POLL Serious question for Lakers fans (no trash talk intended)

[Bart]

A fall in production and efficiency?

He averaged career numbers in FG%, FT%, assists and points last season

Are you literally looking at his 3pt % and calling it a day?

Yes, if you read the post I was concerned about the 3 pt% and the other stats soon to follow. He is going to be left with 3 pointers for the bulk of his shots.

 

[Bart]

Solid post but nothing in this post suggest that Kuzma is a bust.....because he isn't

For me, he will be a bust because he won't fit in with a contender like the Lakers, IMO.

 

[bksballer89]

For me, he will be a bust because he won't fit in with a contender like the Lakers, IMO.

Even if that's true, that still wouldn't make him a bust.

It is actually incredibly hard to be a bust at pick #28.

 

[tlance]

Kuzma seems like a player that is going to need consistent touches to be effective. With Lebron and AD getting most of the touches, I predict Kuzma's productions and efficiency is going to a huge hit. He already regressed tremendously at the 3 point line last year, I expect this to continue with his production and efficiency on the rest the floor to follow. This is why he will be a bust. He's not good enough to be a first or second option but isn't suited for a 3rd or 4th option either because of the fall off in production and efficiency. He is not really a bad player, he just doesn't fit with a contender. If you want a good player on a lotto team, then he's your man.

You might be right.

But even if you are he is not a bust at 28.

He has already exceeded expectations.

 

[Bart]

Even if that's true, that still wouldn't make him a bust.

It is actually incredibly hard to be a bust at pick #28.

That's true but I think he's getting a bit overrated lately.

 

[Bart]

You might be right.

But even if you are he is not a bust at 28.

He has already exceeded expectations.

Agreed. I was more saying he was a bust because of how he's being overrated at this time.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Agreed. I was more saying he was a bust because of how he's being overrated at this time.

Again, how is he being overrated? Is anyone calling him an all star?

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

His post about Kuzma 3 pt % is actually dead on.

Went from 36% in his rookie year to 30 % last year.

That does fall under regressing tremendously at the 3 pt line

Its only regressing if the trend continues. At this point were comparing the 3pt% of a PF from his rookie year to his second year.

Hardly a solid set of data

 

[Bart]

Again, how is he being overrated? Is anyone calling him an all star?

Calling him a viable 3rd option is overrating for me. He won't be able fill that role effectively.

 

[bksballer89]

Its only regressing if the trend continues. At this point were comparing the 3pt% of a PF from his rookie year to his second year.

Hardly a solid set of data

I agree with that

 

[Bart]

Its only regressing if the trend continues. At this point were comparing the 3pt% of a PF from his rookie year to his second year.

Hardly a solid set of data

It's a disturbing stat for a guy who is going to be relied on to hit the open 3 at a high rate to really contribute. His defense has never been a strong suit either. The Lakers need 3 and D and won't be getting it.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Calling him a viable 3rd option is overrating for me. He won't be able fill that role effectively.

He was pretty much the 2nd option last year and hit career numbers

How would calling him a 3rd option be overrated?

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

It's a disturbing stat for a guy who is going to be relied on to hit the open 3 at a high rate to really contribute. His defense has never been a strong suit either. The Lakers need 3 and D and won't be getting it.

You do realise Kuzma isn't meant to be their 3 and D guy, right?

 

[tlance]

You do realise Kuzma isn't meant to be their 3 and D guy, right?

That is the problem though.

I am not sure they can play their 4 best players at the same time for more than a couple minutes at a time.

LeBron, AD, Cousins, Kuzma

Just too slow to guard the perimeter effectively no matter who the 5th is.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Kuzma seems like a player that is going to need consistent touches to be effective. With Lebron and AD getting most of the touches, I predict Kuzma's productions and efficiency is going to a huge hit. He already regressed tremendously at the 3 point line last year, I expect this to continue with his production and efficiency on the rest the floor to follow. This is why he will be a bust. He's not good enough to be a first or second option but isn't suited for a 3rd or 4th option either because of the fall off in production and efficiency. He is not really a bad player, he just doesn't fit with a contender. If you want a good player on a lotto team, then he's your man.

i mean a lot of this is true.

Kuzma loses a lot of value on a team like he is currently on.A 3 and D guy would have a lot more value than a PF that plays zero defense but can fill it up

 

[Bart]

He was pretty much the 2nd option last year and hit career numbers

How would calling him a 3rd option be overrated?

Career numbers?

Effective fg% went down from 52.7% to 51.5%
Rebounding down from 6.3 to to 5.5
PER went down from 14.2 to 14.0
His assists went up from 1.8 to 2.5
His points went up slightly 16.1 to 18.7
His minutes and fg attempts went up a tad.

He's only played 2 years. If you want to say those are career numbers, then that's fine but is a bit misleading. TBH, he looks similar except for his 3 pt shooting percentage which took a dive which I'm most concerned about because he'll have plenty of open threes the Lakers are going to need for him to drain. I really doubt he does, though.

 

[msgkings322]

Agreed. I was more saying he was a bust because of how he's being overrated at this time.

So be clearer. He's not a bust. Any player picked #28 who is a decent starter is not a bust. Overrated is a whole 'nuther thing. You made some great points about regression, we'll see.

 

[Bart]

You do realise Kuzma isn't meant to be their 3 and D guy, right?

I do but that's what they are going to need him for.

 

[Bart]

So be clearer. He's not a bust. Any player picked #28 who is a decent starter is not a bust. Overrated is a whole 'nuther thing. You made some great points about regression, we'll see.

Saying he's a bust gets people's attention, though.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

That is the problem though.

I am not sure they can play their 4 best players at the same time for more than a couple minutes at a time.

LeBron, AD, Cousins, Kuzma

Just too slow to guard the perimeter effectively no matter who the 5th is.

It's not a problem at all. Kuzma already said he's cool coming off the bench if it means winning a title.

He'll get his minutes whenever AD or whoever starts at the 5 gets a rest