Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Boston Celtics: Kemba Walker needs to be better

By Sam Minton

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball for the lead against the Miami Heat during overtime in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball for the lead against the Miami Heat during overtime in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 15, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

If the Boston Celtics are going to make it to the NBA Finals, they need Kemba Walker to start playing up to his potential.

There’s only one reason that Kemba Walker was brought in to the Boston Celtics was to help take the pressure off of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He was supposed to lead this team in clutch moments.

So far Walker hasn’t lived up to his end of the deal. Tatum and Brown have been bailing out Walker’s poor play. At times he has almost been a detriment to the team.

Walker has been a liability on offense. He has struggled to hit shots and at times seems like he can’t buy a basket.

More from Chowder and Champions

In Game 6 of the Toronto series, Walker was 2-11 from the field and 1-6 from behind the three-point line. In fact, his best shooting performance from behind the arc in his last five games has been going 1-6. He has been atrocious from long range.

Then there was Walker’s performance in Game 1 on Tuesday. Just when you think things can’t get worse, they do.

Walker was once again awful. Besides a few clutch shots, Walker did more harm than good. Once again he had an awful shooting night going 6-19 from the field and 1-9 from behind the three-point line.

What was even worse was Walker’s decision making. Near the end of the fourth quarter instead of moving the ball and looking for the best shot, Walker decided single man isolation offense would be the best move.

Boston’s offense as a whole struggled near the end of the game. They settled for bad shots and somehow let Miami make an epic comeback. The Celtics should be up 1-0, but Miami took advantage and got the win.

If Walker continues to struggle he needs to defer more to Brown and Tatum. His poor shooting is actively hurting the C’s.

Players such as Brown, Tatum, and Marcus Smart have risen up and been key contributors for Boston. Walker on the other hand has faltered under the pressure.

If Walker doesn’t improve, the Celtics won’t make it to the NBA Finals and he will deservingly get a lot of the blame.

Boston has a real chance of winning a title. Down in the bubble, it seems like anything is possible. Who would have thought that the Bucks and Giannis would have been knocked out in the second round?

dark. Next. Boston Celtics now favorites to win NBA title

So Walker needs to step up his play. If not the Celtics will be on their way back home.

Home/Boston Celtics