Poll

Per this article - Kemba is a poor clutch shooter.  So who takes the late shots?

Kemba Walker
9 (28.1%)
Jayson Tatum
4 (12.5%)
Gordon Hayward
6 (18.8%)
Carsen Edwards
1 (3.1%)
Go with whatever CBS draws up
12 (37.5%)

Total Members Voted: 32

Author Topic: Per this article - Kemba is a poor clutch shooter. So who takes the late shots?  (Read 5016 times)

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Offline Tr1boy

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http://paceandspacehoops.com/kemba-walker-is-one-of-the-worst-clutch-players-of-all-time/

Quote
Walker, since his rookie year, is 87-of-265 in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime when shooting to tie or take the lead. That’s 32.8 percent.

From three, he’s 27-of-97 (27.8 percent.)

Kind of concerning though the article fails to account, the heavy lifting (offense) Kemba had to do in the 1st 3 quarters of games for the lowly Hornet team.

In a close game situation/game on the line.... who would you want taking the shot(s) next season? 

Offline RodyTur10

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Jayson Tatum is the best pure shooter and he has already proven he's quite deadly at the end of games, so I think he's the go-to-guy. But Stevens excels in setting up ATO-plays, so Tatum can also be used as a distraction to involve either Hayward, Brown, Edwards or even Walker (those are quite awful numbers though).

Offline jambr380

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Luckily it's not his rookie year anymore. I agree that his efficiency might not be where we want it to be, but he was top 5 in the league in clutch scoring last season, so it's not like he just totally melts under the pressure. That article was strangely negative - like Kemba had done the author wrong, or something.

Just so we can get both sides to the argument, perhaps we should merge this thread with the other Kemba clutch thread from a few weeks back.

https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=100852.0

I do agree that Tatum seems like the perfect closer, though.

Offline Surferdad

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Jayson Tatum is the best pure shooter and he has already proven he's quite deadly at the end of games, so I think he's the go-to-guy. But Stevens excels in setting up ATO-plays, so Tatum can also be used as a distraction to involve either Hayward, Brown, Edwards or even Walker (those are quite awful numbers though).
Tatum is still here for a reason. IMO, this is it.  He can also be the decoy so when the double comes, pass out to Hayward for an open look.

Offline tstorey_97

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Obviously the vets on this list.

Third choice:

Edwards made his name on big shots in big games for Purdue. He is quick, can duck and make a pull up with the best of them.

BTW? Now, as far as the "article" referenced here about Walker and clutch shooting?

What?!

Forgot to watch the NCAA championships in 2011?

Remember? He beat Kawhi Leonard and then? He beat everybody else with clutch play after clutch play.

He's a clutch shot monster. Don't care what he did for that crap team he used to play for....do not care.

Offline lbgreen33

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I watched Kemba in most of his college games at Uconn.  He was one of the best clutch players I have ever seen at Uconn.  We have been blessed with some truly clutch players at Uconn including Ray Allen.  The year they won the the national title Kemba hit clutch shot after clutch shot, it was incredible! There have been some amazing years watching Uconn, but that year was truly special and he was one of the big reasons why.

Offline seancally

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I too don't give a hoot about what Kemba didn't do in Charlotte. Also didn't read the article, so there's that. I know what he did for UConn in that tournament (AND the Big East tourney, where they basically had to win the tournament to earn a bid in the NCAAs). His clutchness is just fine.

Otherwise, I feel good about Hayward, Tatum, Brown as clutch players, and I feel good about Brad Stevens drawing up clutch plays. We will be fine in the clutch.

EDIT: Just skimmed the article and saw the words "choke artist." Yeah, gonna ignore this take.
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Offline Walker Wiggle

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Part of the problem might be that in the last few minutes of the game, without strong secondary scorers, defenses were able to collapse onto him and dare him to take tough shots. Who was the secondary creator on last year's team for Charlotte, for instance? Jeremy Lamb?

Hopefully that won't be a problem this year, because as others have mentioned, you'll have a few capable creators and shot makers on the floor including Hayward, Tatum, and Brown. This would be more like the pre-Durant GSW model with Curry as the clear dominant offensive player, yet the team still does not break down its motion and passing-based offense in the last few minutes of the game because you've got plenty of talent on the floor that can work within the offense.

Offline Evantime34

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That article is from 2018, I looked up the data from this past season and Kemba is a head of a lot of top tier players, like Embiid, Griffin, Durant, Vucevic, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell, Khris Middleton, Jamal Murray and a bunch of other quality players.

He's not as bad as the numbers in the article make him seem, and any problems he has had have been acerbated by not having any other teammates who can take the offensive pressure off them.

I expect Kemba to take most of our last shots, although if defenses focus on him then he probably will dish to Tatum, Hayward or Brown.
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Offline Donoghus

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Kemba but I would love to have Tatum & Edwards out on the court in that moment as fallbacks.


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Offline PhoSita

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Brad's gonna draw up plays for Kemba, Tatum, and Hayward, probably in that order.


I think the Celtics will be pretty good in late game situations.  Brad has always found ways to get the Celts good opportunities in crunch time.
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Offline dannyboy35

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I’m great with either Kemba or Hayward. If it’s not there I just think Tatum will shoot it anyways. The other two are able and more importantly- willing passers, in my opinion.

Offline SparzWizard

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It's either Kemba Walker or Gordon Hayward.

Brown and Tatum not proven yet to take the last shot.


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Offline hpantazo

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Most of the time it will end up being Smart who takes it on broken plays  ;D

Offline liam

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Luckily it's not his rookie year anymore. I agree that his efficiency might not be where we want it to be, but he was top 5 in the league in clutch scoring last season, so it's not like he just totally melts under the pressure. That article was strangely negative - like Kemba had done the author wrong, or something.

Just so we can get both sides to the argument, perhaps we should merge this thread with the other Kemba clutch thread from a few weeks back.

https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=100852.0

I do agree that Tatum seems like the perfect closer, though.

Yeah, that hot take article is not taking any of the facts of Kemba's career into account.