The Los Angeles Lakers are currently sliding. They are on a four-game losing streak and haven't been playing their best basketball. However, they are still 24-7 and a turnaround should happen soon.
Los Angeles is banking on forward Kyle Kuzma to become fully healthy so that he can complement Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who have done well as a duo. It took Kuzma some time to get back on the floor after dealing with an ankle injury in the preseason, and he's still being bothered by the injury currently despite being able to play.
However, Kuzma, Davis and James — although having only shared 109 minutes together on the floor — have become one of the Lakers' most effective lineups, according to head coach Frank Vogel.
“Unfortunately, we had a minutes restriction with [Kuzma] that game so we had to limit how much we could keep him in there, but that’s a lineup — with AD at the 5, Kuz at the 4, and LeBron, and two other really good players we have on the team — that we feel like could be our best lineup,” Vogel said after practice on Friday, per Christian Rivas of Silver Screen & Roll.
With Davis at the center, this will allow the Lakers to go small. The Lakers lineup would feature either a shooter or a playmaker. Hopefully, they can get to full strength with their injuries so the trio can spend as much time on the floor as possible.
Kuzma is currently averaging 11.9 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from deep and 70.2 percent from the free throw line. While these numbers are far from his production in his first two seasons, they are expected to increase as he gets healthier and more comfortable in his role with the Lakers.
Meanwhile, Davis and LeBron are averaging a combined 53.4 points per game while shooting at 49 percent from the field.
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