Boston Celtics: 3 players who need a big final month
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2. Kemba Walker
This may seem like an odd choice, but Kemba Walker’s inclusion on this list isn’t for the expected reason.
His stats are fine. He averages above 20 points per contest and 5 assists flat. Certainly not bad stats.
Add on top of that the fact that Kemba acts as the closer for the Boston Celtics when he plays, and there doesn’t seem to be anything he can gain from a good final month.
The key phrase in that last line is “when he plays”.
After playing all 82 games for the Charlotte Hornets last season, Kemba has already missed 12 games, including the last four since the All-Star break. That doesn’t bode well for the team going into the playoffs.
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Kemba’s health, then, is the reason he finds himself on this list. The team doesn’t have a projected date for his return, so while it could be in their next game against the Houston Rockets, it could also be in a few weeks. The uncertainty is scary.
Once Kemba comes back, the key will just be to stay healthy. If he can manage that, then there will not be a problem heading into the playoffs. The team can build chemistry for what feels like the first time for the whole season.
However, any concern and/or setback, and the Celtics will start to look like 2nd-round exits instead of NBA Finals contenders.
While the rest of the team has been firing without their star point guard, his absence will really be felt if it extends into the first round of the playoffs.