Лос Анжелес Лэйкерсийн дасгалжуулагч Жей-Жей Редик төвийн тоглогч Уолкер Кесслерийг хамгаалалтын самбарт илүү идэвхтэй тоглохыг шаардсаны дараа тус тоглогч амжилтаа ахиулан багийнхаа амжилтад чухал хувь нэмэр оруулж эхэллээ.
Лос Анжелес Лэйкерс 10 дугаар сарын 28-нд Клипперстэй тоглохын өмнө дасгалжуулагч Жей-Жей Редик Кесслерийг эхний дөрвөн тоглолтод 10-аас дээш самбараас бөмбөг авалт хийж чадаагүй тул түүнд хандан хамгаалалтын самбарт илүү сайн тоглохыг сорилт болгон дэвшүүлсэн юм. Редик түүнийг Дуайт Ховард шиг өөрийн бүсээс гадуурх бөмбөгийг ч амжилттай авч, хамгаалалтад гол үүрэг гүйцэтгэхийг хүсэж байгаагаа илэрхийлжээ.
Энэхүү сануулгыг хүлээн авсан Кесслер Клипперстэй хийсэн тоглолтод 11 оноо, 9 самбараас бөмбөг авалт хийснийхээ дараа дараалан гурван тоглолтод double-double гүйцэтгэж, 13.6 оноо, 14.3 самбараас бөмбөг авалтын дундаж үзүүлэлттэй тоглолоо. Одоогоор тэрээр улирлын турш 14.4 оноо, 10.2 самбараас бөмбөг авалт, 2.7 хаалт хийсэн үзүүлэлттэйгээр NBA-д хаалтаар гуравдугаарт, самбараас бөмбөг авалтаар долоодугаарт эрэмбэлэгдэж байна.
Кесслер талбайд гарсан үед Лос Анжелес Лэйкерсийн хамгаалалтын рейтинг 110.1 байдаг бол түүнгүйгээр 117.2 болж мууддаг нь түүний багт үзүүлж буй нөлөөг харуулж байна. Тэрээр будагтай талбайд өрсөлдөгчдийнхөө шидэлтийг 45.1 хувьтай зогсоож байгаа нь хамгаалалтын гол тулгуур болж байгааг илтгэнэ. Хэдийгээр 11 дүгээр сарын 4-нд Сакраменто Кингстэй хийсэн тоглолтод 15 оноо, 8 самбараас бөмбөг авалт, 4 хаалт гүйцэтгэсэн ч Кесслер өөрийн тоглолтыг сайжруулах шаардлагатай байгааг хүлээн зөвшөөрч, суралцах үйл явц үргэлжилж байна.
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Luka Dončić is dominatingheadlines witharguably the greatest start in NBA history.But it’s no secret that Walker Kessler’s blue-collar work in the paint is just as essential to the Lakers’ success this season.
Before the Lakers played the Clippers on Oct. 28, coach JJ Redick issued a challenge to Kessler after he fell short of grabbing double-digit rebounds in his first four games of the season.
“Well, I think where he can continue to grow with us, you know, [with] per 36 numbers, per-minute numbers, he’s not rebounding at the rate [we expect], and obviously that’s a area of concern for us right now,” Redick said. “So need to be him doing better, particularly on the defensive glass.
“… I remember my rookie year. B.J. Armstrong was an agent at Wasserman at the time and came down to Orlando to check on me. I remember when we were at the game, he was talking about Dwight [Howard]. He said, ‘You know what Dwight’s superpower is?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t.’ And he said, ‘He can rebound outside his space. He can rebound outside his airspace.’ And I’ve seen Walker do it. That’s where I think he can give us the biggest boost right now defensively. We want him to protect the rim. We want him on the interior.”
Redick wants Kessler to be everywhere. He’s the heart of the Lakers’ defense. He’s wants one of the league’s greatest rebounders and rim protectors to leap to the next level.
Kessler has internalized Redick’s words.
Following an 11-point, nine-rebound performance against the Clippers, he went on to have three straight double-doubles, averaging 13.6 points and 14.3 rebounds in a loss to the Warriors on Oct. 30 and wins over the Raptors on Nov. 1 and Heat on Nov. 2.
“I think his effort to go get the ball has been good,” Redick said after the Lakers’ 138-117 victory over the Heat on Monday. “I think he’s boxed out really well.”
Kessler is averaging 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots for the Lakers (7-2), who are in second place in the Western Conference.
Kessler is seventh in the NBA in rebounds. He’s third in blocked shots.
But defense is the Lakers’ weakness.
They rank 21st in defensive rating (112.9) but first in offensive rating (121.1). Much of that is due to the team’s steep drop-off when Kessler is off the court.
When Kessler is on the court?The Lakers’ defensive rating is 110.1.When he’s sidelined? It’s 117.2, per Cleaning the Glass.
Kessler’s impact on the Lakers has been notable.
His screening creates open shots for Dončić,who’s averaging a league-leading 38.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and eight assists, and Austin Reaves, who’s averaging 23.3 points on career highs in field-goal percentage (53.1) and 3-point percentage (42.9).
Kessler’s presence in the paint has emboldened the team’s perimeter defenders to be aggressive and take risks, which has led to the Lakers ranking No. 1 in opponent turnovers (166).
Kessler is ranked No. 1 among defenders who have taken at least 50 shots within 6 feet this season, holding opponents to 45.1% shooting.
But it’s no secret that Kessler is still figuring things out with the Lakers.
The Lakers acquired Kessler in July in a sign-and-trade with Utah for two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps on top of a four-year, $130 million deal.
He’s still working his way back from missing all but five games last season because of a torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery.
Kessler is one of nine new players on the Lakers, and it’s going to take time for him to learn Dončić and Reaves, in addition to developing into the defensive beast the team needs.
The Lakers needKessler to be at his best to be a championship-level team.
He has steadily improved this season, though he stumbled a bit in Wednesday’s 116-103 win over the Kings, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds and a game-high four blocked shots.Kessler acknowledged that Domantas Sabonis (16 points, 17 rebounds) got the better of him, saying, “[He] definitely got my tail kicked a little bit in the first three quarters.”
For Kessler, this is a learning process. There’s going to be bumps in the road. Redick has preached patience.
But Kessler has sky-high potential.
And it’s clear Redick wants him to reach new heights.
