The Official Kyle Kuzma Thread

[FAH1223]

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[SUPERBALLMAN]

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[WallToWall]

Looking at 3-men lineups stats for 2020-21, the combo of Kuzma-KCP-Harrell (250 minutes total) was pretty fine, particularly defensively. A ORTG of 106.8 and a DRTG of 101.3, for a Net rating of +5.5.

Let's hope these 3 bring some much needed defensive intensity to the Wiz!

Was LeTravel and AD on the floor with them? If yes, then that is a big factor.


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[9 and 20]

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Kuzma saying pretty much all the right things - shooting, defending, passing and facilitating. Also cites the benefit of learning from Lebron and talked about the challenges for young guys having their roles change significantly - going from a focal point to a support role in LA. Talked a bit about the glut of forwards also.

My low expectations of him are driven almost entirely by his dumb hair (I'm a terrible, superficial person). Maybe he's a player for us this year. Tall, can shoot and defend - he definitely looks the part and checks most boxes for a modern NBA forward.

With Bertans coming in fat last year and Kuzma sounding like a more mature, veteran guy - Bertans has overtaken Kuzma as the leading candidate for the Turd Leonsis award for terriblest Wiz player.

[Ruzious]

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Kuzma saying pretty much all the right things - shooting, defending, passing and facilitating. Also cites the benefit of learning from Lebron and talked about the challenges for young guys having their roles change significantly - going from a focal point to a support role in LA. Talked a bit about the glut of forwards also.

My low expectations of him are driven almost entirely by his dumb hair (I'm a terrible, superficial person). Maybe he's a player for us this year. Tall, can shoot and defend - he definitely looks the part and checks most boxes for a modern NBA forward.

With Bertans coming in fat last year and Kuzma sounding like a more mature, veteran guy - Bertans has overtaken Kuzma as the leading candidate for the Turd Leonsis award for terriblest Wiz player.

Lol, I think what you said about his hair is what everyone was thinking - at least I was. No doubt that he is a talented player who has improved (finally) and has a championship ring. And I saw someone said Lebron called him the NBA's most improved player last season. Hopefully there's more improvement yet to come. I think he'll get first shot at starter's minutes.

[keynote]

I just watched the highlights of his career night vs Detroit (41 points in 3 quarters).

He might have a little poor man's Tatum in him(!). Is he maddeningly inconsistent, like a Jeff Green?

[doclinkin]

I just watched the highlights of his career night vs Detroit (41 points in 3 quarters).

He might have a little poor man's Tatum in him(!). Is he maddeningly inconsistent, like a Jeff Green?

Thing is young players often take a bit to figure out how to be consistent. To string games together at that peak. In the case of Kuzma seems like he was learning and growing, then LeBJ came and his role changed, then AD was added and he was bumped to a different position. Never know, could be that his breakout year was delayed as he learned new roles. I do like the narrative that his defense has improved. It may not show up in the stats, though his rebounding increased, which is a notable thing playing next to LEBJ and AD.

[FAH1223]

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[gambitx777]

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The dude will have no issues getting a hottie in the DMV!

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(moving this to more appropriate spot)....

I
As to how Kuzma became "an elite rebounder," sometimes I wonder who goes for this stuff? As a rookie, Kuzma averaged 8.1 boards per 40 minutes. This last year, he averaged 8.6 rebounds per 40 minutes.

That's right! He has raised his rebounding by 1/2 a board every 40 minutes! Whoa!

In fairness, Lakers' overall rebounding dropped a bit in those years. Thinking of it that way you could credit him with a little bigger jump. Anyway... better is better.

As well, Kuzma's rebounding dropped his 2d & esp. his 3d year. Hence, if you just look at the change from his year 3 to 4, the increase is a bit more significant. Especially the increase in offensive rebounding.

Okay, me I go for this stuff. Sure, we can say 'elite' is overstating it. However, while his rebounding dropped off with the addition of LeBJ and then AD, he managed to recover and then some. This despite being posted to the SF position, even as a perimeter player he managed to increase his rebounding significantly, especially in Offensive boards. Even while LeBJ and AD siphoned heavy minutes in the front court. Hell they added monster rebounder Andre Drummond, who averaged 15 boards per 40min. And Montrezl Harrell (10/40).

So, okay elite maybe not, but Kuz was among the better rebounders playing out of the SF spot, especially in offensive boards work. With his increased effort and focus on this skill it seems to be he could post better numbers in the front court, even better perhaps than the bigger stronger Hachimura, who posted 6 boards per 40 minutes, ostensibly playing PF.

Well, it was only the word "elite" that prompted my reaction. The points you make are good ones.

Kuzma played PF his first two years. His productivity fell way off his 3d year when he was more or less exclusively a 3. The very good news is that he recovered & more, improved significantly, last season. That's the right trajectory. Especially since SF is where he should be playing. Or, simply say that he should be, mostly, a perimeter player on offense.

Thing is, if you look at what's changed for him over those 4 years -- what made him drop off his 2d & 3d years & made him more productive his 4th year -- it really is the improvement in his rebounding. Despite my critical comment above.

In fact, it's almost exclusively his improvement in offensive rebounding!

So, if you think of Kuzma as a 4, his defensive rebounding is a little above average, & his offensive rebounding is way above average. But, if you think of him as a 3, his defensive rebounding is way above average, & his offensive rebounding is absolutely tremendous.

Best comparison? Otto Porter -- only not nearly as good as Otto's 2 best years. But, I think that's the idea for Kuzma. Be like good Otto Porter.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

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This is really significant. Dude is going to be hell-bent on basketball without any distractions

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

(moving this to more appropriate spot)....

I
As to how Kuzma became "an elite rebounder," sometimes I wonder who goes for this stuff? As a rookie, Kuzma averaged 8.1 boards per 40 minutes. This last year, he averaged 8.6 rebounds per 40 minutes.

That's right! He has raised his rebounding by 1/2 a board every 40 minutes! Whoa!

In fairness, Lakers' overall rebounding dropped a bit in those years. Thinking of it that way you could credit him with a little bigger jump. Anyway... better is better.

As well, Kuzma's rebounding dropped his 2d & esp. his 3d year. Hence, if you just look at the change from his year 3 to 4, the increase is a bit more significant. Especially the increase in offensive rebounding.

Okay, me I go for this stuff. Sure, we can say 'elite' is overstating it. However, while his rebounding dropped off with the addition of LeBJ and then AD, he managed to recover and then some. This despite being posted to the SF position, even as a perimeter player he managed to increase his rebounding significantly, especially in Offensive boards. Even while LeBJ and AD siphoned heavy minutes in the front court. Hell they added monster rebounder Andre Drummond, who averaged 15 boards per 40min. And Montrezl Harrell (10/40).

So, okay elite maybe not, but Kuz was among the better rebounders playing out of the SF spot, especially in offensive boards work. With his increased effort and focus on this skill it seems to be he could post better numbers in the front court, even better perhaps than the bigger stronger Hachimura, who posted 6 boards per 40 minutes, ostensibly playing PF.

Well, it was only the word "elite" that prompted my reaction. The points you make are good ones.

Kuzma played PF his first two years. His productivity fell way off his 3d year when he was more or less exclusively a 3. The very good news is that he recovered & more, improved significantly, last season. That's the right trajectory. Especially since SF is where he should be playing. Or, simply say that he should be, mostly, a perimeter player on offense.

Thing is, if you look at what's changed for him over those 4 years -- what made him drop off his 2d & 3d years & made him more productive his 4th year -- it really is the improvement in his rebounding. Despite my critical comment above.

In fact, it's almost exclusively his improvement in offensive rebounding!

So, if you think of Kuzma as a 4, his defensive rebounding is a little above average, & his offensive rebounding is way above average. But, if you think of him as a 3, his defensive rebounding is way above average, & his offensive rebounding is absolutely tremendous.

Best comparison? Otto Porter -- only not nearly as good as Otto's 2 best years. But, I think that's the idea for Kuzma. Be like good Otto Porter.

When you think of Kyle Kuzma at small forward now you understand why Kenneth Holmes said that Tommy Shepard is a freaking genius.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Kuzma at small forward and Rui might have to worry about coming off the bench, Where we will suddenly discover that he is a tremendous sixth man.

Montrezl Harrell should be the starting power forward.

Thomas Bryant should be the starting center with Gafford probably finishing games because of his tremendous defense.

Corey Kispert should be the back up shooting guard and the back of small forward when KCP is not playing.

We have a 50 win team if it is called correctly

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I clearly said coached correctly and Google changed it to called correctly

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

ADA think of my posts as those of a disabled veteran who is really trying to contribute despite having a few distractions. Also since nobody is posting in his forum lately this gives us something to look at when we’re bored

[Godymas]

I'm happy to have Kuzma on the roster

there were talks of whether it was Kuzma or Trez that should be the Lakers 6MotY candidate last year. This year he's in the perfect position to have a Jordan Clarkson type of breakout. I wouldn't be shocked to see him get solid minutes when the other scorers aren't on the floor. He brings good size with scoring punch and solid defensive capability, basically everything he has the Wizards need. A couple years playing second fiddle to LeBron doesn't change the fact that he's still capable of being a 19 ppg scorer on solid efficiency. That plus a solid 6+ boards he's got good value on the NBA floor and maybe he still has a bit more to show in the tank, especially now that he'll have a bigger role than before.

[penbeast0]

I'd like to see Kuzma compete with Avdija for the starting 3 slot. Similarly, I'd like both Gafford and Bryant given a shot at earning the starting 5 with Harrell having a chance to start at the 4 (better fit with Bryant but would try him with Gafford as well). Bertans and KCP are pretty much known quantities; you know what they can give you and if none of the others step their game up given the opportunity, they could be the starting forwards. But try the others to see what lineups work and if any of them can take a major step forward.

[closg00]

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Can anyone pick out Joel Ayayi in this group?

[closg00]

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