THREE-time All-Star and former Los Angeles Lakers player Glen Rice said the focus shouldn't be placed on the team's stars but rather on LA's supporting cast entering the playoffs.

Things are expected to change in the playoffs with LeBron James and Anthony Davis picking up the pace, after the Lakers went 3-5 in the seeding games.

"You have two future Hall of Famers in Lebron and Anthony Davis, but I think in any run to a title, role players have to step up," he said in his online media availiability.

Rice, who played for the Lakers from 1998 to 2000, said newcomers JR Smith and Dion Waiters could be the X-factors in the campaign, and that the two building chemistry with the rest of the team will be integral to the Lakers' success.

"With the addition of JR Smith and Dion Waiters, it has to be a collective effort by the role players. Just having JR and Dion, those two are exceptional offensive players. JR Smith is a much better defender, but those two guys have to be acclimated sooner than they would in a normal situation," said the former NBA champion and the 1997 NBA All-Star Game MVP.

Chemistry, to Rice, will be what sets good teams apart from the great teams, especially in a unique environment like the NBA bubble.

"The whole bubble thing is new to everybody. Without the fans, that's a new aspect to the game of basketball in the latter part of the season. And a lot of things have got to click much faster than the norm," he said.