**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins

[MVP]

Kuz was a turnstile on D last year primarily as a 4 too.

He is capable of being a 20 ppg scorer? Sure, but so is BI, they averaged the same amount of ppg last season. BI is definitely needed more in the starting lineup given what else he brings to the table besides just chucking. Especially his defensive versatility. And as soon as Rondo is back on the bench his playmaking ability as well.

You mention all those other guys, they've had at least a couple capable defenders at minimum around them. Or are actually elite level scorers. Kuz is not.

 

[Lizakers]

Kuz was a turnstile on D last year primarily as a 4 too.

He is capable of being a 20 ppg scorer? Sure, but so is BI, they averaged the same amount of ppg last season. BI is definitely needed more in the starting lineup given what else he brings to the table besides just chucking. Especially his defensive versatility.

You mention all those other guys, they've had at least a couple capable defenders at minimum around them. Or are actually elite level scorers. Kuz is not.

Ingram and Kuz can both be great scorers. BI has much more potential as a defender. At this point, Kuz is a better scorer in my opinion. He has more ways to score and isn’t afraid to shoot. Who’s had more 25+ point games in the NBA thus far ? I would say it’s Kuz

I just don’t get all the fascination with wanting him to be a lock down defender when it’s clearly not in his skill set. Midas whale appreciate what he’s great at.

 

[pmatic]

Why would PHX do that?

Ariza leaving next summer anyways, maybe Phoenix wants to try Booker as the primary ball handler a la Harden and make KCP the de facto Beverly (3 and D) since they don't have a PG on the roster anyways.

 

[captaintuxable]

I honestly feel like you gotta naturally want to go out there and put the clamps on. Like Draymond said, in today's league, no one cares. You just gotta go out there and score more than the other team. The first 3 game scores have been ridic.

 

[doublemesh96]

Both teams played hard

 

[had pants]

 

[licensed to ball]

Everyone on this roster besides probably BI gives up more points than he scores.
At least Kuz can match or in some cases score more than he gives up.
He's needed out there.

 

[Maximus Meridius]

I'm still mad about that Spurs game. We finally started hitting some 3's but it don't even matter what we do on offense if we giving up 120+ and over 40% from 3.

 

[WAKKO!]

Once BI gets that 3 going it’s game over for the league.

 

[nermindee]

k everyone can agree we need help when Javale sits down... Noah for a cheap 1 year? I know he is sorry but he definitely will hustle and play better defense than cement feet zubac...

5 fouls in 4 minutes... thats ridiculous.

 

[MVP]

k everyone can agree we need help when Javale sits down... Noah for a cheap 1 year? I know he is sorry but he definitely will hustle and play better defense than cement feet zubac...

5 fouls in 4 minutes... thats ridiculous.

If he has any knees left he'd be perfect honestly

 

[UsualSuspects]

Somebody on Twitter mentioned this lineup

Bi at point
Lonzo at SG
LeBron
Kuz
McGee

 

[nermindee]

Once BI gets that 3 going it’s game over for the league.

lol you need to be tested... he has way more things he needs to work on instead of his three point shooting...

 

[luhem]

need this tee

 

[atlsfinest]

“Kuz must shut down all 7 footers in the post”

Who really cares about defense anymore. Harden is MVP and is arguably the worst defender in the league. Looking like a buffoon on D

Who can Curry shut down? Lillard? Kyrie? Prime Dirk? Most superstars can’t play D

Let’s appreciate Kuz and his talent for shooting and scoring. He can be a 20+ ppg scorer and that in itself is a huge value.

Who cares about defense? Teams who care about winning care about defense. To put things in perspective, we're averaging 125 point per game and we're 0-3 (we're giving up an average of 131 ppg so far ). We can score 200 pts but if you can't defend (at least a little) it won't matter.

Curry can afford to be a bad individual defender because he has really good defensive players around him (Draymond, Durant, Klay), same goes for Kyrie (Horford, Baines, Brown and Tatum are all good defenders). The Trailblazers are awful on defense and look at how much they've accomplished in the playoffs. You can have bad individual defenders if your team defense is good. Our issue is that all of our guys are awful on defense.

 

[Mr Dink]

I expect at least SOME defense.

 

[sohi 23]

Last game against the Spurs was ridiculous.

That first quarter where they put up 40 had me heated. They were just raining uncontested jumpers lmao. If we played any semblance of defense in those first 6-10 minutes we would’ve won.

Oh well, let’s see what happens tonight. Gotta lock in defensively because the shots on offense will start falling eventually

 

[atlsfinest]

Ayton is going for 30 and 15 tonight. Watch.

 

[sohi 23]

Ayton is going for 30 and 15 tonight. Watch.

He’ll give up 24 & 16 to McGee while he’s doing it.

 

[pmatic]

The Blazers were actually a good defense last year*

 

[Lizakers]

My point about Kuzma was that we harp on his defense when maybe we should be happy we have a very good young scorer who isn’t afraid of the spotlight.

 

[okevonz]

who's here remember when we use to really wanted to drafted Jabari Parker and Dante Exum thinking they will be super stars.

 

[Kinfolk]

We should give Bynum a shot since Zubac is an absolute zero

 

[lovehateself]

We should give Bynum a shot since Zubac is an absolute zero

Would rather have Noah die out there for us

 

[MIKE LOWERY]

Like I said before, Magilinka should bring Noah in for a workout at the very least. It's doubtful he has anything left, but if he does, he essentially perfect for the vet min.

I see now why you Laker fans were clamoring to bring Brook back. While he's not a rebounder and slow as molasses, just having his bag *** out there would change things I'm sure. Add to that he seemed to have his 3 ball at slightly above average too.

Nevertheless, there will be options as the season progresses on waivers. Hopefully they won't be in the cellar of the pacific division at that point.