Marcus Smart Says Rockets Will Try to 'Punk Us,' Explains How Lakers Need to Respond in NBA Playoffs

For much of their storied history, the Los Angeles Lakers have been the franchise of headline superstars, fast breaks and aesthetically pleasing styles of play.

But, to hear Marcus Smart tell it, they will have to be the grittier team with "the most heart" if they are going to defeat the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.

"They're going to try to come in and punk us," Smart told reporters Tuesday. "And if you will allow that, you will be punked. And I don't think we have any guys that are going to be punked on this team. So, we might not be the most athletic and strongest, but we got to have the most heart."

If the Lakers were fully healthy, they would likely be seen as the favorites in this series.

Yet they are anything but fully healthy.

Both Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) are sidelined for the start of the series against Houston. Head coach JJ Redick told reporters Tuesday that they are both out "indefinitely" and that he's "not going to have an update for you this week."

Redick's comments came after ESPN's Shams Charania reported both players were expected to miss the start of the series against the Rockets even though Dončić was returning after receiving treatment in Spain:

Simply put, the Lakers are facing long odds to advance against the Rockets with Reaves and especially Dončić sidelined.

Even if they play with the heart Smart advocated for, it is asking a lot of the 41-year-old LeBron James to be the go-to option in the offense at this point of his career. Of course, he is also an all-time great who notched double-doubles with points and assists in six of his final 12 games during the regular season as he assumed a larger role.

If the supporting cast takes advantage of open looks and plays formidable defense on the other end, perhaps Los Angeles can rally around James for a first-round win. 

But it will take quite the effort.