First things first, we are only three games into the season. Just because Kessler has struggled so far doesn't mean he will have a year-long sophomore slump. However, what we've seen in these games has been concerning to say the least. Over these games he's only averaged 5.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and .7 blocks. His percentages are down, and he's been playing less minutes this year as a starter than he did last year coming off the bench. So what's the issue?
pc: Ryan Sun/Deseret News
The basic explanation is a precise answer to what the title of this write up asks, yes, so far Walker Kessler is having a sophomore slump. However, that feels too easy. It makes no real sense why his game has shifted. Most of the time these slumps happen to high usage players, and Kessler just doesn't fit that archetype. I think I have a better explanation for his early season woes, and luckily it's a very easy problem to solve.
All offseason I've been begging for Walker Kessler to be the starter in Utah over Kelly Olynyk this season. What I missed was that for Kessler to be the best that he can be the rest of the starting lineup has to be built a certain way. Players like Jordan Clarkson and Talen Horton-Tucker pair horribly with Kessler. These high usage, low efficiency, score first guards have no interest in getting paint prowling big men like Kessler involved in the offense. These are the two guards that he has been spending most of his time on the floor with, and it shows. He's taking almost half of the amount of shots he took last year, because he's simply not getting the ball. The addition of John Collins has also taken shots away from Kessler, but unlike Clarkson and Tucker that's more in the flow of the offense. So what's the solution?
The basic solution is to get rid of Clarkson and THT. These are guys that don't fit with anyone on the team, and are harming the other players. However, it seems like the front office and coaching staff are fans of these two, so there's a chance it will be a long wait before these trades happen. In the meantime, Coach Will Hardy and his staff have to change their rotation. Either these two don't start with Kessler, or Kessler himself doesn't start. Walker has to play with guards like Keyonte George, Kris Dunn, and Ochai Agbaji. I personally think these are the guards that should be starting, but if they're coming off the bench so should Kessler. I think the team will find that their bench unit is better than their starting unit very quickly.
I do trust that Kessler will be fine, and I still think he's one of the best rim protectors in the league. I only worry that Utah isn't fostering his talent how they should be in a measly effort to compete in the present. This team has a ton of potential, but how they've treated some of their young prospects is questionable to say the least. They refuse to start George and Agbaji, Taylor Hendricks is being stationed in the G-League, and now Walker Kessler is getting the shaft. If the Jazz don't act now they will ruin the next decade of basketball in Salt Lake City.
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