he tried to iso quite a bit but his handle was to poor to get past his guy and when he got in the paint he couldn't finish and tried to draw fouls rather than trying to finish. Most of his asst came early in the game when everyone was clicking but when started getting out of hand for us he kept shrinking. It was mostly due to Cook/Daniels that we kept coming back while Kuz was just pretty much invisible and he got lost quite a bit on his man leading to Magic wide open 3s
Yeah, this. When he’s not on fire he kind of blends in and can feel invisible, that’s kind of what I meant when I said he just doesn’t seem the same this season like he’s all in on the court. It wasn’t his fault that we lost, but if he contributes just an average game instead of such a poor one we probably do win. Our 3rd guy can’t be having a 4 point game in AD’s absence, even with the 5 boards and 7 assists. We’d be killing any of our third guys of the past if they had that kind of night, I know we did when LO would do it, that’s not gonna cut it come playoff time, he’s got to be more consistent in staying involved. LO did learn to do that and he delivered some big playoff moments in the title runs and even before that when he’d dominate Amar'e Stoudemire a game here or there. But, Bynum also emerged as that 3rd guy by 2009 and allowed LO to be the 4th more comfortably, right now we unfortunately don’t have that, only the occasional big night from any one of our role players, but not consistently. It might be shortsighted, but I do move Kuz IF it’s for a player that can help us win now, because even with his potential I don’t see him being worth paying for right now. I’m not talking a Svi for Bullock deal either, it would have to be some package that was better, maybe a 3 team deal.
With AD out Kuz should get better numbers, step up in O game. Smth like 20+7+3 on a daily basis and some D. Sadly he is throwing bricks, cannot read the game, doesn't blend in, disappears in clutch time, obviously has a limited bball IQ. Has to be traded if a good offer comes along...
I agree with the throwing bricks the last couple of games. No question. But, the seven assists last game argues against the "cannot read the game" or "doesn't blend in" take. What I liked about what Kuz did against Orlando is that he found a way to contribute when his shot was off. Seven assists from the PF spot is unusually good. But, he does need to be more consistent with his scoring.
I don’t need my number two scorer getting more assists than points especially when he’s only getting 4pts. If he was 19 and 19 like his teammate then different story. He needs to do the job of scoring.
Yes, he does need to do the job of scoring, and he usually does. But what happens those nights when a scorer's shot is off. Wouldn't you want him to find some way to contribute? Remember the 2010 Finals game 7 when Kobe could not make a shot? He went out and dominated the boards as a SG and found a way to help the team. Kuz is a streak shooter. When he's hot he gets really hot. When he's cold he has games like Orlando. His streakiness is the one reason I would be willing to trade him for the right piece. Bertans from the Wizards, as an example, would give us much more consistency on the three ball. We would not get the 30 point games Kuz can produce when he's hot but that's the trade off.
I wonder if Orlando would move him for Gordon: they got a lot of bigs and they're rumors around the league of Orl moving on. Him in the Kuzma role would be a decrease in 3pt shooting but an automatic upgrade on defense and the glass. he's more of a natural 4 who can guard big wings like Kawhi while still stretching the floor https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ike-including-luka-doncic-dwight-powell-dance
Don’t see why Orlando does this, and matching salaries would be hard. I’m still thinking a bogdan swap gets a serious look as we approach the deadline. but I’m also one who thinks kuz will adjust and be fine.
We need to get in on a three team trace. Apparently the wolves are going after D.Lo - try and jump in on that. I know golden state wants productive players for their retool next year and Kuzma could be a prized piece for either team. its the easiest way to match salaries and get something decent back right now.
I can't believe I just read that. Kuz and Dwight can replace AD? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? You could only play 5 players at once, so you can't split the production of a superstar into multiple players and call their value equal. As Dr. Buss said, you don't give up a four carat diamond for four diamonds of one carat, because one superstar is worth more than a collection of lesser stars + role players.
Whoa tada. We went round n round about this like 4 days ago. Don't start it up again. We have kind of reached detente stage.
I love that Jeannie, Rob and previously Magic went back to this philosophy after the Mitch and Jim disaster era.
I still respect and applaud Jeanie for hunkering down and taking council of her own choosing and care of business silently while Magic was being a d*** subverting the FO during the most important off season since the two Jerry's landed Shaq and Kobe. Probably half or more here were on her for not coming out in some press event to address the media fueled apparent disaster, where it would have been a free for all with the public questioning from those with and without agendas. Props to Magic for that big picture and immediately putting us back on the map for free agents after the mess Jim and Mitch left us in.
Well anyways really good second half for Kuzma. Looked like flame off again in first half but turned it around. So far Flame on/Flame off ratio is about 50%. Flame on and this team is very difficult to beat. One pet peeve with him; wish he put some effort just getting into proper stance on defense. He is just way too straight on defense and never seems to be in a good defensive crouch that will allow him to keep his moving
Every time Kuzma elevates for a shot, it's usually never straight up. He seems to drift to either side or contorts on the way down.
