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Kyle Kuzma proved he had the potential to be a three-level scorer in his rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He had little trouble knocking down his 3-point attempts at an efficient pace, had a variety of moves he could draw on when creating his own shot from the dribble, and knew how to move well off the ball.
Now in his third season, Kuzma is no longer the focal point on offense that he used to be. Some of that has to do with the fact that he’s not shooting, but mostly it has to do with the fact that he’s teammates with two of the best forwards in the NBA, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Kuzma struggled to discover his role alongside James and Davis in the regular season, particularly on offense. And while there are definitely still times when he seems lost on that end, he’s been looking more comfortable lately, and his offensive resurgence can be attributed in large part to his willingness to play almost exclusively off the ball.
Playing off the ball is something Kuzma has always been capable of, but it’s a skill set that has been of particular importance to the Lakers against the Rockets, who have struggled to slow down Lakers forwards when they’ve caught a head. of steam that goes to the basket.
Kuzma was able to exploit the Rockets’ weakness on defense in Game 3 on Tuesday, when he scored 71.4% of his points with assists. Kuzma finished the game with 14 points, including 12 in the restricted area.
“That’s my game,” Kuzma said after the game. “Since I came to the league I have been very good at moving without the ball. I’m a bit like an Energizer Bunny. I just try to play as hard as I can, move and get the guys to open up. By moving, it allows other guys to get open 3s, open shots and I’m just trying to do it at the right time. “
Kuzma took a small step back in Game 4, scoring just 4 points on 2-6 field goals, but the habits he’s forming are more important than the numbers he’s accumulating. Furthermore, the Lakers were victorious.
If Kuzma continues to be available for baskets by cutting and throwing himself into the basket, the points will come naturally. And if there is a night when Kuzma feels he can help the team by beating his defender from the dribble, he has shown that he is capable of it too.
Kuzma’s goal going into the season was to become a more well-rounded player and, to his credit, he has worked hard to achieve that. Now, all the Lakers can do is hope he can put it together when they need it.
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