Kyle Kuzma Discussion: Wizard

Discussion in 'NBA Discussion' started by therealdeal, Jun 22, 2017.

  1. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    34,633
    Likes Received:
    58,138
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    It's a hook with a good head of steam and jump into the air going across the key and toward the basket as well. There's 2 of them in that second clip, with the right hand. Wondering if he can go left with it. I am loving me some of the Kuzma kid. Nice athlete and very coordinated. I think he could play some 3 as well because of his coordination and skills with the basketball. Jumps into the air when he shoots the J. Love that. Hart does. Dozier does too. Kobe sure as hell did and then made it 3 times harder by falling back from deep.
     
  2. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    34,633
    Likes Received:
    58,138
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    This clip here has me thinking we got ourselves a really coordinated and nicely athletic, long 6'10" player with good skills with ball. I can see why he was their first pick. Watch his J. Like Hart, Dozier and I think Bryant, he gets well into the air. Looks a little Horry like. Check the two awesome running hooks going to his right. Across the key and 2nd one toward basket right side. He's moving quick and he's up in the air and he's coordinated. Nice pick!

     
    TIME likes this.
  3. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Top Poster Of Month

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    25,703
    Likes Received:
    69,919
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    i can see. i know von wafer isn't ray allen.
     
    alam1108 likes this.
  4. KRL

    KRL - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    Messages:
    1,369
    Likes Received:
    1,190
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I see the hook shot but he's also got a nice floater. Seems to have a good nose for junk baskets around the rim.

    I have a better comp... Cedric Ceballos. Not the most athletic but quick around the rim.
     
  5. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    That's definitely a hook shot and he uses it fairly often. It's one of the rare real hooks I've seen in a long time. Kobe would break it out on occasion.
     
    LTLakerFan likes this.
  6. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,453
    Likes Received:
    8,497
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I really don't get why we drafted kid. I've seen all the highlights and Julius/Nance are much better players imo.
     
    abeer3 and Weezy like this.
  7. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    34,633
    Likes Received:
    58,138
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    Outside of he's not jumping with hands 3' over the rim you can look at this clip all the way through and not like him with all the skills, coordination, length and decent athleticism he shows? Some of his jumpers reminded me of Horry's form a little bit. (very 1st 3 pointer top of key near the start for one) He's not DAR or Brian Cook, he jumps on them. Looks like he has a great motor and quick 2nd efforts. I like him a lot. Apparently the Lakers do too with taking him first after Lonzo. And we're still looking for that stretch 4. If he can hit his shots in the NBA decently he'll have been a nice pickup.

     
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2017
    ElginTheGreat and TIME like this.
  8. Khmrp

    Khmrp - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2016
    Messages:
    11,855
    Likes Received:
    13,584
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    he does something Nance/Randle suck at, hit perimiter shots
     
  9. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I've said it in the other thread but:

    1. He is a very, very similar player to TJ Leaf. Kuzma gives Ball a player he should be able to familiarize himself with quickly and that the Lakers like too.

    More importantly though

    2. Julius and/or Nance Jr. are likely not going to be here long-term. Kuzma gives them a much needed stretch-four.
     
    ElginTheGreat, TIME and KRL like this.
  10. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Top Poster Of Month

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    25,703
    Likes Received:
    69,919
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    but wasn't he a 32% shooter from three? i mean, randle shot 27% from the nba line, against real pros.
     
    tada likes this.
  11. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Yes. The reason he went in the 1st was a tremendous showing at the Combine as well as in his workouts.
     
    ElginTheGreat, TIME and LTLakerFan like this.
  12. TIME

    TIME Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    5,689
    Likes Received:
    22,250
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Lifelong Lakers fan.
    Location:
    LaLa Land
    Offline
    His shooting form is clearly better than Randle. By all reports his stroke from NBA depth has improved significantly already. He was one of the better shooters among #4s at the Combine. Making them in the game is different, so he'll have to show consistency there, but he apparently impressed Jesse, Rob and Magic.
     
    ElginTheGreat and LTLakerFan like this.
  13. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    17,869
    Likes Received:
    72,564
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Anaheim
    Offline
    Sasha was reportedly an amazing shooter in practice. Anthony Brown must have impressed in workouts. I'm not a huge fan of how much stock is put into the stats of the combine and single workouts. Years worth of tape of college basketball game should matter more than the combine or a few hours of shooting drills.
     
    ElginTheGreat, tada and shoe like this.
  14. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2014
    Messages:
    5,220
    Likes Received:
    10,105
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Offline
    Kinda reminds me of a poor man's Diaw offensively, before Diaw went on the Shaq diet.

    Not the most athletic, but skillful enough to pass as an NBA player.
     
    ElginTheGreat, KRL and TIME like this.
  15. TIME

    TIME Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    5,689
    Likes Received:
    22,250
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Lifelong Lakers fan.
    Location:
    LaLa Land
    Offline
    Diaw is not a bad comp. I get why players that don't jump out of the gym are viewed as unathletic, but Kuz does have an athletic quality other than verticality. He's smoothly agile for a 6'9" player.
     
    ElginTheGreat and LTLakerFan like this.
  16. KRL

    KRL - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    Messages:
    1,369
    Likes Received:
    1,190
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Pretty good comp. especially a younger Diaw with those hooks and floaters.

    Definitely does not have the same ball handling or passing skills like Diaw.
     
    ElginTheGreat likes this.
  17. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2014
    Messages:
    5,220
    Likes Received:
    10,105
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Offline
    It's not to say these guys aren't athletic, but mostly in comparison to those that can, which the league tends to be filled with.

    He's definitely got a good fluidness to his game for his size, which also incorporates good coordination which seems to be the norm nowadays for players 6'9-6'10 where we used to see players of that size be limited to the inside game.
     
    TIME likes this.
  18. lakerfan2

    lakerfan2 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2014
    Messages:
    5,220
    Likes Received:
    10,105
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Offline
    Yeah, I hesitated to go full Diaw, because he has that European savvy IQ to his game which makes him such a perennial role player on teams.
     
  19. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,453
    Likes Received:
    8,497
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Sorry LT, I'm not convinced.

    In fact, I think Julius/Nance breaking out as reliable (33+%) 3P shooters next year is much more likely than Kuzma taking their minutes. Their FT% is a good indication of their potential as shooters.
     
    LTLakerFan and abeer3 like this.
  20. ElginTheGreat

    ElginTheGreat - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2014
    Messages:
    10,173
    Likes Received:
    28,309
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    It will be interesting. I've read a few articles on Nance and Randle working on their 3 point shots so I think they are aware that they need to get more consistent from that range.

    I'm still abit indifferent on Kuzma. he looks fine in the clips but I need to see him play a bit.

    Ready for summer league so we can get at least some looks at these guys.
     
    LTLakerFan likes this.

Share This Page