Leap Year - The Kemba Walker Thread III

Post #1561 » by **yosemiteben** » Wed Aug 17, 2016 2:55 pm

@Nick_Sciria
Just wanted to note Kemba Walker's significant jump in shooting efficiency last season. (@bball_ref) https://t.co/fttspPOcFN

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@Nick_Sciria
A flaw in Kemba's form was identified by Bruce Kreutzer (CHA's shooting coach). I’d say the adjustment paid off. (https://t.co/RcjK2cD0sX)

Post #1562 » by **yosemiteben** » Sat Sep 3, 2016 3:01 pm

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@johnschuhmann
Random stat of the day - Most assists on 3-pointers, 2015-16.
(Wall assisted 13 different teammates on 3s.) https://t.co/oRx9JKIXD5

Interesting that Kemba ranked 30th in assists in the corner but 2nd in assists above the break. Very strange how we have consistently avoided corner threes under Cliff. Not sure if it's due to personnel or scheme (we use Marv so much in our PNR actions and don't have other great corner options?).

Mystical Apples · Post #1563 » by **Mystical Apples** » Sat Sep 3, 2016 4:32 pm

yosemiteben wrote:

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Interesting that Kemba ranked 30th in assists in the corner but 2nd in assists above the break. Very strange how we have consistently avoided corner threes under Cliff. Not sure if it's due to personnel or scheme (we use Marv so much in our PNR actions and don't have other great corner options?).

I'd guess a combination of factors. Teams don't shoot many corner threes however so not sure if the difference is statistically meaningful. The NBA median was ~ 6 attempts per game, CHA 5.2.

Transition defensive philosophy could be a factor similar to surrendering OREBs. As in burying frontcourt players in the corner isn't brilliant, IMO.

And just looking at teams with the highest # of corner 3 FGA there's a pattern of high usage playmakers paired with limited but effective C&S wings, at least anecdotally: GSW, Toronto, Portland, Cleveland, Heat. Actually, the variance seems to be largely driven by a handful of players.

Post #1564 » by **yosemiteben** » Sat Sep 3, 2016 5:19 pm

Good observations, and didn't realize we weren't far behind league average. I do think MKG staying healthy will mean more corner attempts.

Snidely FC · Post #1565 » by **Snidely FC** » Tue Oct 25, 2016 11:29 pm

I predict Kemba will play at an All-Star level this season, but will lose out on an All- Star team spot to . . .

Jeremy Lin, who will easily avg 25ppg on a putrid BKN team, and whose legions will vote him in . . .

unleashing "experts," who don't understand that CHA could have offered Lin twice the salary and he still would have left to go play the hero, to caterwaul about how CHA made a mistake not resigning him

Vanderbilt_Grad · Post #1566 » by **Vanderbilt_Grad** » Wed Oct 26, 2016 12:10 am

lol, worse, we will get to hear about how Charlotte was "holding Lin back" and how the team just should have traded Kemba and kept Lin.

Post #1567 » by **fatlever** » Thu Nov 3, 2016 5:12 pm

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Post #1568 » by **fatlever** » Tue Nov 8, 2016 4:19 pm

helluva a start by Kemba

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catch20two · Post #1569 » by **catch20two** » Wed Nov 9, 2016 3:15 am

Kemba is progressing just how I expected. His leadership has been impeccable.

Snidely FC · Post #1570 » by **Snidely FC** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 2:56 pm

I kinda really like that basketball junkie Zach Lowe is a Hornets fan

Zach Lowe
@ZachLowe_NBA
Good guy who works his butt off and gets better every year: Kemba Walker.
2m

BlackOutBuzz · Post #1571 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 4:08 pm

Snidely FC wrote:I kinda really like that basketball junkie Zach Lowe is a Hornets fan
Zach Lowe
@ZachLowe_NBA
Good guy who works his butt off and gets better every year: Kemba Walker.
2m

The comments...not bad but annoying.

"@ZachLowe_NBA you spelled DeMar DeRozan wrong"

"@ZachLowe_NBA DeRozan fits that mold too."

"@ZachLowe_NBA Masai Ujiri talks similarly re DDR. Character, work ethic, adding something each year, rubs off on other developing players."

"@ZachLowe_NBA similar to raps thinking with derozan"

"@ZachLowe_NBA sounds a lot like derozan"

And then Zach tweets...
@ZachLowe_NBA
When CHA extended him, their front office told me: we are betting more than anything on his character. They bet right.

"@ZachLowe_NBA we have seen the same thing here in Toronto with DeRozan, Lowry etc... there is a loyalty built in those partnerships."

"@ZachLowe_NBA same thing Colangelo said about DeRozan. He was right too."

That last one is from a Twitter-verified reporter in, of course, Toronto.

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James Gatz · Post #1572 » by **James Gatz** » Thu Nov 10, 2016 7:38 pm

I get Raps fans wanting to Demar to get recognition but it's worth noting that Kemba is younger and makes less than half what Demar is this season. 24.17 Million to 12 Million.

RealHusky · Post #1573 » by **RealHusky** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 2:00 am

Kemba is killing it this year. Happy to see he is taking his game to another level. Kemba has never shot the 3s this well. I hope he can keep it up. Great work Kemba!

Snidely FC · Post #1574 » by **Snidely FC** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:06 am

Zach Lowe continues to be a Kemba fan:

2. The craft of Kemba Walker

Holy Kemba! Walker has been the best point guard in the Eastern Conference so far. Raves about Walker usually focus on his improved shooting, and with good reason. Two seasons ago, teams ducked under screens against him: Go ahead and jack it up, buddy! Do that now, and you're toast.

Walker has drilled 48 percent from deep on more than seven attempts per game, career highs by a mile, and he's carrying Charlotte during a tepid start from Nicolas Batum.

But Walker has honed every point guard skill during his rise to stardom. He's shooting better from almost everywhere, getting to the line more, keeping those turnovers low and scuttling around screens on defense. He might be the league's most creative jitterbug dribbler, and he subtly brilliant searching out the best bang-for-the-buck passing lanes:

http://media.video-cdn.espn.com/gifs/mp4/dm161115_Kemba_Pocket_Pass_2gif.mp4

That is a Ricky Rubio-level pocket pass -- a tick earlier than the defense expects it, and so in rhythm with the pitter-pat of Walker's dribble, they almost don't realize it's happening. Wait longer, and Cody Zeller's path to paydirt might fill up with bodies. Go early, and the pass isn't there.

Post #1575 » by **yosemiteben** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:15 am

I know it's anti-Cliff philosophy, but wonder if Kemba will get a DNP - Rest this season.

Post #1576 » by **bondom34** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:44 pm

http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/RPM/position/1

Kemba at 4th PG.

Post #1577 » by **yosemiteben** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 7:04 pm

bondom34 wrote:http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/RPM/position/1

Kemba at 4th PG.

Heck yeah. Also Nic 4th SG.

Cody 13th...PF?

Post #1578 » by **bondom34** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 7:07 pm

yosemiteben wrote:
bondom34 wrote:http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/RPM/position/1

Kemba at 4th PG.

Heck yeah. Also Nic 4th SG.

Cody 13th...PF?

I'm just pumped OKC did so well trading Serge :lol:

.

And Adams killing it.

_tijo_ · Post #1579 » by **_tijo_** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:43 pm

Snidely FC wrote:Zach Lowe continues to be a Kemba fan:

He wasn't always. I remember when they gave Kemba his 4/$48m deal, Zach wrote an article for the then-Grantland about the "Kemba Condundrum", about how Kemba wasn't worth the$12m a year contract that Charlotte was rumored to give him. I hit him up on twitter after one of Kemba's daggers, and Zach actually replied and said he was a defensive liability and even with the cap going way way up, he still thought the Hornets overpaid.

Now he's one of the best contract in the league, oh and it's the same contract. How Mr. Lowe has changed his tune.

Oh and Kemba got better. Granted at the time, his running mate in the backcourt was Hendo, and now it's Batum. What a difference that made.

Braggins · Post #1580 » by **Braggins** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:55 pm

Kemba seems to have surpassed my highest expectations for him as a pro. I thought he was going to be quite good, but I didn't expect his shooting to quite reach this level until he was passed his athletic prime. I'm still curious to see how much he can elevate his playmaking now that he doesn't need to focus so much on improving his shooting and the game seems to be slowing down for him.