Pretty straight forward question.

Poll question: Is Kyle Kuzma a Top 25 player in the East?

Poll result (13 votes) Yes (1 votes) Vote No (12 votes) Vote

Embiid
Durant
Harden
Giannis
Middleton
Tatum
Butler
Bam
LaVine
DeRozen
Trae
LaMelo
Beal
Jaylen
Jrue
Kyrie
Garland
Siakam
Sabonis
Jarrett Allen
Lowry
Randle

And that's not getting into the rookies this year, obviously.

Is he better than anyone on this list? No, I don't think so. Is he in the next *3*? I guess it's CLOSE...but ultimately...no.

Points: 16.3
Rebounds: 11

Kuzma: 16.0
Rebounds: 9

Is Allen Cleveland’s clutch player? Hell no

Again, Kuzma, is 1st in plus/minus in clutch time...
1st in 3 pointers made in clutch time
AND SECOND IN REBOUNDING during clutch time.

Kuzma is one of the top clutch players in the NBA.

And you’re saying he isn’t top 25 in the east?

Stop.

But *IM* the hater. Okay, "talk about your own team" guy.

The premium you are putting on clutch stats does not an all star make.

Jarrett Allen has a much, much, MUCH better shot at being an all star right today than Kuzma. Do you know why? Team success & stats (those 2 things you just said....that are...better than Kuzma).

- So he has quality complete regulation stats
- is arguably the best clutch player stat wise with his production
in the last 5 mins of the game
- top 20 in double/doubles

Beal ain’t the one winning games for the Wiz....Kyle is

But he isn’t allStar caliber and he isn’t top 25 in his conference???



Bye, Felicia

This is a silly ass argument that I can't believe I'm still having.

Kyle Kuzma would be taken over exactly zero of the players listed above. None. Not a one. And there are more. Ignore contracts entirely. Still - none.

You are absolutely cherry picking stats. Kuz is a nice 3rd wheel. He is not, and will not be, an all star.

Look, if he's an all star - I'll take the L.

But I'll also be happy for him because I, again, love Kuz.

But you're arguing if he's top 25 in the east, and losing that argument. I think it's close, but he's probably closer to top 30. Even still...there are *12* guys named to the all star team. He's going to need a omicron wave to hit to be named a 12th alternate.

Just because anyone on the tier between, like, 27 and 40 is going to be a matter of personal taste. Picking between, like, some dope rookie, some good defensive big, and Kuzma will all come down to what you vale. I wouldn't begrudge someone thinking Kuz is, like, 29th. I wouldn't go there, but I also wouldn't passionately argue against it or anything.

I mostly just said the number 25 arbitrarily because I think the top 22-24 players are so obviously better and so obviously more likely to be All-Stars in the East that the best counterargument would be "but if he's the 25th best player in the East, he's still top 25, and I win!"

Which, fine, if you feel that way... but that also wouldn't make him even close to an All-Star, which was obviously the original point.

But anyway. None of this matters. I knew the poll wouldn't matter either. Just thought "Kyle Kuzma is having an All-Star season" was one of those "wild even for OKP" comments that I couldn't help but address.

It would be legendary if you called this on a guy averaging 6 pppg, 2 rebounds, and then he blossomed in to a perennial all star.

A middle of the pack player who has shown enough that he could potentially have a really good season or two- coupled with an injury or down year by others in his position- and actually make it a time or two?

Sure. It's possible that he'll wind up with a Chris Gatling or Wally Szczerbiak year, and he gets a nod. That's not outside the realm of possibility for him.

There's nothing legendary about that.

It's weird enough that you're going so hard for a guy who isn't realistically close to being an all star right now, but it's even weirder that you're even trying to make an imagined, future victory like like something far more profound than it actually is.

I mean, whatever.

But he's not an all star this year. If he makes it in, it'll be a huge shock. He could absolutely be one of those fringe all star dudes at some point - but not THIS year.

traditionally selected.

I’m including all stats across the board...complete regulation stats and clutch stats.

Kuzma has both to be an allStar.

Wiggins/Allen, etc don’t have both...but they are getting all Star consideration.

And he is clearly a top 25 player in the east

on winning teams.

Like I said- you're cherry picking, and ignoring all the other obvious shit that goes into all star consideration.

Top 25 is a maybe, at BEST.

I have no problem with that.

Frankie, are you listening?

: )

Like, he could go on a tear and wind up top 25 by year's end.

But this is where the possible vs probable argument comes into play.

Because, while possible, it doesn't look likely right now.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&dir=-1

What filters are you using? He's 43rd in +/- per game during clutch time according to NBA.com.

Even if you limit it exclusively to players who've played 10 or more games that require clutch time, he's Top 10. And 3rd on his team in that metric, behind Daniel Gafford and Deni Avdija.

Or maybe you're arguing for total +/-. Cool. He's 4th in that metric, behind Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, and Mikal Bridges.

Here are screenshots for those who don't feel like dealing with NBA.com on mobile:
https://imgur.com/a/3XPbnpC

So I assume you're using some sort of filters and restrictions to make Kuzma #1. Would be interested to know what those are.

Or you're arguing that Jae Crowder should also be an All-Star and that he's Top 25 in the West. I don't know.

“Among players that have played at least 50 clutch minutes this season, Kuzma ranks first in plus-minus (+59), first in 3-pointers made (14), seventh in points (65) and second in rebounds (26).”

From NBA.COM:

https://www.nba.com/wizards/kyle-kuzma-owning-his-moment-i-know-what-im-capable-of

Players who have played at LEAST 50 CLUTCH MINS.

Check the date on that link. Whereas if you looked at the stats I provided, or just look at the live link right today, you'll see that Paul, Crowder, and Bridges have all played at least 50 clutch minutes. And all have higher total clutch +/- than Kuzma.

I recommend looking at actual live stats before posting instead of using articles that came from before MLK Day.

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&PerMode=Totals

Here's a screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/2ixq0Yz

Does +/- only matter in clutch time?

For those who wonder if the totals sometimes skew the numbers some for players who play lots of minutes, that's a fair retort. When you measure +/- per game instead of total +/-, he moves up to 486th in the NBA: https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season

and MLK was last Monday. Lol

So up until this week Kuz was number 1 in plus/minus
with at least 50 clutch mins played.

Dude, GTFOH

Apologies. I'll allow the wrong stats to stand as uncorrected fact next time.

Laker haters were hyping dudes like Kuzna and Randle and trying to criticize the Lakers for trading them now we see who they are

Clarkson, Randle, Kuzma, Caruso, Ingram, Zubac, etc - just a few dudes who were Laker favs and now that they're on another team they suddenly AREN'T the trash that non-Laker fans said they were.

Lakers scouting department >>>>>>>

And Kuz has been better than every lakers player not
named Lebron.

Facts.

lol

Hi, Ryan.

Hey, Frankie.

Which was the point.

As I've said - it's close. He's probably top 30. Maybe top 25 - MAYBE. But he won't be an all star and this is not an all star year. I can't be any more clear than that.

But you think the league is rigged when a 37 year old man with about 4 extra seasons on his knees takes a few days off so what do you know?

That's the story of Kyle Kuzma.

Frankly, I HOPE the rest of his career looks like this January.

But history tells me to expect a general combination of games that resemble both December and January.

But here's the thing: If/when his career starts to consistently resemble his January 2022 performance, opinions of him will change accordingly.

I don't think any of us have an issue with that.

Thing is, we're looking at a much broader history than this small sample size.

Nonsensical absurdity all over the place

People using wild ass wrong data

People mad

Keep it going

Genuinely was bummed it only had 25 replies after a few days, lmao.

>
>Nonsensical absurdity all over the place
>
>People using wild ass wrong data
>
>People mad
>
>Keep it going

More 25 + point games than Allen and Collins, and
more 25 point double/doubles than any other power
forward in the Eastern Conference....as well as in the league except
for Lebron I believe....at the PF position.

Nine 25 + point games
Six 25 point double/doubles

and is a top 25 player in the east and is having an allStar
caliber season.

That’s and....don’t try to pretend, dog

Talking about some focking And ...and this dude is putting
up monster numbers

Sorry ass lakers fans

.

Can’t post on my phone for shit. I’m just mashing buttons like Homer in the muu muu.

He may well be having his coming out party right now. But i’ve said it several times, whatever he can be, it wouldn’t be with the Lakers. He could never string together sort of consistency he’s shown since January. He always seemed to do his best work with Brawn or Brow out, and he was never a great fit next to them together.

So he may have done this with Brow out injured, but it would have dipped again once Brow returned.

I think he would still look more like his November/ December numbers, overall.

So if this current stretch is indicative of his true abilities, i’m glad for him. But i dont think this level was in the cards for him while he was here.

>He may well be having his coming out party right now. But
>i’ve said it several times, whatever he can be, it
>wouldn’t be with the Lakers. He could never string together
>sort of consistency he’s shown since January. He always
>seemed to do his best work with Brawn or Brow out, and he was
>never a great fit next to them together.
>
>So he may have done this with Brow out injured, but it would
>have dipped again once Brow returned.
>
>I think he would still look more like his November/ December
>numbers, overall.
>
>So if this current stretch is indicative of his true
>abilities, i’m glad for him. But i dont think this level was
>in the cards for him while he was here.

Incredible skill and talent
But too much of a goofball to maximize/capitalize on said skill and talent
I don't expect him to get fat and be out of the league anytime soon
But he's frustrating to watch, because you can see what he could be without the knucklehead stuff
Top 25 talent...sure
Top 25 player...no, not yet.

Playing with straight 3 stringers, no allstars....

He officially has his own team!

Inconsistent as he can be and is…the team may be good enough for him to get a nod. It’s great to see Kuz ball out. Will forever be a Laker favorite.

Randle, so no.

He’s got an OUTSIDE shot. Still not all that likely. And he’s kinda doing the same shit he did last year but now has a bit more of a reputation and his team is hovering around .500 so…who knows.

lol

I’ve watched this team a ton so far this season - a bunch of highly skilled parts, none of which play defense - and at times he’s the best player on the team. It feels silly to say but I know it’s true, he’s not a better player than Beal but his bag is deeper if that makes sense? He can kind of do everything at a superb level offensively. I think he’s an All Star this season.