Jay King: Kemba Walker: “We just need to play harder. That’s it. We’re not playing hard. We’re not playing as hard as we can.”
Kemba Walker Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 05/08/90
Height: 6-0 / 1.83
Weight:172 lbs. / 78 kg.
Salary: $34,379,100
Born: 05/08/90
Height: 6-0 / 1.83
Weight:172 lbs. / 78 kg.
Salary: $34,379,100
Jay King: Kemba Walker: “We’re just not playing the way we know that we’re capable of playing. That has to be fixed. And soon.” Walker said he thinks the Celtics’ issues are all controllable.
Kemba Walker: Knee not to blame for struggles
Jay King: Kemba Walker said his struggles aren’t due to his knee. Said he just has to find a rhythm again. Believes it will just take time. Pointed out that it’s just his 11th game and he went a while without being able to play ball at all. “Nothing with my knee or anything like that.”
Tim Bontemps: Interesting development: Jayson Tatum is now officially being introduced last for the Celtics, even when he and Kemba Walker are healthy. Subtle thing but a noteworthy one.
After missing nearly the first month of the season while strengthening his left knee, Kemba Walker made his season debut on Jan. 17. And while the Celtics dropped their first three games with Walker in the lineup, the point guard’s return has Boston being talked about as a contender again. With arguably the best collection of players to guard Brooklyn’s new big three in Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Celtics had their fair share of backers to be a threat to win the East. “I think Boston matches up better [against Brooklyn],” another Western Conference executive said. “They have those three guys [Tatum, Brown and Smart], they’ve got some different looks they can throw out there with their bigs. And the Nets can’t punish them [inside] anyway.”
Several people pointed to Walker, specifically, as the key to Boston’s season. Given the nagging issues with his left knee going back a full calendar year, there is skepticism he will maintain his health over the course of the next six months. “Jaylen and Tatum are one hell of a pair,” another Eastern Conference scout said. “There’s very few I’d take over them. But I just don’t think they have the firepower to keep up with [the Nets]. I just have a lot of doubts. They need Kemba to be back to being peak Kemba. Otherwise, I don’t see it.”
