Walker Kessler Bench Appreciation Thread

[Fosto]

During Rudy's early years, it was pretty painful to see him guard the perimeter too, though. I agree that Walker doesn't have the same quickness, and might never have, but he's also been improving in that area IMHO. He had a couple of really nice possessions against Luka, for example (granted, not very small or quick, but still clearly improving). I also feel his closeouts have been much better, including some blocked threes here and there (and virtually no fouls).

No, it wasn't. Gobert was always good at guarding the perimeter. I don't think Kessler is bad at it either. He seems to do a fair job closing out and staying with his man.

 

[HermanG]

He is a great defender though. I literally watched him block a 3 point attempt last night. And the game before. I see him constantly having to leave his man to guard a teammates guy, swat that dude, turn around and swat another dude who got the rebound because no jazz players were doing anything. Covering huge portions of the court. I see him defending dudes on the perimeter well often.
I so often watch the jazz give up hella points then see Kessler come in the game and not give up hardly any points (@MT Steve often posts the stats on the game thread). You are tremendous downside so you don't see these things.
I saw someone post stats the other day showing Kessler combined with various jazz players and the amazing defensive rating improvement he causes.

He is a great defender. You are wrong. Just because he isn't as good a defender as gobert doesn't mean he isn't a great defender.

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I mean he guarded Luka 1on1 on the perimeter for few possessions and didnt give up a point as far as I remember.. Luka may have had some ailment but he scored 41 in their next game.

Kept perfect distance and made Luka miscalculate his blocking range:


View: https://x.com/JazzLead/status/1742017520822067703?s=20

He also had this play where he peeled off of Lively to block Luka who was cutting into the paint


View: https://x.com/JazzLead/status/1742031491516047485?s=20

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I mean he guarded Luka 1on1 on the perimeter for few possessions and didnt give up a point as far as I remember.. Luka may have had some ailment but he scored 41 in their next game.

Kept perfect distance and made Luka miscalculate his blocking range:


View: https://x.com/JazzLead/status/1742017520822067703?s=20

He also had this play where he peeled off of Lively to block Luka who was cutting into the paint


View: https://x.com/JazzLead/status/1742031491516047485?s=20

Walker's greatest trait is his IQ. I think he can survive against a guy like Luka because the footspeed isnt really the issue for people guarding Luka, it's that Luka is smarter than everyone and can get players to bite on things. Walker stays down and does a good job of staying solid. Against anyone with any kind of quickness on the perimeter he's usually getting roasted.

 

[HermanG]

Walker's greatest trait is his IQ. I think he can survive against a guy like Luka because the footspeed isnt really the issue for people guarding Luka, it's that Luka is smarter than everyone and can get players to bite on things. Walker stays down and does a good job of staying solid. Against anyone with any kind of quickness on the perimeter he's usually getting roasted.

IQ or instincts. He makes great reads either way.

 

[fishonjazz]

Against anyone with any kind of quickness on the perimeter he's usually getting roasted.

I think this is true about most bigs. There is a reason you want them to stay in the paint. Actually a couple reasons. 1. They are great in the paint. 2. They are not as good out on the perimeter. I remember some shaqtin a fool segments featuring an ex jazz center getting roasted by quick dudes on the perimeter. Also some small ball playoff stuff that I dont want to think about. Part of the playoff stuff was due to having poor perimeter defenders so he was scared to leave the paint and give up layups.... which is another reason why most bigs dont want to/and shouldn't be leaving the paint to guard the perimeter. If they do that then the paint is wide open for layups (which currently happens when Kessler isn't in the paint). Part of the reason was because defending smaller guys on the perimeter is not a strength of any dudes as big as our recent paint defenders.

In summary, All bigs are poor at guarding the perimeter against super fast/quick guys.

 

[Fosto]

I think this is true about most bigs. There is a reason you want them to stay in the paint. Actually a couple reasons. 1. They are great in the paint. 2. They are not as good out on the perimeter. I remember some shaqtin a fool segments featuring an ex jazz center getting roasted by quick dudes on the perimeter. Also some small ball playoff stuff that I dont want to think about. Part of the playoff stuff was due to having poor perimeter defenders so he was scared to leave the paint and give up layups.... which is another reason why most bigs dont want to/and shouldn't be leaving the paint to guard the perimeter. If they do that then the paint is wide open for layups (which currently happens when Kessler isn't in the paint). Part of the reason was because defending smaller guys on the perimeter is not a strength of any dudes as big as our recent paint defenders.

In summary, All bigs are poor at guarding the perimeter against super fast/quick guys.

Unless he can shut down Fox on the perimeter, he's worthless!

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think this is true about most bigs. There is a reason you want them to stay in the paint. Actually a couple reasons. 1. They are great in the paint. 2. They are not as good out on the perimeter. I remember some shaqtin a fool segments featuring an ex jazz center getting roasted by quick dudes on the perimeter. Also some small ball playoff stuff that I dont want to think about. Part of the playoff stuff was due to having poor perimeter defenders so he was scared to leave the paint and give up layups.... which is another reason why most bigs dont want to/and shouldn't be leaving the paint to guard the perimeter. If they do that then the paint is wide open for layups (which currently happens when Kessler isn't in the paint). Part of the reason was because defending smaller guys on the perimeter is not a strength of any dudes as big as our recent paint defenders.

In summary, All bigs are poor at guarding the perimeter against super fast/quick guys.

In summary, all your post trying to analyze basketball are poor.

 

[fishonjazz]

In summary, all your post trying to analyze basketball are poor.

What part did you disagree with?

Do you think that 7 footers are typically good at guarding Steph and fox and Lillard out at the 3 point line?

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[hgb]

No, it wasn't. Gobert was always good at guarding the perimeter. I don't think Kessler is bad at it either. He seems to do a fair job closing out and staying with his man.

I may be remembering it wrong, or just getting hung up on the bad ones, but I feel getting Rudy switched on quick guards with a shot wasn't a recipe for success in the earlier years. That said, I agree they're both pretty good at it, all things considering their size and the speed (and skills) of those guards.

Rudy really perfected the chase-down block after some time, but I didn't really think he had that going those first couple of years.

 

[NAOS_pt2]

It sucks when Cy has a good point, because he creates an environment where good discussion on that point is basically impossible around here.

Kessler needs more dawg in him. Rudy always had way more dawg. This is particularly obvious on offense.

One could say that Kessler is on a perfectly good developmental trajectory. But it's also fair to wonder if dawg is something you have or you don't.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

It sucks when Cy has a good point, because he creates an environment where good discussion on that point is basically impossible around here.

Kessler needs more dawg in him. Rudy always had way more dawg. This is particularly obvious on offense.

One could say that Kessler is on a perfectly good developmental trajectory. But it's also fair to wonder if dawg is something you have or you don't.

I can say without much doubt... dawg is not developed... it is in you or it isn't.

He can be more physical and some of that dawg is not always productive. Its the same stuff that might get Rudy in hot water with his teammates in film rooms when calling out dudes. I can tell Walker wants to be good and wants to improve. He ain't got that dawg in him though... and that's okay.

 

[Fosto]

It sucks when Cy has a good point, because he creates an environment where good discussion on that point is basically impossible around here.

Kessler needs more dawg in him. Rudy always had way more dawg. This is particularly obvious on offense.

One could say that Kessler is on a perfectly good developmental trajectory. But it's also fair to wonder if dawg is something you have or you don't.

He's been trying to go up strong through contact lately. So I think the coaching staff is working with him on it. I think it would be easier for him to find that dawg if he improves his FT%. I can understand why he's reluctant to get fouled when he's barely hitting half his free throws.