Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James loses the ball and the game, 4 lessons

Frank Vogel made the same rotation mistakes as opening night. This time with Kyle Kuzma.

For the second straight game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Frank Vogel blew an opportunity with his rotation patterns. In the first game, Danny Green went crazy from the 3-point line to get the Lakers back in the game going into the 4th quarter. Vogel sat him down and the Lakers fell behind and eventually lost.

On Christmas Day, it was Kyle Kuzma’s turn to explode. You know what they say, film doesn’t lie.

Kuzma scored 15 points in less than half of the first quarter. That pretty much shows that the man was on fire. Just like Green in the first game, his minutes diminished. Why?

Kuzma was building on his 16 points scored against the Nuggets. Let the man ride out the hot streak. Sometimes, coaches adjust their substitution patterns for certain situations. This is one of those times.

After dropping 15 points in the first frame, there’s no reason that Kuzma finished the game with 25 points. He should have had 40. The 27 minutes he played was a joke, Kuz should have played at least 35 minutes.

If this was the version of Kuzma the Lakers need, allow him the opportunity when he has it going. Take Rajon Rondo’s minutes. Take Caruso’s minutes. Whoever’s minutes need to be sacrificed to give a hot Kuzma more shots is Vogel’s responsibility.

Will Kuzma have this type of production every night? No. But if he can come off the bench, and score in the flow of the offense like he did on Christmas while LeBron James was struggling, you create opportunities for him.