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Los Angeles Lakers: How Kyle Kuzma can be a major factor in the playoffs

By Addam Goldman

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three point shot during the first half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on November 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 19: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three point shot during the first half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on November 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Kyle Kuzma’s Strengths

Kyle Kuzma’s defensive stats have been a mixed bag this season.

ESPN’s defensive real-plus minus and basketball-reference’s defensive rating are two popular catch-all defensive metrics that many experts use to describe a player’s overall defensive ability. Kyle Kuzma’s ratings across both metrics are awful:

  • ESPN’s DRPM: -0.94 (81 out of 97 qualified power forwards in the NBA)
  • Basketball-reference’s DEFRTG: 109 (12 out of 13 regular rotation Lakers players)

Other more specific stats show that Kyle Kuzma can defend at a moderate to a high level:

  • Kuzma has allowed his assignments to shoot only 0.2 percentage points better than their normal average.
  • Kuzma has a 60.8 defensive field goal percentage, which is fourth on the Lakers.

There is a simple explanation for these different stats: Kyle Kuzma is a decent perimeter defender, capable of bothering his assignments, but he’s a poor rebounder and shot-blocker who often gets lost on switches.

Going beyond stats, Kyle Kuzma has gotten much better at fighting through screens and closing out on his jump shooter. But, he struggles guarding bigger players on the block, and he rarely gets in position to grab a defensive rebound.

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There’s not much to love about Kuzma’s offense so far this season. However, there are a few positive signs. His field goal percentage on drives to the rim is 50.7, good for fifth on the squad. “Kuz” also converts nearly two-thirds of his paint touches, which is impressive.

Kyle Kuzma’s other halfcourt stats aren’t pretty, but he does flourish in the open court where he can use his burst and creativity around the rim to attack and wreak havoc on opposing defenses.

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