Marcus Smart injury update, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Cup, Lakers vs. Spurs
Getty
The Los Angeles Lakers have been without defensive ace Marcus Smart for the past six games as they prepare for an NBA Cup game vs. the Spurs.
The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with their fair share of injuries and missed time through the first quarter of the NBA season. Marcus Smart is one of those players who has been out, but a recent injury update on the guard is a great sign for the Lakers.
According to Mike Trudell of Spectrum Sports, Smart said heis planning on suiting up for theLakers’NBA Cup quarterfinal game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Mike Trudell
Marcus Smart said he’s planning to play Wednesday vs. San Antonio after missing the previous six games:
“Back is feeling good. Felt good in practice today … I’m gonna give it a shot tomorrow and see how it feels.”
“Marcus Smart saidhe’s planning to play Wednesday vs. San Antonio after missing the previous six games,”the insider wrote in a post on X, then quoting the defensive guard. “‘Back is feeling good. Felt good in practice today… I’m gonna give it a shot tomorrow and see how it feels.‘”
Smart has been out for more than two weeks after having back spasms.In 14 total appearancesfor the Lakers this season, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 stealson 40.8%shooting.
Marcus Smart Injury Update
Smart was one of LosAngeles’ notable additions over the offseason, a group that also included Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia. He came in as a defensive specialist for a team that has struggled on that end of the floor, especially on the perimeter, for the past few years.
Neither James, Luka Doncic, nor Austin Reaves is known for their lockdown abilities, so Smart arrived for what the team hoped would be an increased presence guarding other top backcourt players.
Whilehe’s been solid,Smart’s absencehasn’t drastically changed theLakers’ winning ways, asthey’ve gone 4-2 sincehe’s been out, thoughthere have been some subpar defensive performancesfrom the team as a whole.
But now, Smart is set to return.Los Angeles took a cautious approach to his recovery, considering what they went through with James, andwouldn’t want to lose one of their main contributors to an injury that mightjust beout of their control.
“Smart has been out for six games due to this back-related issue,”Edwin Garcia wrote for Silver Screen and Roll. “The injury has been labeled as a left lumbar strain, lower back injury management, and back spasms over that span.”
BronMuse
BREAKING: Marcus smart will play Wednesday vs the Spurs. (Via @mcten)
WE ARE SO BACK 🔥🔥🔥
The Lakers rank 21st in defensive rating through 23 games, so the hope is thatby gettingback Smart for their NBA Cup game against the Spurs,he’ll provide some much-needed help against the seventh-best offense in the league.
Lakers Vs. Spurs In The NBA Cup Quarterfinals
With areturnfrom Smart, the Lakers will be fully healthy for only the second game this year. That is not the case for the Spurs, as they are still without franchise star Victor Wembanyama. He has been out for multiple weeks with a calf injury, andisn’t expected to play, a good sign for the Los Angeles.
Despite being without their star, San Antonio has had a strong run led by Stephon Castle,De’Aaron Fox, and a deep supporting cast. Both of them have also missed time, but the Spurs rank ninth in net rating and sit fifth in the West at 16-7, whichisn’t bad considering their star has been out for nearly half of those games.
For Los Angeles, despite two recent losses,they’ve been one of the hottest teams in the NBA. James remains a streaky scorer, but is coming off his best game of the year against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Doncic and Reaves have also been All-Star, even All-NBA offensive threats this year, and along with the recent rise of Ayton, they sit second in the West, only behind the defending champions.
With the matchupbeing an NBA Cup game,with money on the line, a player like Smart returning to add some defensive intensity and intensity all-around will be crucial for a more veteran Lakers team going up against a young and hungry Spurs squad.