Walker Kessler's elite defense would thrive best if given the opportunity to play considerable amounts of drop coverage, right? That is a statement few should find themselves disagreeing with. The real sticking point is whether the pieces around him on the Los Angeles Lakers will allow for that.
Sam Vecenie said on The Game Theory Podcast: "The question for the Lakers is — are their guards going to be good enough at getting through screens to be able to consistently play drop coverage and allow him to be as impactful as he can be?"
This is an excellent thing to ponder on. The question arose on an episode of the podcast which discussed the top 25 defenders in the NBA. Clearly, there is very little doubt about Kessler as an individual. He ranked 23rd on the list. The former Utah Jazz center has proven himself as an excellent rim protector, most easily highlighted by the 2.4 blocks per game in his young career.
Can the Lakers afford him a real opportunity to play his brand of defensive basketball? If the answer is yes, Kessler should have very few issues leaving a sizable mark on the team's success in the upcoming season.
Lakers' perimeter defenders need to do their part for Walker Kessler
Vecenie sang Kessler's praises a lot on his show. The ability to blocks shots with either hand, use his verticality, and maintain great positioning all got a very loud pat on the back.
He is not the only one to hype up Kessler of late. Former Jazz writer Tony Jones thought the new starting center in Los Angeles could have impact that resembles Rudy Gobert.
Can the Lakers' perimeter defenders let that version of him be the one showcased most often?
Kessler is unfortunately all too familiar with having subpar support around him. The Jazz guards certainly did him no favors amid a persistent rebuild that did not emphasize the desire to win in the slightest.
That has left Kessler as an elite individual defender who has never captained that type of unit. The highest Utah ranked with him on that end was 23rd. That came in 2022-23, his rookie season.
The Lakers have perimeter guys who should be able to hold their own on defense. Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and Jake LaRavia are just a few names off rip. Is the overall team best-suited to playing drop, though?
JJ Redick is an excellent head coach who has been able to scheme to his personnel as best as possible. Last year, that involved implementing more zone and man-zone hybrids into his defensive gameplans.
Kessler is easily the Lakers' best defender. That should mean Redick will try and build the unit around him and his strengths on that end. That task will be made all the more easy if the rest of the players in Los Angeles are proving themselves competent enough to permit it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google