Last season, Kemba Walker averaged 20.4 points and 4.8 assists on 42% shooting and 38% from 3 point range, was named an All Star starter in the backcourt, and the Celtics made the Eastern Conference Finals for the 3rd time in 4 years in his first season as a Celtic. This season Walker missed the first 11 games due to a stem cell injection in his knee and struggled as he returned from the injury. In his first 7 games returning from injury, Walker shot just 36% from the field averaging 15 points per contest. The Celtics went 2-5 in those games, including his first game as a blowout loss to the Knicks at home. Kemba Walker changes not only everything for the Boston Celtics but the entire Eastern Conference.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and emerging stars in the NBA. Tatum is an All-Star starter and Brown will come off the bench in the game. They have both averaged over 20 points per game over the past 2 seasons and both players are signed through 2024. Boston needs to surround both players with guys to play with. Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis, Robert Williams, and Peyton Prichard are solid role players to surround them with, but the top east teams all have 3 stars. The Brooklyn Nets have Kevin Durant, James Harden, and former Celtic Kyrie Irving, the Milwaukee Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday, and the Philadelphia 76ers have Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobais Harris. Walker is the 3rd star in Boston. Walker is the 3rd guy for the Celtics who can match what the other teams have. If the Celtics have good Kemba Walker they can do some damage in the Eastern Conference playoffs, if they get bad Walker, they may be a first round exit.
Kemba Walker has been excellent over the Celtics recent home stand. He has averaged 26.0 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game on 45% from the field and 44% from 3 point range. He has been elite back to the All-Star level that he has played over the last couple of seasons. The Celtics have won all 3 games during this stretch. If Walker is on during the playoffs I do not see why Boston can’t get right back to the East Finals, if not the NBA Finals. Philly is really good but the Celtics have beaten them 8 out of 9 times they have played in the playoffs since 2017. Milwaukee is another really good team but I really feel like Boston has the firepower to hang with them. The Miami Heat is who the Celtics lost to last year and it is a series they absolutely should have won. Finally the Brooklyn Nets, I believe Brooklyn is better than Boston, but they struggle to defend and if the Celtics can score, they might be able to win that series. If Kemba is on with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Boston can beat anyone, if not, it might be a quick out in the playoffs for Celtics standards.
Kemba Walker is the key for the Eastern Conference. If he is on his game, watch out the Celtics are dangerous, if he is not, the Celtics are not as scary. Boston needs to get Marcus Smart back and healthy and should make some kind of trade before the deadline. Patching up holes will help the Celtics but none of it will matter if Kemba Walker isn’t Kemba Walker.
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