Perhaps the biggest positive to come from the play of the Lakers in the Orlando Bubble has been the strong outside shooting for Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma is shooting 44% from the 3-point line in the Lakers seven seeding games so far, with none bigger than the buzzer-beater he hit last night over Bol Bol to help snap a three-game losing streak in the bubble.
Kuzma’s shot has been solid and the confidence has been there, you could even hear him call game-time before the shot. But what Kuzma’s performance has shown LeBron James is a validation of what he has said throughout the season, that the Lakers need Kuzma to be their third scorer and in some cases, the Lakers will need him to play like a No. 2 option, according to LeBron.
“I mean in order for us to win a championship, he has to be our third-best player,” James told reporters after Monday night’s win. “And if I’m struggling or AD is struggling, he has to be our second-best player. We aren’t going to win a championship if Kuz doesn’t play well.”
The Lakers only have one more game before they can turn their attention to the postseason.