5. Rajon Rondo and Kyle Kuzma
Rajon Rondo has always been known as an elite passer, dating back to his Boston Celtics “Big Three” days, where he was in charge of setting the table for three future Hall of Famers. Rondo has nice size for a point guard at 6″3 and has one of the highest basketball IQ’s in the NBA.
Kyle Kuzma works well with Rondo because of his size and ability to spread the floor with his shooting. While struggling with his long ball this season, shooting at 29.8 percent, he was right around league average last season with 36.6 percent of them going in. So, expect him to raise those percentages as the season progresses.
Occasionally Kyle can rush the screens that he sets, but he can be a very effective screen setter when focused. Patience while setting screens comes with experience, so Kuzma can improve this skill over time.
Kuzma also has a refined post game for a second-year player, so if the defense decides to switch he can take smaller guards into the post. With a slew of fadeaways and hook-shots at his disposal, Kuzma is a nightmare for those smaller than him.
While Rondo has never been a real 3-point threat, as a career 31 percent shooter, he has a very quick first step. This allows him to get past bigger defenders with ease, creating more opportunities for himself and teammates.
With both players expected to come off the bench, we could be seeing this combination quite a bit this season.