Smart Sounds the Alarm After Suns Hand Lakers Another Lopsided Loss

The Los Angeles Lakers have become all too familiar with the Phoenix Suns in recent weeks, meeting three times in a span of just over 20 days. The latest chapter was the most sobering, a 132–108 defeat Tuesday night that underscored how wide the gap can feel when the Lakers’ defensive lapses pile up.

Los Angeles has gone 1–2 in the season series so far, with Phoenix consistently dictating tempo and attacking weaknesses. Each matchup has carried a playoff-like edge, but the Suns have looked more prepared for the intensity that follows the Lakers wherever they go.

Veteran guard Marcus Smart framed that reality bluntly after the loss, noting that opposing teams bring a heightened focus when they see “Lakers” across the chest. In his view, it is no longer enough to lean on analytics or past results when every night comes with a target on their backs.

The comment resonated in a locker room still searching for consistency. While injuries and rotation changes have played a role, the Lakers’ most pressing issue has been their inability to string together stops against elite offenses.

1. A Defense Under the Microscope

The 132 points allowed to Phoenix matched the second-highest total the Lakers have surrendered this season. That number had previously been set in an NBA Cup quarterfinal loss to San Antonio, another game in which defensive execution unraveled. Just days earlier, the Lakers yielded a season-high 135 points to the Utah Jazz, a troubling trend that has become harder to dismiss as a short-term blip. Opponents are scoring with ease both in transition and in half-court sets. Against Phoenix, the breakdowns were especially glaring. The Suns pushed the pace early, attacked mismatches, and forced rotations that left shooters wide open around the arc. For a team with postseason aspirations, the inability to consistently hold opponents below 120 has raised concerns. Coaches and players alike have acknowledged that improvements must come quickly, or the standings will reflect the same problems night after night.

2. Smart’s Role and Message

In the middle of that defensive turbulence, Smart has quietly been one of the Lakers’ more reliable presences. Long regarded as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders, he has brought physicality and communication to a backcourt that has often struggled to contain dribble penetration. Through 18 appearances — including 12 starts — Smart has averaged just over 27 minutes per game. His stat line sits at 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals, numbers that only partially capture his impact. His shooting splits have been mixed, with just over 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from three, but his 92.3 percent free-throw mark reflects the composure he brings in late-game moments. More than the numbers, Smart’s postgame remarks served as a reminder that reputation matters in the NBA. Wearing a Lakers jersey, he said, means every opponent is looking to make a statement, a dynamic that demands constant urgency rather than selective effort.

3. Looking Ahead on a Holiday Stage

The Lakers now return home for a Christmas Day matchup against the Houston Rockets, a nationally spotlighted game that offers a chance to reset both the mood and the narrative. The league’s holiday slate has often brought out the best in veteran teams. After Houston, Los Angeles will close out the calendar year with contests against the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons, a stretch that could provide some breathing room in the standings — if the defensive issues are addressed. Those games may also offer a clearer picture of how Smart’s leadership translates into on-court results. The Lakers have leaned on his voice in the locker room, but the next step is turning words into sustained execution. For now, the message is simple: until the Lakers prove they can defend with purpose, opponents like Phoenix will continue to see them not as a threat, but as an opportunity.