Marcus Smart Setting The Tone For The Lakers' Physical Play - Beritaja

Marcus Smart picking up 4 fouls successful 12 first-half minutes wasn’t the scheme Tuesday, but the Lakers defender still saw a intent down the maddening calls.

For a squad that signed the 31-year-old defender successful ample portion for his tenacity, having Smart group the modular of physicality was the correct measurement to commencement a season, moreover if the season-opening consequence went the incorrect way for the Lakers.

“The toughest team,” Smart said, “sets the rules.”

“I’ve been successful this convention for 12 years and that’s ever been the motto,” the erstwhile NBA protect subordinate of the twelvemonth continued. “You spot it. The squad that comes retired much physical, the momentum is benignant of going their way, and that’s really it is. We want to beryllium the toughest squad from commencement to the end.”

Now against the squad that bullied them retired of the playoffs past year, the Lakers get to trial their toughness connected Friday astatine 7 p.m. astatine Crypto.com Arena successful a rematch of past year’s first-round series.

Film from past year’s five-game bid against the Minnesota Timberwolves has been rolling successful beforehand of coach JJ Redick for days arsenic he fell down a heavy rabbit spread preparing for the game. The clips aren’t needed to punctual a revenge storyline, Redick said, but could thief create a different type of information for a squad that’s trying to break successful 3 offseason additions.

“After Game 1, our guys played truthful hard,” Redick said. “And this group has to build a wont of playing that difficult each azygous night.”

The Timberwolves (1-0) are still built about the brilliance of 26-year-old prima defender Anthony Edwards and the magnitude and physicality of station players Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid. The Lakers — without prima LeBron James (sciatica) — are trying to build chemistry backmost up pinch Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves while incorporating free supplier signings Smart, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia.

Some connections betwixt Ayton and his guards went awry successful the opener that featured 20 Lakers turnovers successful the nonaccomplishment to the Golden State Warriors. Building chemistry some offensively and defensively will hap people complete the season, Reaves stressed, and can’t needfully beryllium rushed.

Smart has been tasked pinch being a superior communicator connected defense, on pinch Ayton and defender Gabe Vincent. The domiciled suits the seasoned defender who has go a large sound successful the locker room contempt only arriving this season. With some his vocal activity and his tenacious effort connected the tribunal — diving for loose balls and stepping up successful hopes of drafting violative fouls — Smart said he wants to group an illustration for the Lakers against moreover the about beingness teams successful the league.

“There’s a will, there’s ever a way,” Smart said. “And successful the crippled of basketball, there’s a batch of will, truthful there’s a batch of ways. We conscionable sewage to fig retired which 1 useful for us.”

Edwards is coming disconnected a spectacular 41-point play debut successful the Timberwolves’ 118-114 triumph complete the Portland Trail Blazers. He not only scored the about points successful franchise history for a play opener but did truthful while shooting 50% from the section (14 for 28) and battling backmost spasms that made him questionable entering the game.

Lakers defender Marcus Smart throws his arms overhead arsenic he reacts aft a missed telephone successful the 2nd 4th of the crippled against the Warriors connected Tuesday astatine Crypto.com Arena.

(Harry How / Getty Images)

The 24-year-old three-time All-Star is coming disconnected a career-high 27.6 points per crippled past twelvemonth aft starring the Timberwolves to their 2nd consecutive quality successful the Western Conference finals.

“He’s a reliable changeable maker, shifty, he’s athletic,” LaRavia said, “so you benignant of conscionable person to make everything difficult for him, beryllium beingness pinch him. ... At the extremity of the day, he’s going to make shots, because that’s what he’s paid to do, and we’ve conscionable sewage to do our champion to not fto that happen.”

Austin Reaves battling done ankle injury

Reaves was a modified subordinate successful believe Thursday aft he “tweaked” his ankle successful Tuesday’s game, Redick said. Reaves, who had 26 points and 9 assists against the Warriors, was held retired of unrecorded play. Redick said the guard’s readiness will travel down to really Reaves feels up of Friday’s game.

“I cognize Austin,” Redick said, “I’m going to expect him to play.”

Doncic was a afloat subordinate successful believe Thursday aft he appeared to suffer a groin wounded during Tuesday’s play opener. The guard, coming disconnected a 43-point performance, downplayed immoderate wounded instantly aft the game.