Juke Skywalker - The Kemba Walker Thread II

[Liver_Pooty]

if he keeps improving i cant see why he couldn't average close to Kyrie/Rose numbers

I think he can get up to 19 maybe 20 game, but Rose numbers will be hard to come by. Hes been fantastic lately, though.

[mrknowitall215]

if he keeps improving i cant see why he couldn't average close to Kyrie/Rose numbers

Exclude Kyrie's name out of this conversation. He's nobody for Kemba to aspire to be. Not to say that Kyrie isn't a great young talent, but I dislike when people talk about him as if he's a star just because he's been to a all-star game by default or byproduct of hype. I refuse to view him as anything more than a up & coming player until he lead his team to at least a .500 record

[HornetJail]

if he keeps improving i cant see why he couldn't average close to Kyrie/Rose numbers

Looking at Rose's 2010-11 season where he won MVP:

Rose's percentages are definitely attainable. 44.5/33.2/85.8. He already has Rose beat significantly in the steals department, is equal in rebounds, and is very close in blocks. 7.7 assists would be great for Kemba and that's something that's attainable as he gains chemistry with Al and the rest of our bigs improve. I don't see Kemba getting anything close to 25ppg, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see Kemba top out at 20ppg this season and then build on that slowly the next couple seasons. Kemba really can be Rose-lite.



Kyrie is a scorer with just enough play-making ability to not be called a ball hog. It's just that his defense has seemingly regressed from its already below-average state since he entered the league. Kemba is a much better all-around player. Kyrie is practically a non-factor if he doesn't touch the ball.

[mrknowitall215]

Kemba really can be Rose-lite.

I'm not even going to lie & over-exaggerate. Kemba really exhilarated me with his performance against Golden State & a few other performances this season like the Raptors game last night to the point where I looked at him on the floor, and he had that same 'Bruce Leroy glow' that Rose used to have before the ACL injury

[thruthefire]

Until Kemba can raise his scoring efficiency for an extended period, there's no need to entertain these comparisons. Rose, Irving, Parker, Lillard, etc. All of these comparisons were made last season.

[Liver_Pooty]

if he keeps improving i cant see why he couldn't average close to Kyrie/Rose numbers

Looking at Rose's 2010-11 season where he won MVP:

Rose's percentages are definitely attainable. 44.5/33.2/85.8. He already has Rose beat significantly in the steals department, is equal in rebounds, and is very close in blocks. 7.7 assists would be great for Kemba and that's something that's attainable as he gains chemistry with Al and the rest of our bigs improve. I don't see Kemba getting anything close to 25ppg, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see Kemba top out at 20ppg this season and then build on that slowly the next couple seasons. Kemba really can be Rose-lite.



Kyrie is a scorer with just enough play-making ability to not be called a ball hog. It's just that his defense has seemingly regressed from its already below-average state since he entered the league. Kemba is a much better all-around player. Kyrie is practically a non-factor if he doesn't touch the ball.

You would rather have Kemba Walker on this team than Kyrie Irving? Walker has been great the past three games, but lets not get ahead of ourselves..

[mrknowitall215]

You would rather have Kemba Walker on this team than Kyrie Irving? Walker has been great the past three games, but lets not get ahead of ourselves..

Depending who you ask or are kidding, this wouldn't be a top-5 defensive unit if Kyrie Irving was on this team instead of Kemba Walker

[JDR720]

Kyrie is a better shooter but besides that he and Kemba are about equal

[mrknowitall215]

Until Kemba can raise his scoring efficiency for an extended period, there's no need to entertain these comparisons. Rose, Irving, Parker, Lillard, etc. All of these comparisons were made last season.

What kind of wayward statement is this? Are you saying that Kemba will never improve upon the minimal success that he's had this early in his career?

[Liver_Pooty]

Lol Im definitely not getting into another stupid debate like this. Im more than happy with Kemba as our PG. But Irving and Lillard are right now better than he is. Comparing him to Derrick Roses MVP season is just ludicrous.

Im perfectly content with Walker, though. Hes a good PG.

[mrknowitall215]

Some of us just want to express some form of optimism, and look on the bright side of the things without you cynics throwing unnecessary shade. It's as if some of you skeptics take every great performance by Kemba with a grain of salt. Instead of saying things like "I hope he can keep it up", you all opt to belittling statements like "I doubt he can do it again"

[Liver_Pooty]

Some of us just want to express some form of optimism, and look on the bright side of the things without you cynics throwing unnecessary shade. It's as if some of you skeptics take every great performance by Kemba with a grain of salt. Instead of saying things like "I hope he can keep it up", you all opt to belittling statements like "I doubt he can do it again"

Hope you aren't referring to me. I always hope he can keep it up. Im just a realist. Can Kemba be a future all star? Absolutely. Will he? I think he will be, especially if he keeps this current streak up. Only thing keeping him back is a consistent three point shot, or consistency in general. Once he gets that the sky is the limit.

[mrknowitall215]

Some of us just want to express some form of optimism, and look on the bright side of the things without you cynics throwing unnecessary shade. It's as if some of you skeptics take every great performance by Kemba with a grain of salt. Instead of saying things like "I hope he can keep it up", you all opt to belittling statements like "I doubt he can do it again"

Hope you aren't referring to me. I always hope he can keep it up. Im just a realist. Can Kemba be a future all star? Absolutely. Will he? I think he will be, especially if he keeps this current streak up. Only thing keeping him back is a consistent three point shot, or consistency in general. Once he gets that the sky is the limit.

I'm not referring to anyone in particular, but it sure wouldn't miss 'thruthefire'. All in all, I love to debate, especially about basketball. There's no foul in some of us saying that Kemba's performances have been almost Rose-lite (this coming from one of the biggest Derrick Rose fans) if others can compare per se Kyrie to Iverson without a weep of criticism. Nobody is saying that Kemba will be or could be as good as Rose in his MVP year, just that he's shown shades of performances reminiscent to it

[thruthefire]

Until Kemba can raise his scoring efficiency for an extended period, there's no need to entertain these comparisons. Rose, Irving, Parker, Lillard, etc. All of these comparisons were made last season.

What kind of wayward statement is this? Are you saying that Kemba will never improve upon the minimal success that he's had this early in his career?

Is that really what you got from that? He might improve, he might not.

Kemba had a three-month stretch where he shot nearly 40% from 3 last season. I just don't feel an eight-game sample is that informative.

[Liver_Pooty]

Some of us just want to express some form of optimism, and look on the bright side of the things without you cynics throwing unnecessary shade. It's as if some of you skeptics take every great performance by Kemba with a grain of salt. Instead of saying things like "I hope he can keep it up", you all opt to belittling statements like "I doubt he can do it again"

Hope you aren't referring to me. I always hope he can keep it up. Im just a realist. Can Kemba be a future all star? Absolutely. Will he? I think he will be, especially if he keeps this current streak up. Only thing keeping him back is a consistent three point shot, or consistency in general. Once he gets that the sky is the limit.

I'm not referring to anyone in particular, but it sure wouldn't miss 'thruthefire'. All in all, I love to debate, especially about basketball. There's no foul in some of us saying that Kemba's performances have been almost Rose-lite (this coming from one of the biggest Derrick Rose fans) if others can compare per se Kyrie to Iverson without a weep of criticism. Nobody is saying that Kemba will be or could be as good as Rose in his MVP year, just that he's shown shades of performances reminiscent to it

He certainly has been fantastic lately. I cant disagree with that. I just hope he doesn't follow it up with a 2-13, 4-14, 5-16 kind of skid.

[mrknowitall215]

He certainly has been fantastic lately. I cant disagree with that. I just hope he doesn't follow it up with a 2-13, 4-14, 5-16 kind of skid.

I certainly can understand that. I hold out hope that he doesn't, but you better believe that he won't be perfect going forward. He'll have more ill-advised games. It's just a matter of stretching them far and between. I was disappointed in his play early November, but I gave him that benefit of the doubt that his bruised shoulder & ribs were deterring him. We'll see what the future holds. As of right now, I'll enjoy the stretch of good performances that he has put together

[Elden Payton]

Kemba has looked great over the last stretch.

If he can get his assists upto 6+ and we're entrenched in the playoffs at all-star then he's a darkhorse for coaches selection imo.

His shooting has recovered but he needs more assists.

[Robot Rock]

I don't disagree with that, but it does seem that some on here won't let up until he's averaging 28 points and 10 assists per game on 65% shooting.

[nyhuskyfan]

His assists need some work, but the problem with the first unit is that McRoberts wants to pass first when he's open, Henderson doesn't spot up much and instead seems to like dribbling into his own rock-back jumper, and Jefferson likes to get the ball 15 feet out on the left baseline, and take 7-8 seconds to back his way into his own shot. Kemba can get those guys the ball where they want it and not get assists because they create their own plays. Which is fine - because I think the best thing for Kemba's reputation is for Charlotte to win more games, and if AJ or Hendo is in a good rhythm doing their thing, get them the ball and let them go to work.

He can still improve, since when he goes full speed attacking the basket, he often gets tunnel vision. He doesn't seem to make the quick no-look pass in traffic for a dunk as well he maybe could. He does tend to miss Biyombo open a lot when his man leaves to help, for example.

If there's one thing that will prevent Kemba from reaching the Rose/Irving level as a scorer, it's that he's a little smaller and can't finish amongst the trees as easily. Rose can explode to the rim, shield a shot blocker with his body, absorb contact and finish. Irving, although smaller than Rose, has some of that ability too. Those buckets help when your jumper isn't falling (can turn an off shooting night from 3-15 to 6-15). He can't try to be those guys - he needs to be a more efficient 18-20 ppg guy (willing to accept a 3-10 day when he's off), continue to improve as a facilitator, and lead his team to more wins.

[MasterIchiro]

PPG jumped up to 18.4 after tonight's performance. And he's showing leadership out there. He's just a fierce competitor and I feel so lucky he's at the core of the core. The team is taking on his personality and fire. Al is right there with him. Cho/MJ have done a good job blending guys who compete and hate losing!!!