Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Lessons in a huge season series loss to Portland

May 7, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Alex Caruso (4) goes to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers power forward Carmelo Anthony (bottom) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Alex Caruso (4) goes to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers power forward Carmelo Anthony (bottom) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

If the Los Angeles Lakers trade Kyle Kuzma in the offseason, this is the game that sealed his fate! 

For the last couple of seasons, this writer defended Kyle Kuzma. Foreshadowed his trade value and basically told any Lakers fan that would listen that he would figure things out and be a part of this team’s plans.

That ended after this game along with any belief that Kuzma can be a consistent contributor to this team. He scored two baskets in the entire game. One was with TWO SECONDS left in the game on a putback the Blazers let him have to keep the clock running.

Here’s the other basket.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1390864166777282562

Kuzma played one of the worst games of his career on the biggest night of his career. See the Los Angeles Lakers needed him in this game. It was Kyle that was to provide the scoring punch in LeBron’s absence. Not KCP. Not Alex Caruso…KYLE KUZMA!

In 33 minutes, Kyle Kuzma scored four points on 2-11 shooting with five rebounds and three turnovers. When he fumbled a pass from Anthony Davis out of bounds, AD’s face told it all for all Lakers fans that defended Kuz…

What is this dude doing?

It has prefaced numerous times that this writer roots for Kyle Kuzma because he is from Flint Michigan (Family ties!). Guys from Flint do not play like Kuzma does. Need a visual?

Meet Miles Bridges who plays for the Charlotte Hornets.

This is how cats out of Flint play basketball. With bad intentions.

Lake Show Life will close out the report the same way it started. Montrezl Harrell, the reigning NBA 6th Man of the Year coming off a 14 point 4th quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers, did not see the floor in this game.

Lake Show Life will extend its post-game coverage in the postseason! There will be short post-game reports shortly after the game in addition to the extended post-game of Lake Show Life Lessons! 

More potential back-to-back championship coverage for championship fans.