It's been nearly three weeks since Walker Kessler last suited up for the Utah Jazz and things haven't gone well in his absence. The team's defense fell apart and the Jazz fell into a spiral of suck. But since his return in the first of two games against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Jazz's defense has looked transformed.
It's not all on him, though, as Omer Yurtseven was also added to the lineup to help balance things out, and guys like Kris Dunn, Ochai Agbaji and Simone Fontecchio were given more minues than usual. This has alloweed the Jazz to win back to back games and raise their record from 4-11 to 6-11.
Kessler's return definitely helped precipitate that, as he's dominated the paint off the bench in both games. He has had 19 rebounds, four blocks and a steal since returning, all while averaging 12.5 points per game in that stretch, and shooting 63% from the floor across those two games.
It's clear that the Jazz missed Kessler, not just for his defense, that was obvious, but for his offense too. With how much guys like Jordan Clarkson shoot, you often forget that other guys on the team can in fact score as well when given the chance. Kessler is working on his three-point shot, but his ability to get inside in the half-court or while in transition has really given the Jazz another rim-runner that has helped elevate the offense.
Coupled that with his ability to reject just about anyone's shot who comes into the paint, and Kessler is finally starting to look like the player everyone had hoped he'd be this season. Though, that said, playing Yurtseven should still continue, maybe just flip Kessler and Yurtseven and have Yurtseven come off the bench as the team's sixth man.
Regardless, the return of Kessler and the impact he can make couldn't have come at a better time.