Smart: Defense may not be as eye-catching as scoring 40 points, but it is what is needed to win the championship

In the NBA regular season, the Lakers defeated the Hornets 121-111 on the road.

After the game, Smart accepted an interview with reporters. Talking about the importance of defense, he said: "Unfortunately, in the league we are in, things like this (defense) are often overlooked. Although it is not as eye-catching as scoring 40 points in a single game, it is exactly what is needed to win and win the championship."

In this campaign, Smart still performed brilliantly on the defensive end. He played 36 and a half minutes, made 4 of 9 shots, 3 of 7 three-pointers, and 2 of 2 free throws. He scored 13 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 7 steals. The number of steals was a Lakers career high, with a career record of 8.