The Los Angeles Lakers have quietly set the wheels in motion for the second unit to unlock the team's dreams of winning a championship. The starting lineup is loaded with offensive talent, while the bench is built to defend at an elite level.
The driving force behind the bench's promising potential is the two-man lineup acting as Los Angeles' secret weapon: Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent.
Smart and Vincent have played limited minutes alongside one another, particularly due to the latter missing 11 of the Lakers' 15 games. During the time they've shared on the court, however, Los Angeles has stifled opponents in an unfathomable manner.
In 20 minutes together on the court, Smart and Vincent have helped the Lakers [produce a net rating](https://databallr.com/wowy/LAL/2026/2026/regular/high/2man/1629216/203935) of plus-32.3 and a defensive rating of 91.1.
The limited sample size must be acknowledged, but the early results are undoubtedly fascinating to evaluate. The net rating will decrease and the defense rating will rise over time to sustainable levels, but Smart and Vincent have the attributes to sustain the positive nature of their success.
As two high-level defenders with postseason experience and matchup versatility, Smart and Vincent are the secret weapon that could make the Lakers' title dreams realistic.
Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent hold key to Lakers realizing title dreams
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Los Angeles' top two guards are among the best offensive players in the NBA: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic is a perennial MVP candidate with five All-NBA First Team selections and a scoring title, while Reaves is in the midst of a career year at 28.1 points and 7.6 assists per game.
If there's one area in which the Lakers' versatile star guards struggle, however, it's with defending high-level scorers, playmakers, and shooters.
That's where Smart and Vincent come into play. Smart is a former Defensive Player of the Year proving he still has quite a bit left in the tank in 2025-26, while Vincent is heralded as a committed and versatile defender who's willing and able to take on tough assignments.
Their ability to not only accept the task of prioritizing defense above all else, but the results they produce will play a direct role in Los Angeles' ability to compete with the top teams in the NBA.
Contenders such as the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder rely heavily on star guards with proven postseason track records. If Doncic and Reaves hope to win those battles, defense will become an unavoidable factor.
Thankfully, both Smart and Vincent have the ability to play minutes in relief of and alongside them—results that are already on display for all to see.
Doncic, Reaves, and Smart are outscoring opponents by 26.8 points per 100 possessions across 104 minutes played as a three-man lineup, per [databallr's WOWY lineup data](https://databallr.com/wowy/LAL/2026/2026/regular/high/3man/203935). The trio of Doncic, Reaves, and Vincent has been less effective, but in time, that could change. If not, Smart and Vincent are an overwhelming duo together.
It may not be the secret weapon that most expected to be the key to helping the Lakers become true contenders, but a veteran duo of defenders is quietly emerging as the ultimate X-Factor.