Jazz C Walker Kessler a Spectator in USA 99-91 Win Over Germany

Team USA could of used Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler against Germany.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler could not log any minutes on Sunday, despite facing a team with one of the biggest front lines participating in the FIBA World Cup.

Team USA fell behind by sixteen points before storming back behind Anthony Edward’s team-high 34 points in a 99-91 victory over Germany. It took shutting out Germany for a six-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, leading to an 18-0 run to put the game out of reach. 

Team USA could have used Kessler, considering what they were up against. Germany boasted a big front line consisting of Franz Wagner (6-foot-10), Daniel Theis (6-foot-8), and Johannes Voigtmann (7-foot). 

Struggling to keep Germany off the glass and being outrebounded 46-35 resulted in being outscored 21-7 in second-chance points. One has to assume that Germany may have discovered the blueprint to give Team USA problems by slowing the game down and taking advantage of their size with bigger and stronger players. 

Cleaning up the glass is precisely why  Kessler was brought onto the team in the first place, but head coach Steve Kerr likes to spread it out with five three-point shooters on the floor simultaneously. 

On Friday, Kessler scored seven points while hauling in five rebounds in 16 minutes of action in a 108-86 victory over Greece. It was a small sample size, but Kessler showed he could get the job done when asked. If he’s not getting minutes facing a team like Germany, then when would there be an opportunity?

Team USA’s next contest will count towards the standings when they face off against New Zealand on August 26.

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