Two Eras of this Season to Date---BK and AK

[Benjammin]

I realize this is overly simplistic, reductive, and correlation does not mean causation. But so far there have been two periods of the Wizards season: BK (before Kuzma) and AK (after Kuzma). The challenge for Keefe will be how to work with Kuzma, Brogdon, and Poole in such a way that it does not hurt the development of Bub, George, and BCoul while maintaining the tank (which should take care of itself.)

[nate33]

I'd like to identify an easy scapegoat, but I really don't think it's Kuzma's fault. Those two Atlanta wins were just a fluke - particularly the first one when Trae Young shot 2/15 while we hit 47% of our 3's. In the 2nd game, Atlanta's injuries forced them to start David freaking Roddy at SG.

Other than those 2 games, we have been consistently awful, with or without Kuzma. None of this season surprises me. You're not going to win many games starting 3 rookies and a 20-year-old 2nd year player. It's just not possible.

[dobrojim]

You're not going to win many games starting 3 rookies and a 20-year-old 2nd year player. It's just not possible.

This is clearly true. What you didn't say was that inexperience and youthfullness are valid excuses
for the kids. Kuz should know better. He plays as if he thinks he is LBJ.

[payitforward]

If there is nothing wrong with our losing, then there is no problem to solve -- hence nothing to blame on Kuzma.

I like Kyle Kuzma. He is smart & charming, & he gives the impression of being a really good guy as well.

Kuz thinks he is a really good player. He thinks that last season he put up "all star level" numbers.
In fact, he put up terrible numbers last season. He is by no means a high-level NBA player.

So he's wrong. So what?
There's no reason to blame Kuz for thinking he's really good -- what's he supposed to think?

[Zonkerbl]

that's what you want your players to think. You're not going to make shots second guessing yourself all the time

[AFM]

Well he’s not making them either way.

[penbeast0]

You don't want a crisis of confidence but you also want players who know the difference between a good shot and a bad shot. Scoring doesn't impress me if it's made because you have a green light to take a lot of bad shots; I've had this discussion many many times with Iverson fans for example. I'd rather a guy who could be better without the confidence like Deni was than a guy with irrational faith in a poor shot like Kuzma . . . even ignoring the defensive difference.

[Zonkerbl]

I mean, it's the coach's job to be like, what kind of shot do you like, and design a play for that shot, and then be like "holy crap I love that play, keep taking that shot"

You can reinforce good shots without undermining your players' confidence. That is your job as a professional coach.

[TheBlackCzar]

I mean, it's the coach's job to be like, what kind of shot do you like, and design a play for that shot, and then be like "holy crap I love that play, keep taking that shot"

You can reinforce good shots without undermining your players' confidence. That is your job as a professional coach.

Bolded is very true...

[penbeast0]

Sure, positive is better than negative with most people but you need to be able to do both. Kuz is around 30, he got to the pros and is making millions having taken those shots year in and year out for the last decade. I don't think he's going to change much.

As Dan Issel once said when someone asked him about his reputation for wanting to take the last shots, "I want to take all the shots."

[Zonkerbl]

Sure, positive is better than negative with most people but you need to be able to do both. Kuz is around 30, he got to the pros and is making millions having taken those shots year in and year out for the last decade. I don't think he's going to change much.

As Dan Issel once said when someone asked him about his reputation for wanting to take the last shots, "I want to take all the shots."

Well, so did Michael Jordan. Jackson still talked him into running the triangle rather than playing one on five the entire game.

[penbeast0]

That's why he's the GOAT coach

[Zonkerbl]

That's why he's the GOAT coach

[Kanyewest]

Sure, positive is better than negative with most people but you need to be able to do both. Kuz is around 30, he got to the pros and is making millions having taken those shots year in and year out for the last decade. I don't think he's going to change much.

As Dan Issel once said when someone asked him about his reputation for wanting to take the last shots, "I want to take all the shots."

Well, so did Michael Jordan. Jackson still talked him into running the triangle rather than playing one on five the entire game.

After reading Jordan Rules, it only happened when the Bulls made the playoffs. So maybe that happens to Kuzma once the Wizards are competitive......

[Zonkerbl]

Is Kuzma the kind of player where you want to invent an entirely new way of playing to accommodate his lack of desire to pass?