Kemba’s got to go...

[Vermont Green]

I had to go back and see what I had said to be sure I am being consistent.  There was criticism that Walker is too offensive minded and doesn't get enough assists, that he won't adjust his game even when it appeared as though his game had diminished.  I had said that I felt Kemba could get 5-6 assists per game combined with more efficient scoring and that he had come right out and said that he was willing to adjust his game so that Tatum and Brown didn't have to.

I would say that Kemba is at about 90%-95% right now which is great but that last 5%-10%, if it is still there, would make a big difference.  He looks good out there, good speed up the court in particular.  Still forcing it some to finish on drives but there has been improvement there.  It is very clear to me that he is taking pressure off Tatum and Brown (neither of which are on the top of their games right now either), so in that respect, he is complementary.

I had said earlier that I see no point in trading him mid-season.  In the off season, for the right deal, who knows.

[jambr380]

Kind-of bummed that I didn't respond earlier in this particular thread since it is apparently the official Kemba 'I told you so' thread.

Either way, I love seeing Kemba out there dominating and carrying the team when we have needed it. I was always confident he would round back into form and he is showing why he was an All-Star prior to this season. His fit has also been great as he gives a whole new dynamic to the offense in terms of his playmaking, ability to penetrate the defense, and of course his shooting.

[spikelovetheCelts]

Just remember. He has not been in a practice. He will get to practice a few times before we play after the Break. Things are looking up.  Hopefully Harrison Barnes will be a Celtic March 25th.

[td450]

Kemba is getting closer to where he will end up for the next 1-2 years. He's made some adjustments, with less of those screeching stop and pop moves that was his bailout shot for his prime years, and his shooting is coming back. He's going to be 85-90% of what he was before. The improvement does help, and some games he will look good.

I maintain that he is a bad fit for this team. He's not a point guard that makes other players better. Brown has taken it on himself to adjust, while Kemba and Tatum just keep dribbling and firing. When Hayward was here and we had more bench scoring, his shortcomings didn't matter much, but now it does. He has gotten back more of his scoring capacity, but it's pretty clear he hasn't adjusted one iota to what this team needs.

I truly hope we can get rid of him and get something back. The team has fixed nothing, other than him shooting better, and Smart will be back soon to slow the offense even further

[RodyTur10]

I'm still in the "trade-Kemba-camp".

That he's playing better will help to increase his market value.
If he keeps this up he could become a positive trading asset.

Just don't see a role for Walker on this Celtics team.

[gouki88]

I'm still in the "trade-Kemba-camp".

That he's playing better will help to increase his market value.
If he keeps this up he could become a positive trading asset.

Just don't see a role for Walker on this Celtics team.

Why not? His comfort in the role of the 3rd option who can still easily put up 20 points is part of why we're on a winning streak.

I would like a more balanced guard as the starter (feel like Dejounte Murray would be a great fit) but Kemba is still pretty handy

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Harrison Barnes: savior of the Celtics season.

Who says that?

[Neurotic Guy]

Kemba is getting closer to where he will end up for the next 1-2 years. He's made some adjustments, with less of those screeching stop and pop moves that was his bailout shot for his prime years, and his shooting is coming back. He's going to be 85-90% of what he was before. The improvement does help, and some games he will look good.

I maintain that he is a bad fit for this team. He's not a point guard that makes other players better. Brown has taken it on himself to adjust, while Kemba and Tatum just keep dribbling and firing. When Hayward was here and we had more bench scoring, his shortcomings didn't matter much, but now it does. He has gotten back more of his scoring capacity, but it's pretty clear he hasn't adjusted one iota to what this team needs.

I truly hope we can get rid of him and get something back. The team has fixed nothing, other than him shooting better, and Smart will be back soon to slow the offense even further

Except that Smart can pass the ball.  I don’t think it’s ideal but Smart has size/D and he passes well (while Brown is also  improving his passing), and Kemba-Smart backcourt had played zero minutes this year.   

Smart (I think) won’t take long to get back close to 100% and Kemba is climbing back to near his former self.  I’m looking forward to seeing what Kemba-Smart will do. And I’ve enjoyed watching Pritchard-Kemba - too small but moving the ball.

[GreenlyGreeny]

I'm still in the "trade-Kemba-camp".

That he's playing better will help to increase his market value.
If he keeps this up he could become a positive trading asset.

Just don't see a role for Walker on this Celtics team.

Why not? His comfort in the role of the 3rd option who can still easily put up 20 points is part of why we're on a winning streak.

I would like a more balanced guard as the starter (feel like Dejounte Murray would be a great fit) but Kemba is still pretty handy

I’m with you on this. I love Kemba as a person, so I feel a bit bad lobbying so hard to trade him. He’s just taking his time getting better before going all-out. Got a feeling he’ll be playing at a high level for the duration of his contract here.

[Somebody]

I'm still in the "trade-Kemba-camp".

That he's playing better will help to increase his market value.
If he keeps this up he could become a positive trading asset.

Just don't see a role for Walker on this Celtics team.

Why not? His comfort in the role of the 3rd option who can still easily put up 20 points is part of why we're on a winning streak.

I would like a more balanced guard as the starter (feel like Dejounte Murray would be a great fit) but Kemba is still pretty handy

We have that more balanced guard in Smart (obviously Murray is better offensively, but guys like him don't grow on trees) imo. What we need is more wing depth so we can trot out defensively inclined lineups around Tatum/Brown and have Kemba come off the bench ala Ginobili to anchor our second unit.

[gouki88]

I'm still in the "trade-Kemba-camp".

That he's playing better will help to increase his market value.
If he keeps this up he could become a positive trading asset.

Just don't see a role for Walker on this Celtics team.

Why not? His comfort in the role of the 3rd option who can still easily put up 20 points is part of why we're on a winning streak.

I would like a more balanced guard as the starter (feel like Dejounte Murray would be a great fit) but Kemba is still pretty handy

We have that more balanced guard in Smart (obviously Murray is better offensively, but guys like him don't grow on trees) imo. What we need is more wing depth so we can trot out defensively inclined lineups around Tatum/Brown and have Kemba come off the bench ala Ginobili to anchor our second unit.

That really would be ideal. Hopefully that TPE goes to that pursuit (like Barnes or Aaron Gordon)

[GreenWarrior]

Should we trade kemba? Without question, considering we shouldn't have brought him in here in the 1st place as he presents the same issues IT did. Stupid move.

But the problem is no one wants kemba because of the IT similarities and now the injury.

So we are stuck with him, the best we can hope for is kemba becomes more of a PG now because everything that made him what he was is gone. He needs to reconstruct his game.

[footey]

If Kemba continues to play well and remain healthy, I could see a few teams whom Ainge offered Kemba to last offseason to get Holliday (eg Bulls, Knicks?) suddenly getting interested in trading for him during the next off-season (but not sooner because need track record), and Ainge being amenable for the right deal.

[nickagneta]

Kemba finally gets himself healthy to the point of playing like the Kemba that was so, so good before last year's ASG, and people are just aching to trade him?

Kemba is fitting in great next to the Jays. He isn't stealing any of their offense. He can come up big and carry the team if the Jays are having a bad game. He is the 2nd best or best playmaker on the team. Though small, he draws charges at an incredible rate and still has lightning quick hands to create turnovers.

You don't trade the dollar that is Kemba for the various two quarters and a dime packages being bandied about. Do people realize how close to a title this team is with a Walker, Smart, Brown, Tatum and Timelord core? You add to that core. You don't start moving some of those guys for the, in many of the trade proposals I have seen.

[cman88]

Kemba finally gets himself healthy to the point of playing like the Kemba that was so, so good before last year's ASG, and people are just aching to trade him?

Kemba is fitting in great next to the Jays. He isn't stealing any of their offense. He can come up big and carry the team if the Jays are having a bad game. He is the 2nd best or best playmaker on the team. Though small, he draws charges at an incredible rate and still has lightning quick hands to create turnovers.

You don't trade the dollar that is Kemba for the various two quarters and a dime packages being bandied about. Do people realize how close to a title this team is with a Walker, Smart, Brown, Tatum and Timelord core? You add to that core. You don't start moving some of those guys for the, in many of the trade proposals I have seen.

If kemba keeps looking like this, trading him does nothing but create another hole.

right now we are missing Haywards 17ppg