Kemba Walker Thread Part 2

[Chef]

I can't for the life of me understand how anyone could not think the experience all of the guys had last year in that pathetic season was more a detriment then just staying in college for another year.

It might count...but in no way should it be added to any "valuable experience in the progression of a young player" column.

You also forgot Kemba was sick the night before on top of the 45 minutes/BTB...but hey, let's not let that distract from the fact that he tried to put the team on his back yet again when nothing else was working. Could he have made better plays in that stretch? Absolutely. In the end though he got us the win.

the most common thing rookies say between nba and college is game speed and schedule length/rookie wall. the season last year was more condensed and just as fast. this is kemba's second year.

i did forget about the sick part though. and he played well.

[Chef]

I read what you're saying but the veteran savvy Sessions was every bit of a detriment to the double digit lead evaporating as Kemba. Both PGs were forced to try to make things happen and those things just weren't happening at a very efficient rate in the 4th quarter when the Wolves frontcourt decided to bite down on defense. The alternatives were to put the ball in JT, Mully, or Tyrus' hands and let them try to beat their man off the dribble or jack up a untimely long distance shot sure to strike iron with unruly vengeance. It's not like Kemba 'ONLY' made that last second shot to lead them to victory. He scored 8 points on 3 of 7 shooting in last night's 4th quarter. I don't want to nitpick with the 3 turnovers during that time span because based on his assist to turnover ratio that is unlike him so far in his early career. I would understand more if he had a turnover problem. I'll willingly admit that he made some bad decisions. I was cussing at the TV screen as he made them. At the end of the day we won and Kemba erased the mistakes of his teammates (Sessions missed FTs, Tyrus stepping out of bounds, Reggie Williams Webber-esque technical timeout, and etc.) by making a clutch shot. That's what I call becoming a leader.

i don't disagree with any of this. spot on. i am just saying alot of folks ignore the problems and look at the last second shot as proof kemba is the man. a better game management by BOTH point guards would have made it so there was no need for a last second shot.

[spectre]

the most common thing rookies say between nba and college is game speed and schedule length/rookie wall. the season last year was more condensed and just as fast. this is kemba's second year.

Maybe we're talking around each other. My thing is his progression as a point guard and an NBA player. He certainly didn't come in as a finished product obviously so since we started this rebuild with the youth project I see development as our main priority. Last season he nor anyone else got better and I feel pretty strongly that the reason why was directly tied to the (lack of) coaching. THAT'S why to me last season didn't count in regards to Kemba, Hendo, Biz or Mully. It was lost time.

Just seeing how the guys are responding to a competent (if not exceptional...love me some Dunlap) coach should reinforce that somewhat.

In no way is Kemba a finished product. He's getting better and showing some flashes of brilliance though...no denying it. That should excite the hell out of all of us. Maybe you're confusing that with thinking I and others are looking at him as "the man"?

[Mustachio]

i don't disagree with any of this. spot on. i am just saying alot of folks ignore the problems and look at the last second shot as proof kemba is the man. a better game management by BOTH point guards would have made it so there was no need for a last second shot.

and some folks ignore game winning shots on the back of a great statistical night, and look to 2 (now meaningless) turnovers as proof Kemba is a garbage point guard. it goes both ways. I think the end of that game has more to do with Dunlap refusing to play MKG in the 4th, and a complete shut down of any Charlotte interior presence than it had to do with Kemba's play.

Nobody is saying he's perfect. But he is progressing rapidly, and we've seen what he did to the last league he was in. He progressed yearly there and ended up dominating it on the way out. why not be happy he's on the right path. And I don't care what anyone says, last year doesn't count for Kemba. I consider it a really really long preseason.

[CampNightmare8]

and some folks ignore game winning shots on the back of a great statistical night, and look to 2 (now meaningless) turnovers as proof Kemba is a garbage point guard. it goes both ways. I think the end of that game has more to do with Dunlap refusing to play MKG in the 4th, and a complete shut down of any Charlotte interior presence than it had to do with Kemba's play.

Nobody is saying he's perfect. But he is progressing rapidly, and we've seen what he did to the last league he was in. He progressed yearly there and ended up dominating it on the way out. why not be happy he's on the right path. And I don't care what anyone says, last year doesn't count for Kemba. I consider it a really really long preseason.

Nah lol, 66 games is still a lot. It counts..

[MadBOBCATfanUK]

Kemba had 5 turnovers, 5 blocked attempts it's fair to say he didn't have his best game. And that stepback jumper just made me think of that Pitt game which I was so lucky to be able to catch. Looking back then I thought he'd be a heck of a player and after seeing man up and take the last shot even though his game hadn't been great up until then makes me believe in that even more.

[Mustachio]

Nah lol, 66 games is still a lot. It counts..

It has nothing to do with how many games he played in. I love Paul Silas but he was essentially an absentee coach last year. He was brought in to usher the Bobcats to death. To gently lay our breathless heads on the #1 draft pick pillow. The team had no direction or scheme and was playing against teams that had both. Last season was more a 66 game season of pick up basketball. It counts in that he got used to the speed of the game, that he got used to NBA life, the season counts a lot in lessons learned by him, but you can't accurately judge any player from the Bobcats based on last season. It counts in theory as they suited up and played the games, but in terms of player evaluation its a total wash.


(edited for clarification) - I want to make it clear that I don't think Kemba is there yet. I'm not saying he can quit now and retire a legend. And I'm not saying beating yet another team with all of its star players missing means that the Bobcats have it turned around. What I think is this: The Bobcats are getting better, believe in them selves and the last player on this team I'm worried about is Kemba. and these things make me happpier than 3 turnovers in the 4th make me sad.

[QC Thundercats]

I don't want to speak for Chef, but I don't think he disagrees with everyone, he was just pointing out that Kemba can and will learn how to get better at late game situations. This will come with experience, and last night was a great lesson.

I think what happened at the end was because we had been jacking a lot of 3s and bad long range 2s early in the fourth. Dunlap said we're best as a rim attacking/free throw team, and you obviously can see that's what he told them with the way Sessions and Kemba kept attacking the paint. I just don't think Kemba realized how long and quick Kirilenko actually is, and there hasn't been much film on him since he's been gone the last few years.

Anyway, I'm actually glad things happened the way it did last night. It reaffirmed that Kemba does have gigante cojones, and a huge reserve of ice water running through his veins. A lot of teams struggle at the end of games because they don't have a go to player, someone willing to step up and take the big shot. This is a very important player, something many teams struggle to find. I think Kemba showed he is that kind of guy.

[dav7z]

First MKG shouldn't have seen the floor last night with his back. JT steped up and showed good value on defence . Reason our points was getting blocked was no out side shot. With Gordon and Hendo both out . They just packed it in the lane. Kemba still finished the game with one of the best crossover jumpers ive ever seen. The biggest difference in Kemba i see now is confidence . And coaching

[Chef]

It has nothing to do with how many games he played in. I love Paul Silas but he was essentially an absentee coach last year. He was brought in to usher the Bobcats to death. To gently lay our breathless heads on the #1 draft pick pillow. The team had no direction or scheme and was playing against teams that had both. Last season was more a 66 game season of pick up basketball. It counts in that he got used to the speed of the game, that he got used to NBA life, the season counts a lot in lessons learned by him, but you can't accurately judge any player from the Bobcats based on last season. It counts in theory as they suited up and played the games, but in terms of player evaluation its a total wash.


(edited for clarification) - I want to make it clear that I don't think Kemba is there yet. I'm not saying he can quit now and retire a legend. And I'm not saying beating yet another team with all of its star players missing means that the Bobcats have it turned around. What I think is this: The Bobcats are getting better, believe in them selves and the last player on this team I'm worried about is Kemba. and these things make me happpier than 3 turnovers in the 4th make me sad.

can't disagree with the clarification section.

i think we just disagree on how much getting nba reps affects a rookie's development. you say it is more dependent on quality coaching reps, i say it is more dependent on any type of rep as long as it is actual games. that is a completely fine argument to have. i would elaborate more on my kemba thoughts but again, i am reserving judgement until mid season of his second year (sorry just had to throw that last one it for chuckles).