For the Los Angeles Lakers, Kyle Kuzma’s buzzer beating, game winning three with 0.04 seconds left in a meaningless game could be the shot that saved their season and restored their momentum heading into the playoffs.
That head coach Frank Vogel drew up a play for Kyle Kuzma instead of superstars LeBron James or Anthony Davis made the moment even more special as Kuzma had clearly been the Lakers’ best player in the bubble. While we won’t know until the playoffs begin whether one shot that didn’t matter could revitalize the Lakers and restore the energy and confidence they had before the bubble, key moments like this can often be cathartic.
Kuzma’s clutch three was a moment the struggling Lakers desperately needed after losing four of their first six games in the bubble and suffering their trustworthy offense and 3-point shooting rudely abandoning them. The Lakers’ obvious relief and spontaneous reaction on the court and bench and later in the locker room seemed more reminiscent of watching the team celebrate winning a championship than a seemingly unimportant game.
For the Lakers, it was like a cloud had been lifted after losing their home court advantage and valuable momentum as the league’s best team only then to be forced to endure the unfair challenges of playing in the bubble. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were suddenly playing like superstars, Kuz was back as the toast of the town, the threes were finally falling, and the basketball gods were once again smiling on the purple and gold.
With just one inconsequential seeding game left and a full week to practice and prepare for their first playoff game, Kuzma’s potential season saving shot could not have come at a more auspicious moment for the Lakers. Frank Vogel has had a chance to integrate the new players on the roster and to figure out his starting lineup and rotations depending on the matchups. All that remains now is to find who the Lakers’ first round foe will be.
As for Lakers fans, we can join the team in enjoying the deep collective sigh Kyle Kuma’s transformative shot had on our fragile purple and gold psyches. Suddenly, at least for the moment, all is well in the world of the Lakers.
Frankly, this meaningless but enthralling win was exactly what the Lakers team and Lakers fans desperately needed to restore lost confidence and faith heading into the playoffs. Frank should bench the starters and key bench players for Thursday’s game against the Kings and let the end of the bench reserves get some playing time. No need to risk injury to any key players. Just bottle the good vibes from Kuz’s buzzer beating, game winning shot and prepare for a week of execution in practice getting ready for the playoffs. Basketball gods once again smiling on our Lakers.
He won’t start, not at first and not at the beginning of any series. They’ve built towards this kind of rotation all season long, they’re not going to go off on a tangent now, not because of one game (or in this case one shot) and they’re not going to put AD at the 5 to kick games off. He will play at the 5, that’s obvious, but he won’t start there and they won’t switch Green out of the starting line up, either.
Honestly, I prefer it that way. I think having Kuzma come off the bench to fill up to 3 different positions is a match up issue for other teams to contend with and a strength. You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. Having firepower off the bench is a necessity, having a match up issue off the bench is also a necessity.
Now, will I be surprised that if over the course of the playoffs and against certain teams we see some match up adjustments a game or two into the series that we see Kuzma creep into the starting 5? It’s certainly possible. I think Vogel and the Lakers are playing a three-tiered game: for the playoffs now, for making sure they lock up AD long term (keeping him happy), and for a post-LeBron (or at least LeBron being able to contribute less) team. Having Kuzma as a multi-tool player who can cover a wider range of guys is a huge tool to have in the bag, especially at his price.
Kuz!! Ya just have to play him the 35-40 minutes in the PO’s. Denver did give it to us by playing most all their guys 24 minutes. We had to play AD and LBJ 38 minutes. It may be a long haul, but the win is big, like you said.
When it comes to the earth-shaking and confidence-boosting a team needs, some plays stand out. The play and the last shot by Kuzma was only comparable to the lob pass by Kobe to Shaq for a dunk against the Blazers in the 2001 playoffs that shifted the momentum and led the Lakers to their 3 peat. Many of us remember the play, and here is hoping that Kuzma’s heroics can inject new life into an otherwise nose-diving confidence the team has been experiencing in the Bubble.
All that said, the idea of Kuzma starting is very tempting and I will refrain from that. Just as Jaime pointed out, putting all your eggs in one basket is not wise. We need to keep Danny Green in the starting lineup and leave everything as is. There are so many little things he is doing defensively that are vital to the success of the team. It is true he looks a step slower, but the fact that he is getting comfortable with his floater and that when his 3 point shots come into full swing, will only add to his arsenal.
For all Kuzma has worked on since the hiatus by improving his game, he is proving to be the x factor. In order to tap into his full potential, he will need more minutes to overlap between bench and starter minutes. And that is why I agree with DJ that Kuzma needs 30 plus mpg. That is something Vogel will have to figure out. The more minutes he gets the more effective he will become. Is that going to wear him out? I’m not so sure but the need is obviously there.