Kemba Walker is still working through knee pain
By Mike Luciano
Kemba Walker is dealing with a bum knee.
The Boston Celtics might have to face the grim notion that they might need to restart the 2019-20 NBA season without the services of star point guard Kemba Walker, who is currently nursing yet another injury.
Walker has been dealing with a knee injury that has held him out of Celtics practice over the last few days. With the neck injury he sustained earlier in the year, he has had some really bad luck with regards to staying healthy in 2020. According to head coach Brad Stevens, Walker will likely be available by the time Boston starts playing games.
#NEBHInjuryReport Kemba Walker (knee) did not practice today, but went through a hard workout yesterday, according to Brad Stevens. He’s on a one-day on, one-day off training plan. “He’s reacting great ... Every indication is that he’ll be available when we’re playing games.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 15, 2020
The Celtics won’t be able to contend without Kemba Walker.
After losing Kyrie Irving to the Brooklyn Nets, Boston scooped up Walker in free agency following his eight-year stint in Charlotte with either the Hornets or Bobcats. Walker has averaged 21.2 points and 4.9 assists with the Celtics this year. While a bit less impressive than his Hornets numbers, this is due to the fact he is playing with legitimate co-stars for the first time in his career in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Nobody in the #NBA better at creating separation off the step back than Kemba Walker. The way he creates room to get his shot off is incredible. pic.twitter.com/j8Xk9caaLJ
— The Celtics Plug (@TheCelticsPlug) July 17, 2020
Boston stands at third in the Eastern Conference with a 43-21 record. As tough as the Toronto Raptors look and as insurmountable a mountain as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks appear to be, Boston has the pieces to go to the Finals given the mixture of vets like Walker and young studs like Tatum.
More. The Celtics have a shot at the title in Orlando. light
Without the steady hand and lethal scoring ability of Walker, Boston has no shot at the title, as backups like Marcus Smart and Carsen Edwards have nowhere near the degree of offensive skill that the former UConn star has. Even if Walker has to miss some of the final “regular season” games, getting him ready for the postseason has to be of the utmost importance.