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Walker Kessler Hype & Appreciation Thread

TheGoldStandard said:
I'd love for him to get some post-ups on the block. I think he would do well there with his footwork.
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I have seen a few times in the past oh dozen games or so that he had a good move to the basket, even took it from the top of they key, and it looked like his instinct was to go at the rim, then he stopped and held the ball and looked confused as he looked for someone to pass to. It makes me think he has been told not to do that, to not look for the shot. He did it a couple of times when he had the ball near the top of the key and had an open look, no one around him, and he looked like he was getting ready to shoot, but then took like a single dribble and looked to hand it off instead. I can't help but think he has been instructed not to take those shots, although I cannot fathom why. A few times he had a nice move to the rim, could have given himself a nice little hook shot or bank shot or even layup, but instead looked to pass. I wish they would foster his offense more. If you watch his college highlights he had some reasonably nice moves around the basket with some nice little flip shots off the backboard and even some nice finger-roll layups and such. He is not Olajuwan, but he can make those moves reasonably well. I wish he had the green light even a fraction as much as Clarkson does. When he has the ball all alone at the top of the key or has a back to the basket opportunity in the paint he should go with it, why not? What are we gaining by stifling that instinct in him to try to score?
 
LogGrad98 said:
I have seen a few times in the past oh dozen games or so that he had a good move to the basket, even took it from the top of they key, and it looked like his instinct was to go at the rim, then he stopped and held the ball and looked confused as he looked for someone to pass to. It makes me think he has been told not to do that, to not look for the shot. He did it a couple of times when he had the ball near the top of the key and had an open look, no one around him, and he looked like he was getting ready to shoot, but then took like a single dribble and looked to hand it off instead. I can't help but think he has been instructed not to take those shots, although I cannot fathom why. A few times he had a nice move to the rim, could have given himself a nice little hook shot or bank shot or even layup, but instead looked to pass. I wish they would foster his offense more. If you watch his college highlights he had some reasonably nice moves around the basket with some nice little flip shots off the backboard and even some nice finger-roll layups and such. He is not Olajuwan, but he can make those moves reasonably well. I wish he had the green light even a fraction as much as Clarkson does. When he has the ball all alone at the top of the key or has a back to the basket opportunity in the paint he should go with it, why not? What are we gaining by stifling that instinct in him to try to score?
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Agree with all of this, which is why they should let him develop this aspect of his game. I think he has good enough footwork to command a double team in many situations. Basketball is such a mental/confidence game, let him build it up now and it will pay dividends in the future. I'd also like to see him learn to make the right pass after getting the ball on the post. I'd much rather see Kessler make a bad play while developing a post game that some of the early clock forced bs we have seen from Clarkson.

I would much rather see Kessler get more freedom and touches in the post than letting him take a three. While I'd like him to develop a 3, I'd rather see him refine his post game, and FT shooting first.
 
LogGrad98 said:
I have seen a few times in the past oh dozen games or so that he had a good move to the basket, even took it from the top of they key, and it looked like his instinct was to go at the rim, then he stopped and held the ball and looked confused as he looked for someone to pass to. It makes me think he has been told not to do that, to not look for the shot. He did it a couple of times when he had the ball near the top of the key and had an open look, no one around him, and he looked like he was getting ready to shoot, but then took like a single dribble and looked to hand it off instead. I can't help but think he has been instructed not to take those shots, although I cannot fathom why. A few times he had a nice move to the rim, could have given himself a nice little hook shot or bank shot or even layup, but instead looked to pass. I wish they would foster his offense more. If you watch his college highlights he had some reasonably nice moves around the basket with some nice little flip shots off the backboard and even some nice finger-roll layups and such. He is not Olajuwan, but he can make those moves reasonably well. I wish he had the green light even a fraction as much as Clarkson does. When he has the ball all alone at the top of the key or has a back to the basket opportunity in the paint he should go with it, why not? What are we gaining by stifling that instinct in him to try to score?
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We are saving it for the playoffs. . .
 
TheGoldStandard said:
Agree with all of this, which is why they should let him develop this aspect of his game. I think he has good enough footwork to command a double team in many situations. Basketball is such a mental/confidence game, let him build it up now and it will pay dividends in the future. I'd also like to see him learn to make the right pass after getting the ball on the post. I'd much rather see Kessler make a bad play while developing a post game that some of the early clock forced bs we have seen from Clarkson.

I would much rather see Kessler get more freedom and touches in the post than letting him take a three. While I'd like him to develop a 3, I'd rather see him refine his post game, and FT shooting first.
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Agreed. Really I would just love to see them let him take a shot when he is open. If he is at the free throw line-ish distance and his defender is fading off him to cover any cuts to the rim and he is wide open, just take the shot. He has shown good enough form he could hit those with some regularity and frankly it is probably a better shot than handing it off to Clarkson so he can take on the entire team 1 on 5 and throw up some off-balance crappy floater through a triple-team. If nothing else if Kessler can hit a few of these he will force his defender to stay on him which will just open up the paint for everyone else to operate more efficiently.
 
I agree but keep dreaming fellas
 
I think its unfair to assume he is being restricted in some ways.. but what we do know is they dont draw up plays for him that much.

Hardy mentioned in that latest interview that they are trying to unlock him offensively but also on the same breath seemed to emphasize increasing his defensive versatility as if that was the top priority (didnt say it, but got that sense).

I dont know how much you can/should put on his plate at once so I trust they nurture his play on both ends but focus is likely on defense right now.

Btw.. Hardy mentioned that in the OKC game he intentionally called Kessler to guard Giddey at one point, to push him out of his comfort zone.
 
Kessler won't be getting any post-ups called for him if he's only making half of his free throws. That's just the way it is. He's not Shaq.

Post-ups are inefficient as it is. Basically, you need to be absolutely ELITE at them. Otherwise they don't make much sense in 2023. Kessler needs to improve a hell of a lot at the FT line before trying to extend his offensive game. If he returns next season shooting under 60% again, it's unacceptable.
 
Tremendous Upside said:
Kessler won't be getting any post-ups called for him if he's only making half of his free throws. That's just the way it is. He's not Shaq.

Post-ups are inefficient as it is. Basically, you need to be absolutely ELITE at them. Otherwise they don't make much sense in 2023. Kessler needs to improve a hell of a lot at the FT line before trying to extend his offensive game. If he returns next season shooting under 60% again, it's unacceptable.
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Makes plenty of sense in 2023 for this jazz team this season.
We should be experimenting like crazy and letting guys try stuff.
 
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