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Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James passes Kobe Bryant in loss to Philadelphia 76ers, 4 lessons!

Ronald Agers|
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 25, 2020 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 25, 2020 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

It’s time to tell it like it is. Kyle Kuzma has allowed this trade talk to mess with his confidence (Again!)

When the Lakers went through the locker room drama caused by the AD chase last year, all of the young players seemed to be affected outside of Brandon Ingram. If anyone thought that Kuzma was not one of the ones that were affected, well his play is showing how wrong they were.

Kyle Kuzma is displaying all of the reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers are wondering if this guy can fill the role as the 3rd scorer on this team. Right now, Lake Show Life is wondering if this guy can even fit in the rotation in a few months the way his game has fallen off the last few games.

One week ago, Kuzma looked like he had figured it out. He was scoring, he was defending Russell Westbrook, he was making plays for his teammates in the flow of the offense. This game was on the other side of the spectrum.

Kyle Kuzma scored four points on 2-of-6 shooting in 27 minutes. The low point? Kuzma was called for an offensive foul on the only 3-point shot he made all night. He missed the other three he took. Or maybe this was the low point.

Hopefully, this is an anomaly and he just had a bad night. But let’s take this discussion to Tuesday night when the Clippers share the floor. He can’t afford another performance like this one.

It’s painfully clear that his playmaking needs work. His defense is inconsistent and he tends to disappear when Anthony Davis is anywhere on the roster off the injured list.

Kyle Kuzma is running out of time to figure things out fitting in with this roster. The Clippers are next and Kuzma will have to find a way to contribute when his jumper is not falling. Maybe he could take a page out of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s book.

KCP, along with Alex Caruso, too, played the defense to get the team out on the break for the big run to cut the lead down to five before the Sixers put the game to bed. Plus KCP took advantage of his opportunities. Caldwell-Pope scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting with two rebounds and two assists.

As much as Kuzma tries to hide it, everyone can see it, his confidence is shaken. That’s the worst thing that can happen to basketball player. Kyle Kuzma is supposed to be a scorer. He’s not scoring.

What do the Lakers need him for again?

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