Marcus Smart's biggest impact on the Lakers may not be his defense

The Los Angeles Lakers sought more than just a defender this offseason; they needed an emotional spark characterized by intensity, urgency, and an edge, qualities Marcus Smart is identified as perfectly providing.

Smart's credentials, including Defensive Player of the Year, deep playoff experience, and multiple All-Defensive Team selections, establish him as one of the league's toughest competitors. However, his primary value to the Lakers is expected to be his ability to significantly raise the team's emotional intensity on the court, not just his defensive statistics.

The article emphasizes that genuine intensity cannot be coached or schemed; it's an innate trait possessed by players like Smart, who treat every possession personally. This relentless urgency, challenging teammates, energizing crowds, and actively controlling the game's flow, is precisely what the Lakers lacked despite their star power and skill.

Smart's addition is framed as a crucial shift in attitude, not just a roster fit. He consistently brings high intensity from the start of the game to the end, regardless of his playing time or the stage of the season, avoiding complacency during the regular season.

Even with age potentially affecting his quickness, Smart is noted for maintaining the same ferocious competitive fire that defined his career. The Lakers are betting that this enduring intensity can ignite a deeper level of competitiveness within the roster, particularly in games decided by energy rather than pure talent.

For a team often reliant on veteran calm and calculated stars, Smart adds a missing dimension: visible, vocal, and physical intensity. He refuses to let the game slow down. This contagious intensity, brought consistently every night, is presented as a potential key factor transforming the Lakers from a playoff team into a genuine championship contender.