Although the Los Angeles Lakers boast a strong record, forward Kyle Kuzma believes the team has not played their best basketball yet.
The Los Angeles Lakers currently boast one of the NBA’s best records.
While their record is impressive, their wins have not always come easy. For example, on the road trip the team is amid, not all of their victories have been the prettiest.
When the purple and gold played Memphis, the team was on the losing side of things for a fairly large chunk of the game. In fact, L.A. was down double digits at certain junctures of that contest.
It is worth noting the team put together a tenacious effort later on in the game. It has certainly been a pattern for the team this year to play better in the second half as Matt Peralta of Lakers Nation referenced.
While playing impeccable basketball is impossible, this is not the Memphis team of old. Guys like Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen are all out of the picture. Thus, to nearly lose to one of the worst teams in the league is a bit of a head-scratcher.
The Lakers have been playing many teams closer than fans would probably prefer, which has led to some nail biters down the stretch.
The crux of the matter is that while Los Angeles keeps winning, their way of doing it may not last forever. The schedule is only going to get tougher and having mediocre first halves is not going to be acceptable once the dog days of the season eventually hit.
Moreover, it is reasonable to bring up the following. While Davis and potential MVP candidate LeBron James have been killing it on the court, the load the duo are carrying is a heavy one.
On the one hand, it is sensible given that leading the way is precisely what superstars do. Contrarily, even superstars are human and cannot always be expected to have lights out performances night after night.
That being said, the need for a reliable third scorer speaks for itself. While Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been showing signs of life lately, one issue has been the spotty bench production on offense.
One noticeable culprit has been forward Kyle Kuzma. Albeit he has had an unlucky season health wise, his Kuz-like performances have been spotty.
When this road trip alone is thought about, Kuzma has not dropped over 10 points in any of the three contests. Now, it is fair to recall that Kuzma left last Tuesday’s game with an eye abrasion. It sheds light on the health side of the equation and why his level of play this season has been akin to a yo-yo.
Nonetheless, the Lakers will need a slightly more efficient version of him as the year progresses. Him knocking down shots will reduce the burden the big two have to shoulder and will make the Lakers that much scarier to face.
Not too long back, Kuzma argued that the Lakers have not played their best version of basketball. Per transcription from Peralta, the Michigan native told Spectrum SportsNet that the Lakers excellent record is not a full indication of who they could be.
"“We’re still not playing our best basketball. Obviously we’re 15-2, but we just gotta keep it rolling and keep every single day harping on the little things that are our weaknesses. Just be able to convert on those.”"
The strong record Kuzma indicated makes it relatively difficult to scrutinize the Lakers. They keep finding ways to win despite the sluggish starts they tend to have.
However, once the team starts playing more upper echelon teams, they will need to have steadier performances from start to finish. Higher level teams will be harder to beat if cold stretches occur from the onset.
Of course, this is where the Lakers have been at their best this season. Despite the offense having its trying moments from time to time, the defense has oftentimes come to the rescue. The perimeter “D” will only get better once guards Avery Bradley and Alex Caruso return from injury.
The offense will become more of a nightmare for opponents once the overall flow of it lasts throughout all 48 minutes. The ball movement is not as noticeable when James is on the bench.
At the same time, it is also why having stronger second unit production is important for this team. Kuzma is not the only one who has had a wavy year for the lack of a better word. Others need to step up to the plate if they want to see regular action.
It is kind of scary to think James’ assist total could be even higher if more open looks were converted. He is proficient at setting up guys for clean shots, and at this point execution is to be expected. The Lakers could be doing a better job there, and that could play a role in how far the team goes in 2019-20.
Thankfully, getting win after win has patched up some of the blemishes the Lakers have shown this year. If the few trouble areas they have are improved upon, the squad will definitely be “rolling” to use Kuzma’s vernacular.