He was a straight up BEAST. Couldn't have been more thrilled with his performances on Friday and especially Saturday. I was on the "Don't Trade Kuz" train before the slate of games we saw this past weekend - and he bolstered that campaign tenfold. We need to get him in more PnR opportunities with Dwight - I liked those actions a lot and it was easy buckets for Kuzma with that patented running hook shot that he likes to take. I think Lakers need to run lineups that feature Kuzma and no LeBron/AD - this is how we can get their minutes further down without completely collapsing as a 2nd unit.
I would have said at the beginning of the year that we should always have either LeBron or AD on court. But, you may be on to something worth trying.
If we want Kuzma to develop - the next part of his development is making him a playmaker. Put him in situations where he has to make a decision to pass or score. At the very least, get him into situatoins where he's going downhill on a PnR from the top with Dwight as the screen setter - get some space, and hit that mid-range or dump it off to a shooter in the corner or LOB it up for Dwight. The vertical spacing is crucial here too...
Loved the performances he put in with AD out. But I'd be more impressed if he could do that with AD. We wouldn't have needed those numbers if we had AD out there. But they are a terrible fit together. So to me, a more promising sign of the next step and then clicking would have been that game next to AD. We all know what Kuz can do offensively when he can get the touches, so those numbers aren't shocking given the circumstances. When Bron and AD are not in street clothes, Kuz has been settling for the 3 too much. You can blame Bron, Rondo, and Vogel for not running stuff for him. But some of the onus is also on him. He has to stay active, aggressive, play with a high motor, find other ways to contribute like he did Fri/Sat -- lobs, aggressive boxing out, and utilizing the brush screen with Dwight. Don't settle. I'm glad he can get hot from deep, but you have to keep the defense on their toes and mix it up, especially when you have other moves in your bag. Yes, an upgrade from Rondo will help. But I'm not giving Kuz a pass. I know he was late to the party, but he's the favorite child out of all the others (who are now elsewhere) with Rob, Jeanie, and Kobe. Pick up the phone, ask Kobe what he sees and he can chop up one of his Details specials just for Kuz.
Yes g-dammit ..... continue to use Kobe as a tutor. What an asset to have access to. Rest of the really talented ones we bring in who are young and don't do that are stoooopid.
Do we really want Kuzma who isn’t a strong dribbler out there dictating play? Come playoff time, it’s Lebron ball for 38 mins a game with probably Rondo or Collison dictating the other 10. Kuzma needs to figure out how to be productive around that. I think the biggest issue is he wants the AD role, being set up to finish plays, preferably playing from the elbow. The problem is AD is a much better player than him and Kuzma can’t get into rhythm with only 10 mins of good usage a game. I think that’s why we’re open to moving him.
Just say NO to moving Kuzma pre-maturely. On another note saw this posted on LG: coldzim Games with 30+ points: Kyle Kuzma: 12 Ben Simmons: 3 Brandon Ingram: 12 Jayson Tatum: 6 Lauri Markkanen: 12 De'Aaron Fox: 4
I don't know how many if more than one. Maybe just one? Last January I just found that he dropped 41 on the Pistons in 3 quarters if you need it. https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-new...or-more-points-in-three-quarters-this-season/
agree, but what if that number was 14-16 minutes per game, and AD got fewer opportunities to land on his a**? could we still win enough games? maybe, right? i also think that kuz can grow as a ballhandler. it's tough, but we've seen guys do it to incredible effect (kawhi and steph are prime examples, imo). based on what his likely trade value is, maybe seeing what he can do and making a decision next year makes the most sense.
Kuz was pretty baad out there against the Cavs. He's just not a strong dude so Love gave h problems on defense which seemed to take him out of his offensive game
Sure during the regular season, cut back on AD to 32 mins - no issues. But during the playoffs you’re going to ride your stars and I just don’t feel that Kuzma with the 8-10 mins of usage staggered with one of Lebron or AD is going to be able to get into a strong rhythm. He can prove me wrong but I’m just going off current results.
A lot of it is that he no longer attacks the rim like he has done in the past, so when the shot isn't falling...nights like tonight happen
paint's crowded with non-shooting centers on the floor for 48 minutes. plus, if AD's at pf teams don't tend to chase him all the way out, either. he really doesn't look much different to me than he has in the past. his circumstances are different.
I think he’s not cutting as much as he used to. That’s good for a basket or two a game. Then get a put back like he did last night and he’s back in it.
i'm not sure if he's not cutting (think they keep stats on this somewhere, right?). and if he is cutting less, we can't be certain that's not a feature of the offense. luke's offense was much more motion-oriented (which was ironic given our non-kuzma personnel).
This is going to ruffle feathers but if we had used Kuzma on offense for the AD role... and Dwight on the defensive end... you'd get similar scoring from Kuz and similar defense from Dwight at a much cheaper price. Obviously Dwight's expiration date is nearing and no one could have foreseen his change of mental outlook... but had we known this in advance I think they would have duplicated AD's role not as well but much more cheaply and we would have had the rest of our players to make up the difference. I said it before that Kuz has been made redundant by AD... as Ingram was made redundant by LBJ. That's why the team doesn't seem to decline when AD is out because Kuz can keep up his scoring and Dwight can anchor the defense in his absence.
You always claim innocent and just being devil's advocate and presenting alternative points of view but you sure do like stirring it up don't you. Well I'm sure you have. Have a fun smelly day. With your crystal ball you would have known Dwight would be needed early in FA and perform as he has for the Lakers and Kuz ...... yeah that's the ticket .... AD wasn't really needed for offense or the defensive player of the year type D he plays.
I said if one knew Dwight would play like vintage Dwight without the attitude... we could have signed Dwight for defense... used Kuzma in AD's role for offense and kept the rest of the core without much decline and had way more assets for the future. I think if AD got hurt long term, Kuz would average 20 to 25 points and Dwight would fill the defensive void and although we wouldn't have been as good.. we'd still be winning most of our games. If you want to call that a joke that is your right but that is what has happened so far even with LBJ sick.
