Los Angeles Lakers: 3 keys that will win or lose the game vs. Clippers

3. Which version of Kyle Kuzma shows up

This is the biggest x-factor of the entire game and to be fair, it is the biggest x-factor for the Los Angeles Lakers in most games. Which version of Kyle Kuzma shows up in this contest is going to have a big impact on the Lakers’ overall success in this game.

This is even more true, however, with the Clippers’ lack of depth. While the team could get a random big game from Reggie Jackson or Marcus Morris, the team doesn’t really have that third asset that they normally have in either Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell or even Patrick Beverley.

The Lakers have that in Kuzma but the team is going to need him to show up. If the Kuzma from the first scrimmage — that played shoddy defense against Luca Doncic and was terribly inefficient on the offensive side of the ball — shows up then the team is going to have problems.

However, if the playmaking version of Kuzma that showed up in the second scrimmage — who also put in high energy on the defensive side of the ball and was not a complete liability — shows up the Lakers are going to be in really good hands.

We know what the Lakers are going to get out of Anthony Davis and LeBron James and Davis especially is probably going to have a big box score. And while he will more overall for the team, it will be Kuzma’s contributions that make a bigger difference.

Personally, because of the Clippers’ serious lack of depth in this game, I have the Los Angeles Lakers winning because of a big swing by the reserves that give LeBron and AD a lead that they can sit on.