Los Angeles Lakers: Six lessons from loss to Houston Rockets

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets celebrates after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 19, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets celebrates after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 19, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Kyle Kuzma is a baller folks…

I hear this all the time on NBA broadcasts and talk shows, that players have to adjust their games to play with LeBron James. Pfft! I really hate that narrative. Basketball is not rocket science. You play to your strengths, compete, play hard, and with confidence.

That is what Kyle Kuzma does. It has nothing to do with this constant…”Kyle Kuzma plays better with LeBron than the other guys!”

He doesn’t care. He just plays basketball.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1086850809592250370

Kyle Kuzma filled the entire stat sheet scoring 32 points (20 in the 1st quarter) grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, and had 2 steals.

What should have the Lakers fans excited is the fact that Kuzma had an all-around game. The Detroit game seduced him into being a gunner who looked to force the action. That was not the case in this game. Like in Oklahoma City, he was in control and played within the offense.

The Lakers (Again to Luke Walton’s credit) worked the offense to give him space to go one on one…

Plus he used hustle to be in the right place to get cheap baskets…

If you hear anything about Kyle Kuzma blowing the game in overtime, that bull. The play had no chance of working. The pass was deflected by James Harden and if Kuzma had caught it, there would have been no chance to shoot it. P.J. Tucker had him boxed in the corner.

He’s a budding star. No matter the circumstances. LeBron James in the lineup of not!