The Los Angeles Lakers just wrapped up their third matchup in as many weeks against the Phoenix Suns-and it wasn’t pretty. Tuesday night’s 132-108 loss marked the second defeat in that trio of meetings, and it wasn’t just the scoreboard that told the story. The Suns came in with energy, urgency, and the kind of edge that’s becoming a trend for teams facing the purple and gold this season.
Veteran guard Marcus Smart, who’s never been one to sugarcoat things, summed it up bluntly after the loss.
“It doesn’t matter what the percentages say, it doesn’t matter what the numbers say. You can’t go by that,” Smart said. “We got to go by understanding that we wear the ‘Lakers’ across our jersey, and everybody is coming to try to kill us.”
That’s not just tough talk-it’s a reality check. The Lakers are still one of the league’s biggest targets.
Whether they’re sitting atop the standings or fighting through a rough patch, opponents circle this game on the calendar. And lately, the Lakers haven’t exactly been answering the bell, especially on the defensive end.
Giving up 132 points to Phoenix tied the second-highest total the Lakers have allowed all season. The only game where they surrendered more?
A 135-point defensive collapse against the Utah Jazz just last week. That’s not the kind of company you want to keep if you’re a team with postseason aspirations.
The defensive issues have been glaring-rotations breaking down, communication lapses, and too many open looks for opposing shooters. The Suns didn’t just beat the Lakers; they dissected them. Ball movement, pace, spacing-it was all working for Phoenix, and the Lakers didn’t have an answer.
But amid the defensive chaos, Marcus Smart has been one of the few steady hands. Known league-wide for his perimeter defense and relentless energy, Smart’s presence has added grit to a team that’s needed it. He’s the kind of player who sets a tone, even when the results don’t show up in the win column.
Through 18 games this season-12 of them starts-Smart’s been logging just over 27 minutes per night. He’s averaging 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
The shooting numbers? Not lights-out-40.3% from the field and 30% from deep-but his 92.3% from the free-throw line speaks to his focus when it counts.
And on defense, he’s still doing the little things: fighting over screens, diving for loose balls, and taking on the toughest perimeter assignments.
The Lakers don’t just need more of that-they need it across the board.
This stretch has exposed some real concerns, especially with how easily teams are scoring. And while Smart’s mentality is exactly what you want in the locker room, it’s going to take more than one guy bringing the fire. The Lakers have a loaded schedule ahead, and the margin for error is shrinking.
Next up? A Christmas Day clash at home against the Houston Rockets-a team that’s young, athletic, and not afraid to run.
After that, the Lakers close out 2025 with matchups against the Sacramento Kings and Detroit Pistons. None of those games are gimmes.
The Lakers still have time to tighten things up, but the clock is ticking. If they want to be more than just a marquee name on someone else’s highlight reel, the defense has to show up-and soon. Because right now, teams aren’t just coming at them hard-they’re coming at them prepared, and the Lakers haven’t been able to punch back.