going to have time to time it.”

“He read one side well.”

Marcus Smart on Austin Reeves’ heads-up play at the free throw line

(via @SpectrumSN)pic.twitter.com/uKBo2vbZXS

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 15 March 2026

Reeves executed the plan to perfection. He deliberately suppressed free throws, caught the Nuggets off guard, and “read the single side” forcing the Los Angeles Lakers to tie the game and force overtime. It was the kind of savvy play that doesn’t always show up in the box score but wins games against elite competition like Denver.

The game capped a great night for Reeves, who led all scorers with 32 points on an efficient shooting performance of 12-of-21. His backcourt partner, Smart, was equally important, providing 21 points and five steals while serving as a defensive orchestrator. Their combined efforts supported Doncic’s 30-point triple-double and helped neutralize Nikola Jokic’s 24-point, 16-rebound masterclass.

For head coach JJ Redick, it’s a dream to see his veteran leader and rising star collaborate on such a nuanced game. The Lakers are proving they have more than just star power; He has the situational awareness needed to grind out tough matches against the best players in the West.

When the Los Angeles Lakers’ injury report came out for their game against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, veteran guard Marcus Smart had a surprising addition. Smart played just 31 minutes, providing his usual energy and intensity in the team’s win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Marcus Smart was originally listed as questionable for the Lakers’ game against the Bulls, then ruled out just hours before tip-off. Before the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that Smart had been dealing with a hip injury for the past few games, and the team wanted him to get some rest before another abbreviated stretch of the schedule, according to Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The LA Times.

Redick also mentioned that the team is hoping Smart can make his return to the lineup for the Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. This is the team’s last home game before embarking on a six-game road trip.

Smart has been one of the Lakers’ most impactful players this season after signing a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards over the summer. While Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves are the team’s top players, it can be argued that Smart is the Lakers’ fourth-best player in terms of overall impact.

Although he began the season on the bench, Smart moved into the starting lineup when Reeves was sidelined with injury. Upon his return, Smart remained among the starting players with Rui Hachimura moving to the bench.

Smart has appeared in 55 games this season, including 48 starts, averaging a little over 28 minutes per game. He averaged 9.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 39.9 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from the 3-point line and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Although Smart’s shooting efficiency hasn’t been great, his statistics don’t tell the whole story. During the Lakers’ win against the New York Knicks last Sunday, Smart shot just 1 of 10 from the field, but the Lakers were clearly excited by his defensive intensity and overall toughness.

After the win against the Knicks again, Redick explained how Smart’s impact was not measured in shots made or missed.

“Smart was 1-of-10 and plus-27. He had a really, really impressive game,” Redick said. “I think by the end of the third quarter, we had a comfortable lead, but when we turned the ball over at the end of the quarter, it saved two points. [Jordan] “Clarkson has to pass it.”

The Lakers will certainly hope Smart is back in the lineup when they face off against the Nuggets on Saturday, a big game with potential playoff seeding on the line.

The Los Angeles Lakers took care of business against the New York Knicks on Sunday despite missing LeBron James due to left elbow and left foot injuries.

The Lakers won a hard-fought 110–97 victory and improved to 39–25. The Knicks were held under 100 points for only the second time in 13 games, underscoring the Lakers’ commitment to defense.

Marcus Smart expressed the Purple and Gold’s determination against New York. Although he shot poorly with 1 of 10 field goals, including 0 of 5 from three-point range, he was weak on defense.

Spectrum Sportsnet’s Mike Bresnahan stressed that Smart’s value may not be easily seen, but he can set the tone even without scoring. he registered a game-high plus-27 Despite only making one basket vs. the Knicks.

“Marcus Smart, 1 of 10, I don’t even care about that. (Especially) when you’re plus-27 despite a terrible shooting night,” Bresnahan said.

“There was a lot of aggressiveness on his part, and that’s why the Lakers went out and got him. They needed that toughness on the perimeter.”

Marcus Smart sets the tone defensively in win over Knicks, finishing at +27 🔒@Mike_Bresnahan ‘Access Sportsnet: Breaks Down His Impact on the Lakers’. pic.twitter.com/O8eoeYXjJx

– Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) 10 March 2026

The 32-year-old Smart, who also had three rebounds, four assists and two steals, faced criticism for attempting back-to-back three-pointers instead of passing the ball to James or Luka Doncic during a key stretch in Thursday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets.

However, Smart never lacks confidence, even in pressure-filled moments. Bresnahan said the former Defensive Player of the Year has regained his feeling with the Lakers.

“He’s healthy, and I’ll keep saying that because I think he’s been good for years. We didn’t get to see that the last two years. He was working hard in Memphis (Grizzlies), and then he got traded to the (Washington) Wizards,” Bresnahan said.

“It’s good to see him healthy and playing like the old Marcus Smart on defense.”

The Lakers signed Smart to a two-year, $11 million contract in the offseason. He had a slow start, but has since carved out a regular starting role due to his overall impact.

It was a tough night for the Los Angeles Lakers as they lost to the Denver Nuggets 120-113 with DeAndre Ayton out with a knee injury. Before the injury, Ayton had received criticism from fans for his effort on the court. Marcus Smart discusses the criticism and talks about Ayton’s play.

“I know he’s been getting a lot of feedback lately for his effort and his play. He understands it. I know it might not seem like it, but he does and he wants to do well and he wants to help this team” – Marcus Smart on DeAndre Ayton pic.twitter.com/Sw8UGm30rz

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 6 March 2026

Smart was referring to both the injury and earlier criticism. The Lakers struggled to keep up with the Nuggets, and Ayton was unable to stay on the court, playing only four minutes. The good news right now is that Ayton’s injury isn’t serious, but that hasn’t diminished the comments about his overall effort.

Ayton faced some controversy recently due to comments he made about not wanting to be Clint Capela. He made these comments specifically referring to his role with the Lakers. Even Capela clapped back for Ayton’s comment, which set off a league-wide frenzy of players and fans at the Lakers Center.

Ayton is currently averaging 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 66.7% from the floor. These numbers are lower than his previous statistics with other teams, as he has surpassed LeBron James, Austin Reeves, and Luka Doncic. Many in the league are encouraging Ayton to accept this role and help the Lakers in any way he can.

Only time will tell if Ayton can accept this role and adapt to his situation with the Lakers. With the Lakers currently sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference, they will need everyone to do their part to have a chance to climb out of the scary Western Conference.

LOS ANGELES – Former Boston Celtics legend and current Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has a unique perspective. He is one of 42 players to wear the green and white And Purple and gold in his NBA career. He is one of the few players to play for and against Celtics head coach Joe Majulla.

That potential inside information didn’t help the Lakers when they hosted the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, as Boston left L.A. with an emphatic 111-89 win over its hated rival. However, this helped Smart come to a conclusion that others eventually began to understand as well: Mazzulla is one of the top minds in the association.

“Joe’s a great coach,” Smart said in the locker room before the second meeting of the season between the Celtics and Lakers. “And he’s been on the team, he’s watched these teams in the past, and he’s had a chance to take notes from there and make his adjustments. So, Joe is doing a really good job.”

Before Mazzulla was a head coach winning a ring and multiple 60-plus seasons, he was an assistant coach with the Celtics. And while he was largely unknown in the basketball world before Green became the team’s head coach in 2022, Smart isn’t surprised by what he’s been able to accomplish in Boston, especially this season when the Celtics were expected to struggle without star forward Jayson Tatum.

“I mean, for me personally, I’m not surprised,” Smart said. “They’ve got a lot of great players there. These guys have been playing together for a while… I definitely think they’re doing what I expected them to do, but it’s fun to watch.”

Smart’s comments came shortly after the Celtics continued their winning ways, completing a season sweep of the Lakers for the first time since the 2022–23 campaign (Smart’s final season with the C’s) and holding their historical foes to their worst offensive output of 2026.

After the 22-point win, the Celtics are 37–19 overall, an impressive 19–10 on the road, and in second place in the Eastern Conference. What they’ve been able to do with Tatum’s rehabilitation from a torn Achilles and several starters missing last season is quite impressive.

What JJ Redick had to say about Joe Mazzulla’s ‘phenomenal’ season

Even Lakers head coach JJ Redick said as much, pointing to Mazzulla’s role in the success.

“I think that’s what — there’s a handful of coaches that I think are doing tier-one jobs this year,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “And whoever is in that group of coaches is really doing a phenomenal job.”

JJ Redick on the job that Joe Mazzulla has done with the Celtics this season:

“I think what is — I think there are some coaches who are doing a tier-one job this year. And Joe is in that group of coaches, he’s really doing a phenomenal job.” pic.twitter.com/1c66auE6A1

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

While Smart and Redick, whom Mazzulla tried to hire in Boston several times, both share a relationship with the Celtics captain, their admiration is genuine and not tainted by a personal relationship. They’re just two basketball experts who have an understanding of why Mazzulla is a candidate for true Coach of the Year.

But, in Mazzulla’s mind, the Celtics haven’t accomplished much.

When asked how to summarize the Celtics’ 2025–26 season, he said after the game, “The story isn’t done yet.” “We’re just a result of what we do yesterday and what we do the next day…We haven’t done anything. All we’ve done is stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor.”

Joe Mazzulla asked if he was angry, tired or pleased by the praise the Celtics received for their extreme accomplishments:

“Season’s 82 not 55… You can’t get stuck in what you’ve done in the past, whether it was good or bad.” pic.twitter.com/9lOWZNxzhg

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 22 February 2026

The next chapter in the Celtics’ unfinished story will feature Tuesday night’s showdown with the Phoenix Suns, who in some ways are Boston’s Western Conference counterpart, given their surprising 33-25 record.

As always, Mazzulla will use this matchup as an opportunity to improve regardless of the outcome.

“Don’t overreact to a good win or a bad loss and be better in the next game,” Mazzulla reiterated.

LOS ANGELES – During the Los Angeles Lakers’ 125-122 win against the LA Clippers on Friday, Marcus Smart didn’t attempt a shot until the fourth quarter. When he finally got a chance to shoot the ball, he hit some clutch shots to stop the Clippers, going 3-4 in the final period. And for Smart, getting players into their roles is vital to the Lakers’ success.

After Lakers practice on Monday, Marcus Smart acknowledged that it’s not always easy to get players to buy into roles, especially when shot attempts and playing time are involved.

“Just understanding the game. Understanding what the game requires and how the game flows. Sometimes you might get a shot, maybe not. You might get more shots than last night, Smart said. “And in minutes, you might get more minutes than last night, you might not. It just depends on the game.”

“And it sucks sometimes because we’re competitive,” Smart added. “We want to win and we want to always be there to help our team. But you have to take advantage of whatever the game requires and understand what the game is giving you.”

Without Smart’s contributions, the Lakers cannot win that game against the Clippers. And before the team’s game against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked about the sacrifices Smart has made as the fifth starter who won’t necessarily get as many shots playing with other starters.

“I think it’s important to embrace how smart it is,” Redick said. “I think it’s all on the line for all of our guys, in some ways, we’re going back to free agency stuff and having a lot of guys with uncertain futures, I think that’s something we’re going to have to deal with all season. But it’s on the line, we just have to play the game. The game will dictate how many shots you get.”

Smart was one of the Lakers’ major free agent acquisitions in the offseason. He signed a two-year contract that includes a player option for the next season. He has appeared in 46 games, including 39 starts, at a pace of just over 28 minutes per game.

He averaged 9.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 39.8 percent shooting from the field, 32.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Now that the Lakers have a solid full rotation, Redick appears to have settled on Smart as the eventual starter alongside LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.

For Lakers guard Marcus Smart, the best is yet to come for his team, as he offered an optimistic outlook in practice on Monday. While coach JJ Redick took responsibility for the Lakers’ offensive shortcomings, Smart identified the bigger picture for Los Angeles.

Smart believes in the Lakers have enough talent According to Khobi Price of the California Post, he said, he is looking to reach his full potential, and he is confident he will find his stride between now and the end of the regular season.

“We’re good. The talent is there, we have the pieces. It’s just netting them. We’re not healthy, which is a big part when you’re trying to get the pieces to the net. You have to stay healthy. Different lineups in the game, but I think it’s going to help us in the long run because we’ve got to see different lineups — guys in different spots and different roles that they’re not used to. We definitely have some work to do.

“Everyone knows that. But we’re hanging in there. The goal is to have everyone in this league coming in at the right time, and getting ready to play the best basketball you can play.”

Marcus Smart explained how good the Lakers are and how close the group is to its best version: “We’re good. The talent is there, we have the pieces. It’s just netting them. We haven’t been healthy, which is a big part when you’re trying to net the pieces.” pic.twitter.com/2xlR7CE262

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026

Marcus Smart and the Lakers scored a season-low 89 points in their blowout loss to the Boston Celtics (111-89) on Sunday.

JJ Redick takes responsibility for Lakers’ offensive shortcomings

Blamed head coach JJ Redick for the Lakers’ inability to find their offensive rhythm in a 22-point loss to the Celtics. After Lakers forward Rui Hachimura discussed his failed offense, Redick took responsibility.

As for the Lakers head coach, he has to prepare his team to be ready to take on an elite defense like the Celtics, as Redick said, he failed to do soAs noted by Khobi Price of the California Post.

“When teams play deep drops, we have our counters, and we just got there [execute],” Reddick said. “I took ownership of it. We have our counters for deep decline. We have to do a better job…we noticed that today. Our lowest potential assist games are against deep downs, so I have to do a better job.

JJ Redick’s response when asked about the Lakers’ ball movement, and whether the lack of it makes them more predictable on defense:

“When teams play deep drops, we have our counters and we just get [execute]…I took ownership of it. We have our counters for depth… pic.twitter.com/wwfRZ1OAXl

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026

The Lakers will host the Magic on Tuesday.