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Boston Celtics: Kemba Walker under pressure as NBA season resumes

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 06: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on March 06, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 06: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz at TD Garden on March 06, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics All-Star guard Kemba Walker is listed as one of the top 10 players under the most pressure to win as the NBA restarts in Orlando.

With the emergence of both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics veteran All-Star Kemba Walker has basically flown under the radar in the 2019-20 NBA season prior to the league going into hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the emotional roller coaster known as the Kyrie Irving experience, that is probably a good thing for a veteran star like Walker who was not only signed to replace Uncle Drew but rebuild the team’s chemistry.

He has certainly done both of those things, but as the NBA season restarts in Orlando the real pressure now mounts for Kemba Walker, who really hasn’t had his time to shine on the postseason stage.  That is why Walker landed on Colin Cowherd’s list of the 10 NBA Players who are under the most pressure to win.

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On that list compiled by Cowherd revealed during his Fox Sports show “The Herd,” Walker comes in at No. 9 on a list that includes Ben Simmons, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Anthony Davis and Khris Middleton.

Why is Kemba Walker on that list?

On a Boston Celtics squad that features young talent led by Jayson Tatum, Walker is the player with the most capability of taking over a game as he has proved in his time with the Charlotte Hornets and earlier in the season with the Celtics.

Along with Gordon Hayward, Walker is also a high-profile free agent that Danny Ainge bought in for exactly this reason.  He simply has to be a compliment to the young guns while establishing that leadership presence the team lost when Al Horford took his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers.

In averaging 21.2 points per game with the Celtics and being named a 2020 NBA All-Star, Kemba Walker has lived up to his billing as far as scoring goes.  Though a knee injury limited his time following the All-Star game, the Celtics leader remained an influential presence as he watched Jayson Tatum emerge watching from the sidelines.

Now healthy, or at least close to healthy, Walker and Tatum have the ability to be a lethal scoring duo as the NBA resumes.

But the real pressure will come in the playoffs.  In joining a team that has been there, Kemba Walker now has to prove he can be that assassin he was during his days at UCONN when the spotlight is on and the games mean everything.

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Listed as a reason why he signed with the Boston Celtics, the microscope will be on the veteran guard to lead this young, tenacious team further than Kyrie Irving could.

Given the team went to the Eastern Conference Finals without Kyrie two seasons ago, Kemba Walker really needs to be that factor to get them to the finals, which could be harder to accomplish with the new NBA format going down in Orlando.

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