The Lakers may have dropped Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but veteran guard Marcus Smart isn't hitting the panic button just yet. After a 108-90 loss on Tuesday, Smart made it clear that the team's belief in their game plan remains unwavering.

Los Angeles showed promise early, putting up 53 points in the first half. However, the offense sputtered in the second half, managing just 19 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth. That dry spell allowed the defending champion Thunder to pull away comfortably. Despite the final score, Smart sees plenty of reasons for optimism.

"Very high," Smart said when asked about his confidence level. "We started off great. We were doing very well, we were in the game. We held them to 101, 105ish before late in the end. You know we're playing the defending champs, it's gonna be tough. They're gonna make some tough shots, some tough plays, we just can't let that derail us. We gotta stay with it. But I'm very positive in the way that the game plan is. Teammates, we're getting Austin [Reaves] back in his groove and just getting guys back. So I'm definitely confident, but it's definitely gonna be a challenge."

The Lakers certainly have the star power to bounce back. LeBron James was efficient with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and Rui Hachimura added 18 points. But the supporting cast needs to find its rhythm. Smart himself struggled from the floor, finishing with 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting, including 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. As a team, the Lakers shot just 41.2% from the field and 33% from three-point range.

With the possibility of being without Jarred Vanderbilt and Luke Kennard for Game 2 on Thursday, Smart knows the pressure will be on him to step up even more. But if there's one thing the Lakers have shown all season, it's resilience. Expect a more focused, determined squad when they take the court for Game 2.