Leap Year - The Kemba Walker Thread III

[HornetJail]

I'm not sure if its impressive or just really sad that Kemba is third on our team in blocks per game.

Kemba's a pretty good shot blocker for a guy that probably stood on his toes to get measured in at 6'1.

The really pathetic part is that he, Lamb, and Lin are all extremely close to being 3rd on the team in blocks PER 36 MINUTES. They all average 0.9 blocks per 36, Cody and Frank only average 1 block per 36. Al sits at 1.5, and Marvin at 1.4. Batum's block totals have been going down for a few years now and are at career lows this year. Hawes is unsurprisingly sucky. I find it hard to believe he averages 1.5 blocks per 36 on his career.

[MasterIchiro]

Kemba is racking up the minutes. Lin should play more. Lin has to step up. He's been inefficient.

[SeanBobcats]

It's nice to see that Kemba is tremendously more efficient shooting the basketball this year. I just hope now that he can keep it up. He still is very inconsistent and has those 5 game streaks of awfulness and then those 5 game streaks of awesomeness. If he can become efficient on a more consistent basis and continue to improve his facilitating and three point shot he can make his role as our starting PG much more secure. I don't think Curry is going anywhere with the way Golden State is playing and will likely continue to be playing, so we really need Kemba to keep improving even though I don't see him really getting any better.

[mrknowitall215]

Kemba doesn't have to force as many shots at the end of the shot clock with much more competent teammates that can create on their own with the ball in their hands in Batum, Lamb, and Lin. That's the big difference from yesteryear when it was Henderson and MKG. I can't wait for MKG to return but by the time he return I wonder if there will be a identity crisis phase where he's weeded out as the odd-man out if his lack of floor spacing on his shot hasn't improved enough not to make him a detriment

[yosemiteben]

Cliff pointed out something in his post-game presser yesterday about Kemba that is a great insight - with Kemba's increased shooting efficiency, teams can't go under on screens with him. However, if they chase him around the screen he is going to blaze into the lane and now when the screener rolls you are playing with a man advantage because Kemba's man has taken himself out of the play.

Kemba's driving lanes are being helped (a) by defenses having to focos more on our other perimeter shooters and (b) by Kemba's own increased shooting %'s, which are causing defenses to adjust how they guard him in PNR situations. No more going under and daring him to shoot from outside.

[TinmanZBoy]

Cliff pointed out something in his post-game presser yesterday about Kemba that is a great insight - with Kemba's increased shooting efficiency, teams can't go under on screens with him. However, if they chase him around the screen he is going to blaze into the lane and now when the screener rolls you are playing with a man advantage because Kemba's man has taken himself out of the play.

Kemba's driving lanes are being helped (a) by defenses having to focos more on our other perimeter shooters and (b) by Kemba's own increased shooting %'s, which are causing defenses to adjust how they guard him in PNR situations. No more going under and daring him to shoot from outside.

the post game interviews with coach clifford annoy me big time in hornets.com, i could never hear what the questions were... I did not know if coach was talking about Kemba or the greek freak in that context...nonetheless, love how coach dissected the game, he is very articulate and to the point, really good coach...

[SeanBobcats]

Cliff pointed out something in his post-game presser yesterday about Kemba that is a great insight - with Kemba's increased shooting efficiency, teams can't go under on screens with him. However, if they chase him around the screen he is going to blaze into the lane and now when the screener rolls you are playing with a man advantage because Kemba's man has taken himself out of the play.

Kemba's driving lanes are being helped (a) by defenses having to focos more on our other perimeter shooters and (b) by Kemba's own increased shooting %'s, which are causing defenses to adjust how they guard him in PNR situations. No more going under and daring him to shoot from outside.

I think all of this was expected as a result of surrounding Kemba with more shooters. It would be nice if he was a taller player in order to finish better at the rim. He would probably be an all star

[yosemiteben]

Cliff pointed out something in his post-game presser yesterday about Kemba that is a great insight - with Kemba's increased shooting efficiency, teams can't go under on screens with him. However, if they chase him around the screen he is going to blaze into the lane and now when the screener rolls you are playing with a man advantage because Kemba's man has taken himself out of the play.

Kemba's driving lanes are being helped (a) by defenses having to focos more on our other perimeter shooters and (b) by Kemba's own increased shooting %'s, which are causing defenses to adjust how they guard him in PNR situations. No more going under and daring him to shoot from outside.

the post game interviews with coach clifford annoy me big time in hornets.com, i could never hear what the questions were... I did not know if coach was talking about Kemba or the greek freak in that context...nonetheless, love how coach dissected the game, he is very articulate and to the point, really good coach...

100% agree, they desperately need a room mic. Cliff puts on a clinic post-game, love it.

[TinmanZBoy]

Cliff pointed out something in his post-game presser yesterday about Kemba that is a great insight - with Kemba's increased shooting efficiency, teams can't go under on screens with him. However, if they chase him around the screen he is going to blaze into the lane and now when the screener rolls you are playing with a man advantage because Kemba's man has taken himself out of the play.

Kemba's driving lanes are being helped (a) by defenses having to focos more on our other perimeter shooters and (b) by Kemba's own increased shooting %'s, which are causing defenses to adjust how they guard him in PNR situations. No more going under and daring him to shoot from outside.

I think all of this was expected as a result of surrounding Kemba with more shooters. It would be nice if he was a taller player in order to finish better at the rim. He would probably be an all star

the way he is playing, if the hornets can keep the top 6 ranking by the all star break, Kemba will be an all-star, by coaches' selections...

[SeanBobcats]

Cliff pointed out something in his post-game presser yesterday about Kemba that is a great insight - with Kemba's increased shooting efficiency, teams can't go under on screens with him. However, if they chase him around the screen he is going to blaze into the lane and now when the screener rolls you are playing with a man advantage because Kemba's man has taken himself out of the play.

Kemba's driving lanes are being helped (a) by defenses having to focos more on our other perimeter shooters and (b) by Kemba's own increased shooting %'s, which are causing defenses to adjust how they guard him in PNR situations. No more going under and daring him to shoot from outside.

I think all of this was expected as a result of surrounding Kemba with more shooters. It would be nice if he was a taller player in order to finish better at the rim. He would probably be an all star

the way he is playing, if the hornets can keep the top 6 ranking by the all star break, Kemba will be an all-star, by coaches' selections...

If he keeps this up then of course he will be a definite candidate for the all star team along Nic, but this is a trend we've seen with Kemba for the majority of his career it seems. He always catches fire sometime between late November and January and then declines again about a month or so before the all star break. With the offense we have this year though I think it's fair to say Kemba has a much better chance at continuing to play at a level like this. He is playing smart, and though he's generally been an inefficient scorer, he doesn't necessarily have a bad shot selection, and he doesn't make a huge amount of mistakes.

[Liver_Pooty]

Walker spent hundreds of hours this summer working with Hornets shooting coach Bruce Kreutzer. Clifford hired Kreutzer last spring to replace Mark Price’s skill set after Price left to become head coach of the Charlotte 49ers.

"I lived in the gym this summer, just trying to be more consistent," Walker said. "I know to get to another level I had to make 3s; be more consistent with it."

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article47355520.html#storylink=cpy

[HornetJail]

It shows

[Roy Tarpley]

I was trying to figure out how Kemba is playing way above his career percentages. At least based on stats, he's playing his best ball ever and even better than his Dec 14/Jan 15 period. Off-season shooting work certainly helped it seems and I'm sure having better teammates also enhances his quality of shots. I think he'll probably fall back closer to 43% FG but that would still be a career high.

[MasterIchiro]

Kemba doesn't have to force as many shots at the end of the shot clock with much more competent teammates that can create on their own with the ball in their hands in Batum, Lamb, and Lin. That's the big difference from yesteryear when it was Henderson and MKG. I can't wait for MKG to return but by the time he return I wonder if there will be a identity crisis phase where he's weeded out as the odd-man out if his lack of floor spacing on his shot hasn't improved enough not to make him a detriment

This is all spot on. I would add that Walkers wings (MKG and Hendo) shrunk his space to maneuver down to the smallest in the Association. Not only did their lack of range diminish the quality of his looks but they never set him up like Batum can or Lin or even Lamb. Neither can shoot and neither is a playmaker. Add on the fact that nobody could create their own shot other than Kemba and he was forced into the Lions share of shots late in the clock on broken possessions. we probably led the league in broken possessions. then everyone dogpiled on Kemba as if anyone could salvage a decent rythmn playing wih Chos pu pu platter.

i have always hated Hendo and MKG. the only reason why i look forward to mkg return is for defense and rebounding and energy.

hes going to hurt the offense. foolish to think otherwise imo

[yosemiteben]

OOOORRRRR.....maybe Kemba himself is to blame for his own inability to shoot the ball in previous seasons.

Kemba this season is shooting 44.4% from three when his defender is 4 - 6 feet away, and 46.2% from three when his defender is 2 - 4 feet away. Let's compare those numbers to previous seasons, with this season's numbers included at the top:

2015-16: 44.4% with closest defender 4 - 6 feet, 46.2% with closest defender 2 - 4 feet
2014-15: 36.8% with closest defender 4 - 6 feet, 21.0% with closest defender 2 - 4 feet
2013-14: 34.4% with closest defender 4 - 6 feet, 23.9% with closest defender 2 - 4 feet

All this talk about the floor being more spread and having better shooters shouldn't cause him to double his 3PT% when a defender is in the same range year over year. You can do it by type of shot as well:

2015-16: 35.7% on pullup threes, 42.5% on C&S
2014-15: 25.6% on pullup threes, 33.1% on C&S
2013-14: 31.8% on pullup threes, 34.5% on C&S

Point blank, Kemba got his ass in the gym and figured out his three point shot, and now he's reaping the benefits of defenses having to close out on him on the perimeter. Seems unfair to blame MKG or Henderson for Kemba's inability to make lightly contested threes in previous seasons when he's doing so at a very impressive 46% clip now.

[MasterIchiro]

Doesn't factor in shot clock nor how freely and swiftly a defender is approaching.

[MasterIchiro]

Kemba has always lived in the gym. This summer was just like all the others before it.

[MasterIchiro]

There was an urgency and a burden on every possession when Kemba was the only perimeter threat on the floor and he had to carry the offense. Heck they were trying to train Zeller to take long jumpers and stretch out to 3. That's how desperate they were.

[MasterIchiro]

He was always the only playmaker out there, the only player who could create his own shot and sometimes the only perimeter threat. Hendo and MKG were none of those things and they logged a TON of minutes with Kemba. I can't wait until they figure out how MKG damages the offense in today's NBA when he returns. Bench please, like Oladipo.

[yosemiteben]

Doesn't factor in shot clock nor how freely and swiftly a defender is approaching.

(a) Let's not pretend like Kemba has ever been viewed as a perimeter threat that required quick closeouts in previous seasons.

(b) This season 4% of his threes are shot with between 7 - 0 seconds left on the shot clock. Last season that number was 8%, and the year before it was 9%. That is not anywhere close to enough to account for a 50% improvement in percentage.