The Kemba Walker Thread

LamarMatic7 · Post #141 » by **LamarMatic7** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:10 am

Come on! Nowadays it seems like every NBA team practice their handshake/high-five routines, per example, remember LeBron with Cleveland!? It's just getting more ridiculous every year and these routines just show how pathetic the NBA is now compared to the 90s. Nothing to worry about, he's just a young dude happy about getting drafted.

mrknowitall215 · Post #142 » by **mrknowitall215** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:07 pm

The whole notion that Kemba Walker is a ball-stopper needs to stop. Kemba is a more than willing passer and the definition of a true teammate; very unselfish. The only reason why he had to shoot so many shots during his junior year at UConn was out of necessity due to him being one of the few upperclassmen on the team. They depended on him. Anyone that didn't notice that, obviously didn't watch to much of Kemba, this year or the previous years.

Jester_ · Post #143 » by **Jester_** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:25 pm

Black dude doesn't do a straight-up handshake and he's instantly a gangbanger... wow

Jmonty580 · Post #144 » by **Jmonty580** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 12:57 pm

I was watching the fockers last night and Pam had this special handshake she did with her dad. I bet they are in a gang. :roll:

None of yall had special had shakes that you made up between you and another friend or a group of freinds or faimly? We all did, this is a none issue. Just be happy you got such a good talent and kid of such good character and be happy as he improves your franchise.

Post #145 » by **BigSlam** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:50 pm

Bizz wrote:Kemba gets a benifit of the doubt here since he hasn't played a game yet.

????

If anything that should go against him.

nyhuskyfan · Post #146 » by **nyhuskyfan** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:04 pm

I always like to point out the emergence of Jeremy Lamb late in the year when people say Kemba is just a chucker. Lamb will be in the NBA soon - maybe even lottery pick material - but it took him a while to get it. He showed flashes during the regular season (9 ppg), but battled confidence issues, hit the freshman wall, and his jumper wasn't there consistently (he barely played in Maui at the start of the year). Then it all clicked for him in the postseason, and he averaged 18 ppg in the Big East and NCAA Tourneys combined. UConn doesn't win the title without him.

Kemba helped make that emergence happen - once Lamb stepped up as a wing man, Kemba looked for him consistently. He assisted Lamb 14 times in the NCAA Tournament. Late in the Arizona game with Arizona up by three and with all the momentum, Kemba over-ruled his coach in the huddle and called a set for Lamb to get open on the baseline - ran that play twice in a row and got Lamb two buckets that turned the game around (UConn looked dead in the water before those two hoops). This was a case where if he was selfish, he would have insisted on getting the ball in those spots (to go down swinging with "his team"), but he recognized the importance of getting Lamb the ball there to prevent Arizona from keying on him down the stretch.

If Maggette or Henderson are knocking down shots, Kemba will find them.

doc.end · Post #147 » by **doc.end** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:11 pm

Sik Infant wrote:
I'm glad you're not singling out Slam because you've only been here for a minute & if you didn't know then i will kindly fill you in that Slam,Fats,Doc & the artist formerly know as Spectre are the HOF of our board.

I can only speak for myself but I will say that anything they post is worth considering & taking on board as they have proven over years that they know what they're talking about.

Now I feel entitled to post something stupid right now. Thanks

doc.end · Post #148 » by **doc.end** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:21 pm

That being said I am for trying out DJ - Kemba backcourt (or better other way around, stashing DJ as off ball shooter at times) mainly because they are the best healthy guards on our roster with Carroll currently being the onyl other healthy guard. If they get torched on defense, so be it, at worst that's just a ping pong ball added. We are sureyl going to sign some guard, maybe from the names appearing in our FA minicamp, I wouldn't even rule out tall PG type like maybe O.Greene, getting bench minutes oof or on the ball (depending on DJ's role on court) and as an insurance in case of injury or trade sending DJ away). Good thing is taht Temple is in minicamp fighting for the chance to be brought back - now we ahve en etalon to compare (otherw with him).

(dislaimer: this post wasn't intended to be the aforementioned stupid one, I was just kidding)

Post #149 » by **BigSlam** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:22 pm

nyhuskyfan wrote:I always like to point out the emergence of Jeremy Lamb late in the year when people say Kemba is just a chucker. Lamb will be in the NBA soon - maybe even lottery pick material - but it took him a while to get it. He showed flashes during the regular season (9 ppg), but battled confidence issues, hit the freshman wall, and his jumper wasn't there consistently (he barely played in Maui at the start of the year). Then it all clicked for him in the postseason, and he averaged 18 ppg in the Big East and NCAA Tourneys combined. UConn doesn't win the title without him.

Kemba helped make that emergence happen - once Lamb stepped up as a wing man, Kemba looked for him consistently. He assisted Lamb 14 times in the NCAA Tournament. Late in the Arizona game with Arizona up by three and with all the momentum, Kemba over-ruled his coach in the huddle and called a set for Lamb to get open on the baseline - ran that play twice in a row and got Lamb two buckets that turned the game around (UConn looked dead in the water before those two hoops). This was a case where if he was selfish, he would have insisted on getting the ball in those spots (to go down swinging with "his team"), but he recognized the importance of getting Lamb the ball there to prevent Arizona from keying on him down the stretch.

If Maggette or Henderson are knocking down shots, Kemba will find them.

Do you just keep copying and pasting the same post? I'm sure I've read this from you on two other occassions?

Passing the ball to a jump shooter and him stroking the J isn't really bing a creative PG though - right? I like it when PG's can draw the D to them either by demanding a double or dribbling into the paint and then kicking it out finding the open man. Having poise and the understanding of where everyone is on the floor at all times.

You keep saying how he had 14 assits off Lamb J's alone in the tourny - but didn't he only have a TOTAL of 22 assists for the tourney (including ZERO in the final?)

Zero assists but 19 fga's????

penquin11 · Post #150 » by **penquin11** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:24 pm

Jmonty580 wrote:I was watching the fockers last night and Pam had this special handshake she did with her dad. I bet they are in a gang.

None of yall had special had shakes that you made up between you and another friend or a group of freinds or faimly? We all did, this is a none issue. Just be happy you got such a good talent and kid of such good character and be happy as he improves your franchise.

Yeah definitely, cause their straight thugin

nyhuskyfan · Post #151 » by **nyhuskyfan** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:47 pm

BigSlam wrote:
nyhuskyfan wrote:I always like to point out the emergence of Jeremy Lamb late in the year when people say Kemba is just a chucker. Lamb will be in the NBA soon - maybe even lottery pick material - but it took him a while to get it. He showed flashes during the regular season (9 ppg), but battled confidence issues, hit the freshman wall, and his jumper wasn't there consistently (he barely played in Maui at the start of the year). Then it all clicked for him in the postseason, and he averaged 18 ppg in the Big East and NCAA Tourneys combined. UConn doesn't win the title without him.

Kemba helped make that emergence happen - once Lamb stepped up as a wing man, Kemba looked for him consistently. He assisted Lamb 14 times in the NCAA Tournament. Late in the Arizona game with Arizona up by three and with all the momentum, Kemba over-ruled his coach in the huddle and called a set for Lamb to get open on the baseline - ran that play twice in a row and got Lamb two buckets that turned the game around (UConn looked dead in the water before those two hoops). This was a case where if he was selfish, he would have insisted on getting the ball in those spots (to go down swinging with "his team"), but he recognized the importance of getting Lamb the ball there to prevent Arizona from keying on him down the stretch.

If Maggette or Henderson are knocking down shots, Kemba will find them.

Do you just keep copying and pasting the same post? I'm sure I've read this from you on two other occassions?

Passing the ball to a jump shooter and him stroking the J isn't really bing a creative PG though - right? I like it when PG's can draw the D to them either by demanding a double or dribbling into the paint and then kicking it out finding the open man. Having poise and the understanding of where everyone is on the floor at all times.

You keep saying how he had 14 assits off Lamb J's alone in the tourny - but didn't he only have a TOTAL of 22 assists for the tourney (including ZERO in the final?)

Zero assists but 19 fga's????

Kemba had 34 assists in the tourney (you probably didn't count the 12 against Bucknell). He had zero in the final, but take that with a grain of salt - that game was a brickfest in that Dome as nobody could hit a jumper. In the entire first half, the team's second and third options (Lamb and Oriakhi) were on the bench with foul trouble, and Kemba alternated between forcing shots to try to jump-start the team, and kicking the ball out to open guys who missed). The scorers jobbed him of an assist on a ball he dumped down to Oriakhi for a jump hook on the low block early in the second half, and twice he found guys for what should have been uncontested lay-ups who Butler was able to recover to foul and put on the line. NBA guys finish those plays. I had no problem with how Kemba orchestrated the team in that game - Butler really defends hard, and he played the last 10 minutes of the first half with two or three guys who average less than 2 ppg on the floor with him.

Getting the ball to a shooter in rhythm is a key part of being a PG, and many of the 14 assists I'm talking about were breaking down the defense, forcing help to come, and kicking it out to an open guy. If you don't like those assists - then he also fed Lamb for a lay-up down by one with 30 seconds left in the Big East championship game after breaking down four defenders.

Post #152 » by **BigSlam** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:09 pm

nyhuskyfan wrote:Kemba had 34 assists in the tourney (you probably didn't count the 12 against Bucknell).

You are 100% correct - forgot about the Bucknell game!! I started my count one game late. Still, over those last 5 games in the Tourney (take out Bucknell) he averaged 4.4 apg - and 19.2 fga's. Me personally - I don't dig that ratio. I assume you are going to say "ya, but he had to be the teams main scorer" - but I don't buy that. He is what he is. A scoring point. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not my bag. Don't take this as me not liking him - there are a whole lot of things I REALLY like about Kemba - but I also know what he is and what he isn't.

Getting the ball to a shooter in rhythm is a key part of being a PG

I totally agree with you - I didn't mean to trivialize that skill. Putting the ball in the right place for your shooters, or post players for that matter, shows an understanding of your team mates and where they like the ball delivered to them as well as an awareness of defenses and how quickly they can close making timing (or the lack of it!!) so very important.

Tupik · Post #153 » by **Tupik** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:13 pm

lol my brother and I have plenty of handshakes, and I have some with buddies as well, does that mean I'm in a gang ? This is BS

EDIT :

Jester_ wrote:Black dude doesn't do a straight-up handshake and he's instantly a gangbanger... wow

123

SWedd523 · Post #154 » by **SWedd523** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:59 pm

Remember a few years back when baseball was in the middle of the handshake craze? All of those people doing convoluted handshakes much like the ones we see nowadays from Kemba, Monta, and the others.

Nobody accused baseball players of being gang affiliated

Post #155 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:16 pm

Pretty silly article.

Post #156 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:37 pm

No one on the roster is untouchable, but I don't see any reason we should be worrying about the coexistence of DJ and Kemba right now. DJ obviously had confidence issues under Larry Brown, but did it extend into the Silas era? That's the only potential scenario I can fathom right now: Kemba plays great, DJ gets shook, loses confidence, loses stock. Feel like it's really unlikely, though.

nyhuskyfan · Post #157 » by **nyhuskyfan** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:56 pm

His role changed a lot in the tournament. He was a facilitator against Bucknell (they game-planned to not let him drive, so he picked them apart with his passing). Remember, a lot of people picked Bucknell to win on the "UConn is tired" theory. In the next game against Cincinnati, UConn really did look tired. I'd almost use this game to show how much Kemba meant to the team because when Cincy jumped them early, Kemba's energy level went through the roof - chasing after rebounds, pushing the ball in transition, driving to the hole and getting to the line. He finished with 33 points and five assists, but stats don't tell the story - without him, UConn gets crushed.

The one game that someone could use to hold against him is San Diego State, when he had 36 points (12-25 shooting) and three assists. In the second half of that game, he was looking to score every time. He went on a ridiculous hot streak for a while (14 points in a 16-3 UConn run over a span of five minutes), then maybe forced it a little down the stretch after SDSU came back. Lamb picked him up with a three, followed by a steal and dunk and UConn held on. This was the only time in 11 postseason games where I felt he was trying to do it all himself and hurting the team a little, but I think he had a case of "hot hand" disease.

Against Arizona, Kemba came out looking for his shot, got some good looks, but was cold. He was 1-7 from the floor after seven minutes. Then he settled in, and played the last 33 minutes more like he did against Bucknell (only a better opponent and more at stake). He was 6-10 with seven assists after the 1-7 start and hit the big shot of the game to put UConn up five with 1:20 left (step-back over Derrick Williams).

Beyond the stats, he made a ton of hustle plays along the way, too. Going into the crowd after steals, diving on the floor, tracking down Doron Lamb on a breakaway and blocking his shot, battling big guys for rebounds. There was a play against Butler when he made an acrobatic lay-up to put UConn up 11, tumbled into the cheerleaders, and jumped up and sprinted back on defense before Butler got the ball up. One of my favorite highlights. If UConn had lost one of those close games along the way, I'd have felt Kemba left it out there and gave us everything he had.

captaincrunk · Post #158 » by **captaincrunk** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:21 pm

I worry about Kemba under Silas, because Silas encourages shooting any time a shooter feels they can see the basket. With Kemba's already shot happy game I wonder where that will lead.

Post #159 » by **fatlever** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:56 pm

walt is on fire today. so good to see you back. keep it coming.

Post #160 » by **fatlever** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:35 pm

captaincrunk wrote:I worry about Kemba under Silas, because Silas encourages shooting any time a shooter feels they can see the basket. With Kemba's already shot happy game I wonder where that will lead.

that theory probably pertains more to guys like diaw, kwame and dante and less with his point guards. silas basically believes that if you have an open shot you should take it because you probably won't get a better look. but its not like he encourages his point guards to jack up bad shots. he wont like kemba be a gun. i am not worried about that.