Nick Smith Jr. is welcome for the Lakers

« I told the boys before the game, ‘We have enough resources in this dressing room to win this game.’ » If only he knew his Lakers had the means for that take it to portlanddespite the combined absences of Luka Doncic, Austin Reeves and LeBron James, JJ Redick may not have known who would take over.

In this case, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura responded with 29 and 28 points, respectively. But the surprise of the night for the Lakers came from a much less expected player: Nick Smith Jr.

« I thought DA and Rui were great offensively for us all night, but Nick Smith took control of the game in the second half. We needed his ball handling and movement tonight. Honestly, it was a perfect match for him », summarizes the coach.

Perfect in the sense that he managed to make his “ little five », is constantly changing on the screens. “ When you play a matchup like that, you start to wonder if you can beat your defender one-on-one. When our guys stopped playing the pick-and-roll early in the game and said, ‘I’m just going to beat my man, create a lead and we’ll play from there,’ we were able to do that a couple of times in the second half. »

His analysis is especially true of his backup point guard who spent his evening beating Jrue Holiday and other Blazers defenders to make his shot on the perimeter.

“My teammates didn’t really know who I was”

« I knew from watching the video, seeing what he was going to give me tonight, I just had to go out there and execute. Especially if they play ‘drop’ (a ‘lid’ with an interior that floats over the head of the racquet to allow access to the circle) 48 minutes, we have to shoot threes, or other guys can penetrate and create openings », free Nick Smith Jrholder of a modest “two-way contract” and tiptoed to Los Angeles after being cut by the Hornets in September.

A “media day” with the Lakers, ” my teammates didn’t really know who I was “, reports the 21-year-old player. After a match like this, his partners are less likely to miss out. In 27 minutes off the bench, he scored 25 points (10/15 on shots including 5/6 from distance) with 6 assists (3 turnovers). A few units shy of his career best of 28 units.

This performance means a lot. I am happy to be in this position. I have a good group around me, a good technical staff. I study every day. My teammates want me to be myself. »

« I can’t really put myself in the shoes of someone who has a two-way contract. There were times at the beginning of my career when you get called and you have to perform. And honestly, I have a lot of empathy for a guy who finds himself in this situation and has to react in order for us to have a chance to win. And he was amazing. Really very brave, very mentally strong to come and do this tonight », term JJ Redick.

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How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.