Kemba Walker will have a chip on his shoulder when the 2019-20 NBA season resumes later this month.
The Boston Celtics point guard had a disappointing end to the season before it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker faced a persistent knee injury and struggled to endure the consistent numbers he is capable of producing.
That’s why the NBA’s four-month recess could be a blessing in disguise for Walker and the Cs when they return to action in Orlando, Florida. The spare time gave Walker the much-needed time for his knee to recover, and to have him in full force. It could be the key for Boston, as it seems to be running towards Banner No. 18.
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Walker recently explained how much the NBA layoff helped him return to form.
“It was super important to me,” said Walker. “I really, really needed that break. It definitely helped me come back to myself and start feeling comfortable on my knees. It was a very unfortunate moment but it sure was the best thing for me. So yeah, I’m quite comfortable with the way that is the schedule and I will continue taking care of myself. That is really all I can do. So I will be aware of things and take it day by day. “
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In a new episode of the Celtics Talk podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Chris Forsberg and Kyle Draper discussed Walker’s importance for the Cs to move forward and how motivated the 30-year-old will be after his tough end to the pre-pandemic. part of the season.
“When you look at the list, when you look at its main boys, there’s only one guy who was on the cargo management train near the end of the game interruption, and that’s Kemba Walker,” Blakely said. “It is very important to this team, but what I like about Kemba Walker is that I think he has accepted the fact that, as much as he had to carry at this time of year, the few times he has been in the playoffs , no This time has to be that guy.
“I think he will come in with an advantage and an attitude. He didn’t finish the pre-pandemic stage of the season playing great basketball. He’s angry about that. He knows there will be questions about whether he’s really ready.” for the playoffs because he has never been in a situation like this where there are real expectations of success. I think we’ll see the best Kemba Walker we’ve seen all season. “
Forsberg agreed with Blakely’s assessment, emphasizing how imperative it will be to have a healthy Kemba operating at 100 percent when the Cs start the postseason.
“Tatum has been so good for the past few months that it’s easy to forget how bad Kemba was at the finish line,” said Forsberg. “It wasn’t his own fault, but it was so good for 46 games and then his knee exploded, he had to get those injections, he had to remove nine games and he just wasn’t the same player.”
“I think we all know if the Celtics are going to have any chance of Kemba having a high level. If he can get back close to the guy he was at the beginning of the season, the one who was putting everyone up, who shot 38.8 percent from the 3 point arc. That Kemba is going to be very, very important in the playoffs. “
Also in the new episode, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens shared his “bubble” mentality, if you think this year’s NBA championship winner should have an asterisk, and more.
Catch the latest episode of the Celtics Talk podcast or watch it on YouTube below.
