Kemba Walker Thread

[LarryBirdsFingr]

Kemba is a huge downgrade to Kyrie and whoever the Celtics sign to replace Horford - assuming they will - will be an even bigger downgrade.

Wrong on kemba

[LondonCeltics]

Kemba is a huge downgrade to Kyrie and whoever the Celtics sign to replace Horford - assuming they will - will be an even bigger downgrade.

No it isn't you north London mug. Kemba has been putting up comparable numbers on rubbish teams and in my opinion will be more successful with us than Kyrie the bottler was. Kyrie could dribble the ball well yeah but he was an ultimate failure here, have you decided to blank out the Bucks series from your mind or something?

Writing off someone like Kemba before he's even signed...typical Arsenal fan behaviour is that.

[ParticleMan]

kemba vs kyrie, last year:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=kemba+Walker&player_id1_select=Kemba+Walker&y1=2019&player_id1=walkeke02&idx=players&player_id2_hint=kyrie+Irving&player_id2_select=Kyrie+Irving&y2=2019&player_id2=irvinky01&idx=players

very similar per 36. the main difference is efficiency, which is very important, but this could be offset some by having better teammates and a better scheme. not to mention that kemba is a bulldog who shows up every day, not some aloof emo woke dude.

[LarryBirdsFingr]

kemba vs kyrie, last year:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=kemba+Walker&player_id1_select=Kemba+Walker&y1=2019&player_id1=walkeke02&idx=players&player_id2_hint=kyrie+Irving&player_id2_select=Kyrie+Irving&y2=2019&player_id2=irvinky01&idx=players

very similar per 36. the main difference is efficiency, which is very important, but this could be offset some by having better teammates and a better scheme. not to mention that kemba is a bulldog who shows up every day, not some aloof emo woke dude.

Honestly I think kemba could have a career year here and be even more efficient than before.

[ParticleMan]

kemba vs kyrie, last year:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=kemba+Walker&player_id1_select=Kemba+Walker&y1=2019&player_id1=walkeke02&idx=players&player_id2_hint=kyrie+Irving&player_id2_select=Kyrie+Irving&y2=2019&player_id2=irvinky01&idx=players

very similar per 36. the main difference is efficiency, which is very important, but this could be offset some by having better teammates and a better scheme. not to mention that kemba is a bulldog who shows up every day, not some aloof emo woke dude.

Honestly I think kemba could have a career year here and be even more efficient than before.

yeah, kyrie had about 2% uptick in shooting efficiency after coming to boston. this was even compared to his days with lebron as a teammate. so scheme matters.

the only thing that worries me is kemba has never been a 40%+ plus 3pt shooter like kyrie. if he can get up to like 38% (where it was the previous couple of years) instead of 35%, i'd be pretty happy with that.

[djFan71]

kemba vs kyrie, last year:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=kemba+Walker&player_id1_select=Kemba+Walker&y1=2019&player_id1=walkeke02&idx=players&player_id2_hint=kyrie+Irving&player_id2_select=Kyrie+Irving&y2=2019&player_id2=irvinky01&idx=players

very similar per 36. the main difference is efficiency, which is very important, but this could be offset some by having better teammates and a better scheme. not to mention that kemba is a bulldog who shows up every day, not some aloof emo woke dude.

Honestly I think kemba could have a career year here and be even more efficient than before.

I'd be shocked if he doesn't honestly. He's definitely a great pickup. Only things I don't love are the lack of bigs and the fact that we can't play our best 5 players at the same time. Obviously a lot of offseason left so I'm keeping the faith on the bigs. But, I'm not sure how that Kemba/Smart/Brown/Tatum/Hayward logjam gets resolved at this point without a trade. Guessing one of the Jays is on the bench in closing minutes every game. Which isn't ideal.

[ZemGOAT]

U guys upgraded

[sam_I_am]

Kemba is a huge downgrade to Kyrie and whoever the Celtics sign to replace Horford - assuming they will - will be an even bigger downgrade.

Wrong on kemba

The problem with Kyrie is that his offense was really streaky and if he isn’t making baskets, his misses aren’t really helping the team. His half court offense is often just him on an island with a defender, him making a brilliant hesitation move with ball control rarely ever seen ..... while his 4 teammates stand around and watch. Even though Kemba is also a high usage player I see him as being more decisive and quick with his attacks which means the pace will be quicker. At least with IT, the ball would move around and it looked like the other players were involved, even if he too had just as high a usage rate. I think it’s just better if the ball moves around even if at the end it’s still 1 guy taking most of shots - like with Curry in GS.

So although most talent evaluators rate Kyrie higher and he is bigger and younger .... the production will be about the same and I think the other talent will be more involved and engaged and happier to play with Kemba. I guess we’ll see.

[LarryBirdsFingr]

Kemba is a huge downgrade to Kyrie and whoever the Celtics sign to replace Horford - assuming they will - will be an even bigger downgrade.

Wrong on kemba

The problem with Kyrie is that his offense was really streaky and if he isn’t making baskets, his misses aren’t really helping the team. His half court offense is often just him on an island with a defender, him making a brilliant hesitation move with ball control rarely ever seen ..... while his 4 teammates stand around and watch. Even though Kemba is also a high usage player I see him as being more decisive and quick with his attacks which means the pace will be quicker. At least with IT, the ball would move around and it looked like the other players were involved, even if he too had just as high a usage rate. I think it’s just better if the ball moves around even if at the end it’s still 1 guy taking most of shots - like with Curry in GS.

So although most talent evaluators rate Kyrie higher and he is bigger and younger .... the production will be about the same and I think the other talent will be more involved and engaged and happier to play with Kemba. I guess we’ll see.

Correct. The whole team will improve with this kid on the court.

[AgentGreen]

I'm content with the Kemba signing. Although the price is quite high for a player like him. The current market forces you and there is no other way you can lure an Allstar freeagent.

But people overe here who wanted to not sign some players because Brown and Tatum wouldnt get enough touches. Well you got your answer. Ainge signs the player with one of the highest usage rates in the current free agent market.

[jfs1000d]

Kemba is a huge downgrade to Kyrie and whoever the Celtics sign to replace Horford - assuming they will - will be an even bigger downgrade.

Huge downgrade?

You watch basketball.

And read the stories. Celtics would have traded
Kyrie for Kemba if they could have due to Kyrie’s attitude.
Dude is third team a nba and has made 3 straight all-star teams....out of Charlotte

Dude is not a “downgrade.”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[La Flame]

Kemba's gonna be way better than Kyrie was for us just because he's gonna buy into the offensive scheme

[Afam]

Kemba's Time.

[floyd]

Kemba's gonna be way better than Kyrie was for us just because he's gonna buy into the offensive scheme

I am a bit worried about the offense without Horford though. The last three years we’ve been so much better with him on the court.

Hopefully Tatum makes the jump and Hayward gets back to form and we don’t notice but he’s been a huge part of our success ( and Atlanta’s before).

[Afam]

Kemba is the star. Now get help. They still need to go out and get a big and a 3 point shooter/specialist. Use one of Brown or Hayward to address that. The celtics should look to compete and at least advance to the ECF. Merely getting to the playoffs and to the second round isn't enough.

[brackdan70]

If kemba signs, I will officially be rooting for the Celtics after the rockets next year...if they trade for capela, too I may try to convince my girlfriend to move to Boston instead of nyc because that’s my 2 favorite players in the league on one team

Feels like the Capela thing I Isn’t a thing but we will see!!!!

[Afam]

The celtics are guard/wing heavy. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Romeo Langford, Gordon Hayward. Use on of them to get an established Big. Protect Kemba or he is going to take a beaten.

[Slartibartfast]

kemba vs kyrie, last year:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=kemba+Walker&player_id1_select=Kemba+Walker&y1=2019&player_id1=walkeke02&idx=players&player_id2_hint=kyrie+Irving&player_id2_select=Kyrie+Irving&y2=2019&player_id2=irvinky01&idx=players

very similar per 36. the main difference is efficiency, which is very important, but this could be offset some by having better teammates and a better scheme. not to mention that kemba is a bulldog who shows up every day, not some aloof emo woke dude.

Honestly I think kemba could have a career year here and be even more efficient than before.

Very reasonable thought. But the same thing happened for IT and Kyrie and it didn't amount to much.

The problem with Kemba and Kyrie and IT playing to their best is that it makes everyone else secondary and it doesn't really take the team anywhere special.

We've seen this for several years now. The first two IT year we get bounced in the first round. Then IT puts up near 30 a game, gets MVP hype and we were on the verge of getting swept by the Bulls in the first round until Rondo got hurt. Then we barely survive against a middling Wizards team and get obliterated by the Cavs (with our lone victory the result of Smart leading the charge at PG). Next year we lose Kyrie and magically become a tough playoff team with Rozier and Smart running the show. Then we get Kyrie back and flameout.

It's not just us either. Lillard gets worshipped in Portland and he has some amazing heroics for sure, but I watched that same team get obliterated by the Pelicans in the same way we almost got swept by the Bulls.

Everyone wants to take advantage of the rule and style changes that make it possible for quick bomber guards to dominate games, but doing so has elevated a lot of one-trick ponies to the superstar stage where their teams then collapse when their one trick isn't enough.

Other than Kyrie playing the Robin to LBJ's Batman, it hasn't worked.

[jmr07019]

Can we end the "players don't want to sign with Boston in FA" bs now? Funny what happens when you have cap space and some decent talent on the roster.

[jmr07019]

kemba vs kyrie, last year:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.fcgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1_hint=kemba+Walker&player_id1_select=Kemba+Walker&y1=2019&player_id1=walkeke02&idx=players&player_id2_hint=kyrie+Irving&player_id2_select=Kyrie+Irving&y2=2019&player_id2=irvinky01&idx=players

very similar per 36. the main difference is efficiency, which is very important, but this could be offset some by having better teammates and a better scheme. not to mention that kemba is a bulldog who shows up every day, not some aloof emo woke dude.

Honestly I think kemba could have a career year here and be even more efficient than before.

Very reasonable thought. But the same thing happened for IT and Kyrie and it didn't amount to much.

The problem with Kemba and Kyrie and IT playing to their best is that it makes everyone else secondary and it doesn't really take the team anywhere special.

We've seen this for several years now. The first two IT year we get bounced in the first round. Then IT puts up near 30 a game, gets MVP hype and we were on the verge of getting swept by the Bulls in the first round until Rondo got hurt. Then we barely survive against a middling Wizards team and get obliterated by the Cavs (with our lone victory the result of Smart leading the charge at PG). Next year we lose Kyrie and magically become a tough playoff team with Rozier and Smart running the show. Then we get Kyrie back and flameout.

It's not just us either. Lillard gets worshipped in Portland and he has some amazing heroics for sure, but I watched that same team get obliterated by the Pelicans in the same way we almost got swept by the Bulls.

Everyone wants to take advantage of the rule and style changes that make it possible for quick bomber guards to dominate games, but doing so has elevated a lot of one-trick ponies to the superstar stage where their teams then collapse when their one trick isn't enough.

Other than Kyrie playing the Robin to LBJ's Batman, it hasn't worked.

Steph says hi. Not that it helps us because Kemba isn't Steph but your last sentence isn't really accurate. I think our biggest problem these last 4 year has been lack of big men talent. With Horford leaving that problem has gotten worse. Ainge has some serious work to do.