Juke Skywalker - The Kemba Walker Thread II

[mrknowitall215]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/10/15/4780364/kemba-walker-video-breakdown-charlotte-bobcats-2013

I don't know why that article & video made me want to say "snap, crackle, pop" from here on whenever Kemba puts one of his ankle-breaking moves on a defender before doing his infamous pull-up jump shot

[catch20two]

TrueHoop TV with Kemba: discussing his love for new coach Steve Clifford and how much he hates hearing people call teammate Bismack Biyombo a bust.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=990306 ... api_public

[StitchJones]

Jennings is a net negative on the court. I'd rather have Rodney Stuckey as my point guard than Brandon Jennings. I would seriously rather have Augustin on the court than Jennings. Both allow their opponents to run wild on them, but at least Augustin won't brick six 18-foot fadeaways in a row and continue to shoot it. If I was Detroit, I'd be looking to trade Jennings+Stuckey for a point guard that doesn't suck and start him alongside Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Detroit has a great frontcourt- Drummond, Monroe, and Smith should take all the minutes at the 4 and 5, but it doesn't matter because they've got nobody to get them the ball, except for the 15-20 minutes Chauncey Billups is on the court (not even playing PG lol). With Cheeks coaching, don't expect that situation to be any better. I still think we're getting a lottery pick from the Pistons in 2014.

I actually like the move to pick up Jennings and pair him with a great veteran like Chauncey who can help him develop more as a pure point guard. He will also be a great mentor to Caldwell-Pope who is the future starting SG for them if things go as planned. If both Jennings really takes to learning the craft of playing point guard and KCP develops then the Pistons will be a force for year. All and all I really like what they did this summer.

[Liver_Pooty]

TrueHoop TV with Kemba: discussing his love for new coach Steve Clifford and how much he hates hearing people call teammate Bismack Biyombo a bust.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=990306 ... api_public

He got legit pissed when Abbott insinuated that Biyombo was a bust.

[Elden Payton]

Abbott is a terrible interviewer!

Kemba was legit surprised and pissed when Abbott insinuated that people think Biz is a bust!

Love Kemba's answer!

[mrknowitall215]

THE MATURATION OF KEMBA WALKER



That word can be used to describe the play of Charlotte Bobcats 3rd year guard Kemba Walker. One glance at his stats will cause you to see his awful 33% shooting from the field but further research will show you that he is impacting in the game in other areas which has helped the Bobcats get off to a 5-5 start.

Take Friday night’s game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers for example he shot 4-19 but still left his imprint on the game with 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks. For most players shooting that poorly from the field would result in a terrible night not only for him but the team itself. Keep in mind that Walker was matched up against Kyrie Irving, and could have easily let his sub-par offensive play effect his defensive effort but it didn't and that shows his maturity. Take a look at Saturday’s game against the Heat. Kemba had 22 points to go with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, one block, and only 1 turnover. No one else was scoring on that night, so he stepped up and contributed points. A mature point guard has to contribute where he’s needed the most, and he’s doing just that.

Kemba has been in a shooting slump going 25-96 from the field (26%) over the last 6 games but the Bobcats are 3-3 with 2 road victories over the Cavaliers and Celtics in that span. Kemba shot horribly in all 3 of those wins (2-13 vs Raptors) (1-13 vs Celtics) but the common denominator in both of those wins is Kemba's impact beyond scoring. In Boston he had 9 rebounds which for an undersized guard is no small feat in the NBA. In the Raptors game he had 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal. So what you are seeing is the maturation of one of the best young point guards in the NBA as he is finding other ways to help his team get victories.

Walker is doing things that have played a vital role in the team’s 5-5 start but he needs to start being more efficient and consistent in the scoring department in order for the team to continue to win as the season progresses. He has one of the best step-back or pull up jumpers from 15 feet in the league today. As good as that shot is though he must start finding more ways to get to the rim and finish strong at the basket. More efficient free throw shooting would certainly help out as well. There’s no reason he should be shooting 75% at the line. For him, 80% should be a minimum from the charity stripe.

Kemba is a guy who I have heard countless basketball experts and analysts say over and over again that he will be a leader on a winning team many times before his career is over. Is that time finally here? Only time will tell. Kemba is maturing as a player, and it’s time for the basketball world to start taking notice.

[catch20two]

@ that pic.

[JDR720]

:lol: @ that pic.

its Kemba Jesus

[mrknowitall215]

Bonnell writes: "I admire Kemba Walker’s toughness. He’s never missed a game as a Bobcat. But I wonder sometimes if it wouldn’t be the worst thing if he succumbed to an injury and took a night off. (Head coach Steve) Clifford acknowledged tonight there might be a connection between Walker’s recent injuries (left shoulder seven games ago and sore ribs in Chicago) and his shooting slump. Clifford won’t get Walker to sit when he’s hurt. Not in Kemba’s DNA."

I didn't even know that Kemba had a rib injury

[thruthefire]

I want Kemba to be like Mike (Conley). I think that's a reasonable expectation for him.

[Elden Payton]

I want Kemba to be like Mike (Conley). I think that's a reasonable expectation for him.

Conley is an underrated player and his impact goes beyond statistics.

Kemba can be the same mould of player.

[catch20two]

I want Kemba to be like Mike (Conley). I think that's a reasonable expectation for him.

Conley is an underrated player and his impact goes beyond statistics.

Kemba can be the same mould of player.

Kemba can be a lot better than Conley.

[mrknowitall215]

I want Kemba to be like Mike (Conley). I think that's a reasonable expectation for him.

Conley is an underrated player and his impact goes beyond statistics.

Kemba can be the same mould of player.

Kemba can be a lot better than Conley.

Leave the "can be" and "could be" out of it. Outside of experience, Kemba might be a better player than Mike Conley Jr. right now. They are just under different circumstances, whereas Conley Jr. is playing for a contending team that used to be a rebuilding team while Kemba is currently playing for a rebuilding team. I would definitely linger out to say that Kemba was a better player than Conley Jr. in their first couple seasons

[catch20two]

A lot of fans don't appreciate it but Kemba was a great steal in that draft at #9. He is our PG of the future.

[JDR720]

ohhhh i remember when i traded Kemba for Mike Conley on NBA2k 13....Kemba then averaged 22ppg 6ast 4reb 2stls for the Grizz and Conley tore his ACL....ohhh the memories

[thruthefire]

How is Kemba going to be a much better player than Conley is now? Ramon "Passing is for Starters" Sessions' AST% is 7.5% higher than Kemba's so far this season, so what does that say about the latter? Like Conley, he's never going to be a great passer.

But Conley is one of the best defenders at the position, a career 37.3% 3PT shooter, and has become a reliable and efficient scoring option. Seems like a realistic hope for Kemba.

[LamarMatic7]

Like Conley, he's never going to be a great passer.

Don't underrate his play-making abilities though. Of course, if we use the word "great passer" as in Chris Paul or Steve Nash-great, Conley isn't that. But he is very good at creating out of the pick-n-roll, per example, using his subtle speed and herky-jerky change of pace. Moreover, he's a point guard who you can't really compare to others as he's playing in a unique team that plays at a very slow tempo and is often running its offense through Marc Gasol in the high post (even more this year).

[catch20two]

How is Kemba going to be a much better player than Conley is now? Ramon "Passing is for Starters" Sessions' AST% is 7.5% higher than Kemba's so far this season, so what does that say about the latter? Like Conley, he's never going to be a great passer.

But Conley is one of the best defenders at the position, a career 37.3% 3PT shooter, and has become a reliable and efficient scoring option. Seems like a realistic hope for Kemba.

Kemba can become a better player than Conley because he's been more productive than Conley was in his first couple of years in the league. Kemba already does almost everything just as good as Conley except shoot efficiently and you can credit some of that to having worst teammates. All that said yet still Kemba has a higher career PER.

[Amateur Wannabe]

Kemba maybe isn't next... Isiah Thomas or someone... but for him to be a much better passer, he'd need some offense to pass the ball to. With Bobcats best scoring options being Kemba, Walker, Kemba Walker, Hendo, and Sessions... it's tough to be great passer out there with league's least scoring offense Not only that he can't get assists given the circumstances, but he also has to take forced shots, which hurts his fg% badly.
I am very pleased with what I've seen from Kemba so far this season. He's the actuall backbone of the Bobcats, and it's only his 3rd season, surrounded with players that can't boost his confidence. I really love Kemba's game. It's all on him right now and he carries it like it's nothing. Love the guy. Hope he sticks with Hornets for a long time.

[HornetJail]

Kemba maybe isn't next... Isiah Thomas or someone... but for him to be a much better passer, he'd need some offense to pass the ball to. With Bobcats best scoring options being Kemba, Walker, Kemba Walker, Hendo, and Sessions... it's tough to be great passer out there with league's least scoring offense Not only that he can't get assists given the circumstances, but he also has to take forced shots, which hurts his fg% badly.

And that's what we brought Big Al in for. Kemba's assists will jump once Jefferson is healthy. Also the offense runs through McBob a little more than I'd like. I'd much rather see Kemba do more of the distributing than McRoberts.