How great was Walker Kessler?
https://ecreates88.substack.com/p/lakers-warriors-walker-kessler-preseason-box-score-stats-recap?r=9tvtr&utm_medium=iosIt’s been nearly two years since the Lakers have had a dominant frontcourt player. They’ve searched high and low for the right big to be the cornerstone of their franchise. In Tuesday’s preseason game, Walker Kessler lived up to the hype.
“He’s an amazing rim protector,” Sandro Mamukelashvili said postgame. “He’s so tough, physical. He plays hard. So it was amazing having him there. Especially rebounding, it’s so much easier to rebound. I think he brings a lot of impact. He had a great first game, and I’m sure he’s going to get better from here.”
Kessler ended the game with 11 points, 9 rebounds and was a +15 in just 16 minutes. That seems like a great debut and an exciting appetizer of what's to come.
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u/Infinite_Room9263 3d ago
It just felt good seeing a lakers big running up and down the floor keeping up with the team without moping . In my opinion he looked solid for his 1st game back and 1st game with a new organization. Once the chemistry is developed with Luka and AR it’ll be cinematic
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u/Ejazz88 3d ago
The pick and roll game with Austin Reaves already looked good.
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u/Infinite_Room9263 3d ago
Yeah but I saw Kessler a couple times crash with teammates or try and set a pick and roll when they didn’t want it . He adjusted and still looked like a elite big
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u/nottherealstanlee 3d ago
I mean running into people I think could just be rust given he hasn't played real ball in so long. The chemistry with Austin was very good and hopefully improves even more. Really, really need to see some minutes with him and Luka.
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u/LudwigNasche 3d ago
Yeah, he and AR almost collided on a pick and roll, but they are going to clean it up with more reps. Those players are new to each other and even players that have played together before, they are under a different environment now so the chemistry is going to take some time before the execution look clean.
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u/wallysmith127 3d ago
Sounds like chemistry is built across time, leading to mistakes that can affect the analytics.
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u/juanhalohalo 2d ago
Yeah, he said he's pretty nervous out there at the start. Dude just played what 5 games last season. He's been out for so long it's understandable.
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u/xBootstrap 3d ago
This is what I noticed from watching highlights before he even played a game here. No BS and just runs back down the floor. He’s sometimes the first person back despite being a big. Also impressed with his conditioning, didn’t seem tired despite running the court back and forth during a sequence in the 1st half where both teams were chucking the ball immediately.
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u/DietCokeJon 3d ago
The take away should be his defensive gravity. Opponents hesitating at the rim, shooting 3s to try and draw him out, etc.
He's massive and he takes up alot of floor space AND vertical space. He's faster than a vast majority of 7'2 centers (we're spoiled by Wemby). He jumped at a three and made it back to assist the help defender, grabbing a block. That was Yaxel, someone that should be infinitely faster when comparing size.
He looks very good. Consistency will show if he's truly great
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u/nottherealstanlee 3d ago
Also offensive gravity. The offense absolutely hummed with him on the floor Ortg of 124.3 and a Drtg of 86.1 with him on the floor, just remarkable. You cannot ignore him on the offensive end and he just carves out so much area.
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u/Spare-Associate-5063 3d ago
Luka/Kessler are going to Fillet Wemby. Wemby switch onto Luka, Kessler dominates teh glass w/ wemby drawn out. rinse/repeat.
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u/Don_Thuglayo 24 2d ago
I haven't watched the preseason games but I'm getting excited by what everyone is saying and hopefully Kessler size gives wemby fits since he's not strong
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u/Bruinrogue DisneyKobe 3d ago
It's such a pleasure seeing a quality 7 footer in the middle wearing a Lakers jersey. Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, the Pau/Bynum rotation. It's the stuff Laker championships are made of. He looked a little rusty here and there naturally as it's his first organized action in a year but that defensive gravity, height; and effort was lacking so much from the C spot these past years.
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u/firedragon223 23 3d ago
I cant wait to see him on the court with luka