Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (36) dribbles the ball against the Utah Jazz in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Marcus Smart vows Lakers won't get punked by Rockets in playoffs

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Apr 15, 2026 7:55 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the NBA playoffs on fumes, and they know it.

After putting together their best win total in 15 years this season, the Lakers now face the Houston Rockets in the first round without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

That's a massive hole to fill, and around the league, most people aren't giving Los Angeles much of a shot to get through it.

Marcus Smart reveals Lakers’ mindset entering tough Rockets playoff series

Marcus Smart isn't buying into that narrative. He believes the Lakers can survive the early punch if they match Houston's intensity from the opening tip and refuse to back down, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

"They're going to try to come in and punk us. 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."

“They’re going to try to come in and punk us. 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” - Marcus Smart on HOU pic.twitter.com/tpiG1bImBu
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 14, 2026

That's easier said than done. Doncic and Reaves combined for nearly 57 points per game and handled more than half of the team's assists. Replacing that kind of production isn't just difficult. It reshapes everything about how Los Angeles operates on offense.

Houston has its own issues to deal with. The Rockets struggle with late-game execution, and without a true point guard, their offense can stall when it matters most. The talent gap is real, but it doesn't make them bulletproof.

The Lakers led the league in clutch situations this season, but that number means a lot less without their two primary scorers on the floor.

It falls on LeBron James to hold things together and keep this series from getting away early. Heart only goes so far. But right now, it's what the Lakers have.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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