Confidence Level in Walker

[seattlejazzfan]

Offensively he will be better than Gobert and at times already is but is still very inconsistent. On the defensive level I dont think he will catch Gobert. Gobert was an elite defender and one of the all time best at defending the paint. I dont see him being an all-star but its possible. I think if he gets his corner three down and gets more consistent he is a very good starter on a good team. If he cant shoot much and is still inconsistent on both ends he is a situational player that is still a starter and some games plays 30+ and some gets 20.

i disagree with this. offensively he might become more talented or skilled than Gobert, but my prediction is that he will never be as effective or productive as an NBA player as Gobert. Gobert's peak was 16 ppg on 68% TS over the course of a season with multiple 15 ppg seasons - I don't think Kessler ever gets there. Just not nearly as explosive a finisher as Rudy was at his peak.

 

[LogGrad98]

He is too nice a guy. I wish he played with more intensity and played angry. I like the offensive fluidity but I wish he would play with more force and create more foul problems for the other team

This is a good point. One thing that separated Rudy was he played with a chip on his shoulder. He took it personally. He never hung his head when he messed up or got posterized or whatever, he just came at you again on the next play and was determined to take you down. Kessler needs a little bit of this for sure. A lot of this would be better.

 

[Bawse Dawg]

I have confidence that Kessler will become a very good player and watching Wemby I'm just super happy Jazz has a 7'1" athletic young big in their roster.

Man, when do we play the Spurs? I gotta see this. I don't see Kessler putting up any resistance to Wemby. What would he do against him?

And where is Kessler hiding this athleticism? Not saying you're wrong, but the eye test has him looking average or below as an athlete.

 

[KqWIN]

i disagree with this. offensively he might become more talented or skilled than Gobert, but my prediction is that he will never be as effective or productive as an NBA player as Gobert. Gobert's peak was 16 ppg on 68% TS over the course of a season with multiple 15 ppg seasons - I don't think Kessler ever gets there. Just not nearly as explosive a finisher as Rudy was at his peak.

Kessler's offensive game is already more elegant than Rudy, but the thing about Rudy is that if he embarrassed himself 3/10 times he still dunked it the other 7 times. He also got to the line at a very high rate and was a (relatively) a much better shooter there. His career FTr is .719 and even shooting 64% from the line is still good offense. Rudy's game is not pretty, but very effective. He is/was a special athlete.

 

[KqWIN]

Man, when do we play the Spurs? I gotta see this. I don't see Kessler putting up any resistance to Wemby. What would he do against him?

And where is Kessler hiding this athleticism? Not saying you're wrong, but the eye test has him looking average or below as an athlete.

I remember there being a big discussion about this last year. I don't know why we started billing Kessler as a great athlete. He's huge and an effective player because of his size, but I can't seriously call him an athletic C.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Walker's number #1 hater doing nasty work.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

His issues this year seem mental. He needs to touch a booby. R-E-L-A-X

Remember that year Gordon missed a lot of shots and was constantly down on himself... that's what Walker is kind of reminding me of right now.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Kessler's offensive game is already more elegant than Rudy, but the thing about Rudy is that if he embarrassed himself 3/10 times he still dunked it the other 7 times. He also got to the line at a very high rate and was a (relatively) a much better shooter there. His career FTr is .719 and even shooting 64% from the line is still good offense. Rudy's game is not pretty, but very effective. He is/was a special athlete.

Rudy also tried some stuff.

When Walker has tried stuff he has embarrassed himself. In the preseason he attempted some post fadeaway that was as ugly if not uglier than any jumper I've seen Rudy attempt. Last game he had some weird post pass to absolutely no one.

 

[HermanG]

Man, when do we play the Spurs? I gotta see this. I don't see Kessler putting up any resistance to Wemby. What would he do against him?

And where is Kessler hiding this athleticism? Not saying you're wrong, but the eye test has him looking average or below as an athlete.

I'm not saing he is a top level athlete or even great, but in the category of big centers or players with his body type I see him being pretty smooth and running the floor way better than most of those guys.

I think he can body him up and make entry passes to Wemby a bit harder than most guys in the NBA. If Wemby gets the ball inside I'm not sure anyone in the league can do anything but foul him.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Walker's number #1 hater doing nasty work.

Not a hater, just need to realize our team building shouldn't really factor Walker in all that much. The best version of this team might be with a more dynamic center. Every season the league gets harder for players in the Walker archetype.

Also I don't think Walker is nearly as good or has any potential to get close to how good peak Rudy was a perimeter defense on switches.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I'm not saing he is a top level athlete or even great, but in the category of big centers or players with his body type I see him being pretty smooth and running the floor way better than most of those guys.

I think he can body him up and make entry passes to Wemby a bit harder than most guys in the NBA. If Wemby gets the ball inside I'm not sure anyone in the league can do anything but foul him.

Walker isn't guarding Wemby most likely. Lauri/Collins are and they will have Walker help at the rim.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Like if we end up getting into a tank situation and get lucky with the #1 pick, I'm 100000% trading Walker and drafting Sarr. Would anyone go a different direction?