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Charlotte Hornets: 5 goals for Kemba Walker in 2017-18

By Jen Julie Smith

WASHINGTON, DC -  DECEMBER 14: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball against the Washington Wizards on December 14, 2016 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  DECEMBER 14: Kemba Walker #15 of the Charlotte Hornets shoots the ball against the Washington Wizards on December 14, 2016 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images /

5. Become a better leader

As the point guard, Walker is the de facto leader of his team, and that is the case of every team in the league (with the exception of the Cleveland Cavaliers). He did a pretty good job at running Charlotte’s offense, since they ranked14th in the league last season.

However, to become a more effective leader, Walker should involve his teammates more on the offense, and become a pass-first point guard.

Last season, he averaged 23.2 points and 5.5. assists per game. Walker’s assist percentage does not take away from the fact that he’s a good point guard. It’s possible that his teammates could make their own plays.

For example, newly acquired Dwight Howard can surely create his own shots. Every season of his 13-year career in the NBA, he has averaged a double-double. Last season, he averaged 13.5 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.

However, the NBA is now a pace-and-space league, with centers such as DeMarcus Cousins and Al Horford, not only taking shots outside the paint, but also knocking down threes.

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    • No one disputes Howard’s defensive presence inside the paint, but outside the paint is where Walker can assist Howard’s perimeter defense.

    Since Howard is used to being a strong physical presence, Walker is going to have to lead Howard outside his defensive comfort zone. That includes pointing out to Howard that he needs to be outside with the guards, as a first line of defense, to combat centers taking outside shots.

    After awhile, defending the perimeter should become second nature. Yet early on in the season, Howard will benefit, and the Hornets as a whole, with Walker directing traffic.

    As the Hornets’ starting power forward, Marvin Williams is another player who can create his own shots. He averaged 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season. With Howard crashing the glass, that should create second-chance opportunities for Williams.

    But with Walker feeding Williams the rock on the inside, Williams will become a beast on the glass.

    Nicolas Batum shot 33 percent from the 3-point line, and 40 percent from the field, with averages of 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game last season.

    Batum does an excellent job on the passing end, and for a shooting guard he’s crashing the glass. Nonetheless, if Walker chooses to become a pass-first point guard, Batum can become a credible threat on the offensive end.

    Michael Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 12.7 points and 6.4 rebounds. The small forward does his job on the defensive end. In fact, according to NBA.com:

    "“MKG finished fourth in the NBA in defensive real plus-minus amongst small forwards (+2.47), a statistic that indicates the Hornets gave up roughly two-and-a-half fewer points per 100 defensive possessions with Kidd-Gilchrist on the floor compared to when he wasn’t.”"

    Coupled with MKG’s defense, if Walker starts passing the ball more, MKG will also see an uptick in his numbers.

    Walker’s teammates take their cues from him. If they see that he trusts them more with the ball, that will build up their confidence. Basketball is a mental game just as much as it is physical.

    Right now Walker is a good leader, but he should strive to become a great leader. In order to reach that next level, Walker has to become more of a playmaker. If he can make his players look good out on the floor, Walker will look even better.

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