With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, the Milwaukee Bucks need everyone to step up and chip into the void of lost production. What they don't need is for Kyle Kuzma to relapse into the Wizards version of himself, an inefficient lead scorer on a bad team.
To his credit, he recognizes the role the Bucks want him to play. He won't try to outdo himself in Giannis' absence. He's ready to do whatever's asked.
“Just like when I first came here, just whatever this staff wants me to do," Kuzma said after Monday's game. "Whatever the team calls for is where my head’s at.”
That's just what fans needed to hear to alleviate their concerns over an incoming Kuzma disaster class.
Kuzma sticking with secondary role gives Bucks best chance to survive
The Bucks have already asked Kuzma to do more than expected by inserting him into the starting lineup. That move wasn't just made because Gary Trent Jr. is off to an awful start. Kuzma earned the opportunity by playing consistent, team basketball in his new role off the bench.
As a starter, results have been mixed, more bad than good. In an overtime win over the Hornets, Kuzma poured in a Bucks career-high 29 points. The very next night, he went 0-of-6 from the field against the Lakers, including 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. He scored one point and committed five fouls. It was an off night for the entire team - excluding Giannis, of course - but Kuzma's performance was among the worst.
Against Cleveland, he followed with 10 points on 4-of-12 from the field, committing as many fouls as made field goals. On the bright side, he was better in the second half after being M.I.A. before halftime.
Overall, however, he's shooting just 38.6 percent as a starter compared to 57.1 percent off the bench. Paradoxically, he is scoring more in fewer minutes as a reserve (14.2 points per game) than as a member of the starting five (11.6 points per game).
With Giannis out, the Bucks don't have a choice but to keep Kuzma in the starting unit. The main thing they need him to do is stay within himself. That means continuing to play tight defense and look for quality shots on the other end.
The offense works best with Kuzma cutting to the basket or forcing the issue with drives into the paint. Maintaining a healthy shot diet will be critical. Bucks fans will pull their hair out if they see Kuzma launching any more stepback threes or off-balance floaters.
Fortunately, he appears to be in tune with the team's needs. Yes, the Bucks may have to think outside the box to manufacture playmaking without Giannis, but if anything, they should lean more into Kuzma the passer than as a scorer. As a starter, he is averaging three assists per game versus one per game off the bench. He also has a better assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.67 to 1.13.
While that doesn't mean putting the ball in his hands all the time, as a member of the starting five, he has been an effective facilitator. As long as Kuzma knows what's being asked, it's just a matter of the coaching staff giving him the right assignments.