Kemba as Tony Parker

[Big333223]

I have two concerns about Kemba Walker: 1. His age and how it impacts his health, and 2. His primary value is as a scorer but he is now the 2nd or 3rd best scorer on the team.

This idea popped into my head: Kemba should transition his game to look a little more like Tony Parker.

1. Walker's style is a lot of herky-jerky movement that probably puts more stress on his body than the more streamlined, straight-line movements of someone like Parker. Playing a bit more in that style might save his body some wear and tear.

2. Parker was basically a score-first pg. He didn't take a ton of shots because he was usually not the first option and because San Antonio kept minutes down and had an egalitarian system but he was not a pg in the mold of Magic or Jason Kidd. His best skill was not his playmaking.

Kemba is, I think, similar in that he's an ok playmaker but it's not his strong suit. Kemba at his best on this team probably looks something like what Parker was a lot of the time: 18 points and 6 assists and keeping everything flowing.

If I'm right, how does Kemba get there? What does he need to change?

[Goldstar88]

When Parker was in his prime, he averaged nearly 8 assists per game. Kemba is not as good of a passer as Tony was.

[Big333223]

When Parker was in his prime, he averaged nearly 8 assists per game. Kemba is not as good of a passer as Tony was.

Parker's two best assists seasons were 7.7 and 7.6 per game. In 18 seasons, he averaged at least 6 apg only 6 times. Parker averaged 5.6 apg for his career, Kemba's average is 5.4. Even if we cut off Parker's last 3 seasons that depress that average, we only get to 5.9 apg. These are better numbers than Kemba but they also had different roles on their teams.

Parker was probably a better passer than Kemba but only marginally so.

[Vermont Green]

Sure, no comps are perfect and the Parker era Spurs teams were much different than the current Celtics teams but I think this is a very apt comparison.  Tony Parker contributed to titles and from an overall talent standpoint, Kemba is very similar.  Sure, Kemba is a little more offensive minded and Parker got a few more assists but many of those assists were just feeding Duncan in the post.

Career, Parker is 5.6 Asst/gm, Kemba is 5.4.  Points though, Kemba 19.9, Parker 15.5.  We can do a lot of damage with Kemba scoring say 18 pts and getting say 6 assists per game, or even 5 assists.  Assists are overrated as a box score stat.  It is like in hockey where they give 2 assists in certain cases because a pass to set up a pass can often create a better shot than just a pass to set up a shot.  So if Kemba makes a good pass to Tatum who then passes to Williams for a dunk, that is winning basketball.  Tatum gets the box score entry but it may have been Kemba who put the whole thing in motion.

If Kemba can give us Tony Parker, I will take it.