25 games in, are we pleased with Kemba Walker? Thoughts?

[cons]

some people back in the summer wanted dangelo russell instead.

glad that didnt happen

IMO kemba is the best acquisition the c's have made since KG.

so yes, i'm pleased

[celts55]

What impresses me is his quite scoring. I'm watching the game and sort of notice him, than realize he's scored 30 points. Also love the way he seems truly happy when his team mates does well.

Maybe I'm nitpicking, but he does have some issues with driving into traffic and getting his shot blocked, or being forced into a poor pass. I guess that can be expected from someone who is somewhat undersized.

All in all, much better than I expected. 

[mmmmm]

Agree with all the positive reviews here.

My two favorite things:

Leadership, which I knew about, as a UConn fan. As advertised - better, actually.

Also? Kemba is a north-south player. Yes, he can dance with the ball, nail a step-back, etc. But he’ll get to the line and attack the basket. Kyrie danced a lot more and avoided contact. Too lazy to find the numbers now but my feeling is that Kemba gets to the line a lot more and that’s an important skill to have.

To be fair, as much as we hate on Irving's inability to go inside and avoid contact. The two of them have been pretty even.

Irving has 4.4 FTA in his career versus 5.0 against Kemba's.

If you look at it as a ratio of FTA for every FGA, Kemba has consistently gotten to the FT line at a higher rate, with a career .288 FTr compared to Kyrie's career .248 rate.   

But within the context of the Celtic's offense the difference is more pronounced, as Kyrie is currently posting a .281 rate while Kyrie last year was at just .197.  So the difference between last year and this year for us at that position is pretty stark.

Kyrie's current ratio with the Nets, .250 is well below Kemba's and yet is the highest FTr ratio that he has posted since 2014-15.

[Somebody]

What impresses me is his quite scoring. I'm watching the game and sort of notice him, than realize he's scored 30 points. Also love the way he seems truly happy when his team mates does well.

Maybe I'm nitpicking, but he does have some issues with driving into traffic and getting his shot blocked, or being forced into a poor pass. I guess that can be expected from someone who is somewhat undersized.

All in all, much better than I expected.

That's what comes with building an offence around a small point guard who doesn't have the skillset of say Nash or Curry - they'll get swallowed up at times.

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Yeah sure fine I guess Kemba can stay

[Diggles]

Could we have kept Baynes and AL and done a sign and trade for Kemba w. Rozier?   

[Monkhouse]

Could we have kept Baynes and AL and done a sign and trade for Kemba w. Rozier?

Probably not.
The cap space from Irving/Horford led us to us being able to pull off the S&T. Plus allegedly we spoke to Horford about the possibility of Walker coming here, but I believe the money + not having to play the 5 as much convinced him otherwise.

[nickagneta]

Could we have kept Baynes and AL and done a sign and trade for Kemba w. Rozier?

The Celtics did do a sign and trade for Kemba with Rozier.

[Moranis]

Could we have kept Baynes and AL and done a sign and trade for Kemba w. Rozier?

The Celtics did do a sign and trade for Kemba with Rozier.

Didn't we absorb some of Kemba into cap space though? 

[GreenFaith1819]

I love the dude.

If I try to find ONE thing to be negative about with him - he's too short. There.

[Monkhouse]

Marc D'Amico
✔
@Marc_DAmico
As is typical for a PG playing under Brad Stevens, 3x All-Star and 1x All-NBA PG Kemba Walker is having his most efficient season in Boston. On pace to set new career bests in:
PER at 23.51 (prev best = 21.72)
TS% at 59.1% (57.2%)
3P% at 41.1% (39.9%)
FT% at 88.2% (86.4%)

Amazing.

[SDceltGuy]

Marc D'Amico
✔
@Marc_DAmico
As is typical for a PG playing under Brad Stevens, 3x All-Star and 1x All-NBA PG Kemba Walker is having his most efficient season in Boston. On pace to set new career bests in:
PER at 23.51 (prev best = 21.72)
TS% at 59.1% (57.2%)
3P% at 41.1% (39.9%)
FT% at 88.2% (86.4%)

Amazing.

How did CBS get Kemba to be a better FT shooter?

[Monkhouse]

Marc D'Amico
✔
@Marc_DAmico
As is typical for a PG playing under Brad Stevens, 3x All-Star and 1x All-NBA PG Kemba Walker is having his most efficient season in Boston. On pace to set new career bests in:
PER at 23.51 (prev best = 21.72)
TS% at 59.1% (57.2%)
3P% at 41.1% (39.9%)
FT% at 88.2% (86.4%)

Amazing.

How did CBS get Kemba to be a better FT shooter?

Probably plenty of factors involved, but maybe through a lot of reps, practices, and the fact Kemba isn't 100% exhausted from having to carry a team on his back, and can actually just play off-ball, preserve energy, and shoot 3's instead of driving inside, or trying to get space.

[GreenCoffeeBean]

I like him but we shouldn’t hesitate to include him, along with Hayward and every FA that has ever signed in Boston EVER, in a package for Mo Bamba or a bag of Bambas from Trader Joe’s.

[Monkhouse]

I like him but we shouldn’t hesitate to include him, along with Hayward and every FA that has ever signed in Boston EVER, in a package for Mo Bamba or a bag of Bambas from Trader Joe’s.

 

Lol, sarcasm is strong with this one.