Kemba 29, 5, and 5

[Scoe]

with 2 steals and 3 blocks, unfortunately he's going fishing tonight

 

[Gurleyman]

with 2 steals and 3 blocks, unfortunately he's going fishing tonight

Best game he's had shooting the ball in a long time. Played his balls off, but not enough help without Big Al - Miami traps hard on the perimeter and makes life tough on individual ball handlers.

Poor Charlotte was fighting hard for the 6 spot and couldn't quite catch Washington, then it looked like it would be OK to stay in the 7 spot since a reeling Indiana would at least be a decent matchup, but the Heat gave away the top seed. Then Al gets hurt and they lose the closest thing they had to a match up advantage.

You really saw the pedestrian talent level on the Bobcats when the intensity ratcheted up a notch or two. Neal at least tried to create some shots and wasn't totally overmatched but he didn't shoot well. Henderson, MKG, McRoberts, CDR, Biyombo - a pupu platter of spare parts. Shame that Gordon flamed out, because the Bulls version of Gordon would have opened up a lot.

 

[Scoe]

Yeah its too bad about Gordon hopefully he can get his career back on track, definitely true about Miami trapping hard on the perimeter they made DRose in his MVP season, and James Harden look bad, Kemba did ok but man he needs a lot of help, of course Jefferson being hurt didn't help but could've should've would've it was the worst possible matchup for the Bobcats, even a 5 game series was wishful thinking with a healthy Jefferson or not.

 

[tzznandrew]

Yeah its too bad about Gordon hopefully he can get his career back on track, definitely true about Miami trapping hard on the perimeter they made DRose in his MVP season, and James Harden look bad, Kemba did ok but man he needs a lot of help, of course Jefferson being hurt didn't help but could've should've would've it was the worst possible matchup for the Bobcats, even a 5 game series was wishful thinking with a healthy Jefferson or not.

Jefferson was the key. The Heat had no one who could match up with him down low. They still would have lost the series, but they could have taken a game or two.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Yeah its too bad about Gordon hopefully he can get his career back on track, definitely true about Miami trapping hard on the perimeter they made DRose in his MVP season, and James Harden look bad, Kemba did ok but man he needs a lot of help, of course Jefferson being hurt didn't help but could've should've would've it was the worst possible matchup for the Bobcats, even a 5 game series was wishful thinking with a healthy Jefferson or not.

Rose does bad against Miami because Lebron defends him and is one of the few players that Rose can't run by, outside of that what is he going to do?

Harden played bad because Lebron destroyed Harden's defense the one time he actually tried to play hard on that end, and as a result he was just rattled and went through a Giff vs MSU/Florida shooting slump. And since Harden was used primarily as a spot up shooter on that OKC team he had nothing else to do.


Not like it mattered though, Lebron had like 90 more FTs in the playoffs than the next closest player (which was Wade) the year they beat OKC. Refs weren't letting Lebron lose.

 

[uconNYC]

Incredible thing about the NBA is that there are at least 15 PGs better than Kemba. It's such a guard rich league.

 

[Inyatkin]

Not like it mattered though, Lebron had like 90 more FTs in the playoffs than the next closest player (which was Wade) the year they beat OKC. Refs weren't letting Lebron lose.

Weird how they let him lose all those other times.

 

[tzznandrew]

Incredible thing about the NBA is that there are at least 15 PGs better than Kemba. It's such a guard rich league.

I'm not sure I'd go 15. But your point is right.

For the record, in some order, I do think these guys are better:

Chris Paul
Steph Curry
Damian Lilliard
Tony Parker
Mike Conley
Ty Lawson
John Wall
Kyle Lowry
Isaiah Thomas
Derrick Rose (if healthy)

Other players, like Deron Williams, are debateable, I guess. And I may be missing a person or two.

But when I can name 9 healthy players where there is little debate they are better than Kemba...and Kemba is as good as he is? It's scary. Kemba's shot was off this year after an injury against the Knicks. If he gets it back, he can pass some of the guys on this list (Lowry and Thomas jump out).

 

[caw]

I'm glad Walker made the playoffs and played well, but if I were a Bobcats fan tanking this season would have been better. If they had tanked they would likely be looking at three (I am assuming they would be below Detroit) first round picks and a high second plus a ton of cap. Now they have a late first and a mid second and still a ton of cap.

They still have some assets with Detroits pick next year but losing their pick hurts a lot.

They need a starting SG, SF and maybe PF and a better backup PG. I don't think they can address any of those in the draft aside from backup PG. Maybe they can get a starter through Free Agency.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Weird how they let him lose all those other times.

Weird how him and Wade managed to absolutely crush KD in fts when KD regularly leads the league in trips to the line.

Not like they needed to cash in the chips on their biggest storyline coming off a lockout though.

 

[James]

You can't shoot like this as a starter. Mark price has some explaining to do. RIP bobcats. #buzzcity

 

[Scoe]

I love it when TNT does their going fishing segment on Inside the NBA unfortunately Kemba had to be on that boat.

 

[Inyatkin]

Weird how him and Wade managed to absolutely crush KD in fts when KD regularly leads the league in trips to the line.

Not like they needed to cash in the chips on their biggest storyline coming off a lockout though.

You're not very good at this.

 

[uconNYC]

You can't shoot like this as a starter. Mark price has some explaining to do. RIP bobcats. #buzzcity

That photo made me cringe.

 

[RichZ]

I'm not sure I'd go 15. But your point is right.

For the record, in some order, I do think these guys are better:

Chris Paul
Steph Curry
Damian Lilliard
Tony Parker
Mike Conley
Ty Lawson
John Wall
Kyle Lowry
Isaiah Thomas
Kyle Lowry
Derrick Rose (if healthy)

Other players, like Deron Williams, are debateable, I guess. And I may be missing a person or two.

But when I can name 10 healthy players where there is little debate they are better than Kemba...and Kemba is as good as he is? It's scary. Kemba's shot was off this year after an injury against the Knicks. If he gets it back, he can pass some of the guys on this list (Lowry and Thomas jump out).

Kyle Lowry isn't TWICE as good as Kemba, so you have to eliminate the extra instance of his name. I would debate Thomas and Conley. Think they just have a better situation (better supportng cast means they don't have to force as much, and their passes more often turn into successful assists because they have players who can make shots.)

 

[tzznandrew]

Kyle Lowry isn't TWICE as good as Kemba, so you have to eliminate the extra instance of his name. I would debate Thomas and Conley. Think they just have a better situation (better supportng cast means they don't have to force as much, and their passes more often turn into successful assists because they have players who can make shots.)

I agree about Thomas. Less so about Conley. I think he's a better defender than Kemba right now.

I started the exercise wondering how many I could credibly get to. I think 10 including Rose. That position is really deep, but I think Kemba will keep improving. Kemba is 3 years younger than someone like Conley.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

You're not very good at this.

Funny how I get guys like you and Erm who don't actually have anything to say. Tell ya what champ, you just let me know when you want to have a grown up conversation, one with actual facts instead of "waaaaahhhhh you don't agree with me, you're stupid!".

 

[BoatShow]

I hope this propels him to take the next step next year. At least got people's attention for sure.

 

[PAHusky]

Funny how I get guys like you and Erm who don't actually have anything to say. Tell ya what champ, you just let me know when you want to have a grown up conversation, one with actual facts instead of "waaaaahhhhh you don't agree with me, you're stupid!".

It's pretty easy to figure out if you actually watch the games being played instead of just relying on statistics like number of FTs. Lebron can get to the rim whenever he wants, and when he does 95% of the time he either finishes or gets fouled, sometimes both. KD, especially in high pressure situations like the playoffs and against good defensive teams, has a tendency to fall back on shooting jumpers instead of getting to the rim, which leads to less FTs. I think at this point Lebron actually doesn't even get all of the calls he deserves because he's so big/strong and finishes so well. I'll never understand the hate Lebron gets. He's a once in a generation player, a physical freak who has consistently developed his offensive arsenal (shoots an insane % from 3 for his size, great post game, insane passer) while playing outrageous on ball defense. To finish taking my reply on a total tangent, KD is an offensive savant but he needs to figure some things out before he can make that last leap, in my opinion.

 

[tzznandrew]

It's pretty easy to figure out if you actually watch the games being played instead of just relying on statistics like number of FTs. Lebron can get to the rim whenever he wants, and when he does 95% of the time he either finishes or gets fouled, sometimes both. KD, especially in high pressure situations like the playoffs and against good defensive teams, has a tendency to fall back on shooting jumpers instead of getting to the rim, which leads to less FTs. I think at this point Lebron actually doesn't even get all of the calls he deserves because he's so big/strong and finishes so well. I'll never understand the hate Lebron gets. He's a once in a generation player, a physical freak who has consistently developed his offensive arsenal (shoots an insane % from 3 for his size, great post game, insane passer) while playing outrageous on ball defense. To finish taking my reply on a total tangent, KD is an offensive savant but he needs to figure some things out before he can make that last leap, in my opinion.

This is great, and largely right on. LeBron's defense has declined in the last year or two, at least through the regular season. I think he needs to do a little too much for Miami to succeed, and that forces him to take plays off.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

It's pretty easy to figure out if you actually watch the games being played instead of just relying on statistics like number of FTs. Lebron can get to the rim whenever he wants, and when he does 95% of the time he either finishes or gets fouled, sometimes both. KD, especially in high pressure situations like the playoffs and against good defensive teams, has a tendency to fall back on shooting jumpers instead of getting to the rim, which leads to less FTs. I think at this point Lebron actually doesn't even get all of the calls he deserves because he's so big/strong and finishes so well. I'll never understand the hate Lebron gets. He's a once in a generation player, a physical freak who has consistently developed his offensive arsenal (shoots an insane % from 3 for his size, great post game, insane passer) while playing outrageous on ball defense. To finish taking my reply on a total tangent, KD is an offensive savant but he needs to figure some things out before he can make that last leap, in my opinion.

Not hating on Lebron but his first title was ridiculous in that he had nearly 100 more FT's than Wade, who in turn had another 30-40 on Durant or anyone else. Not saying that Lebron shouldn't necessarily have more, but KD proved in that finals that he's able to play aggressively, and has proven so on many occasions in the playoffs since. The FT disparity was what I was pointing out, Jeff Van Gundy pretty much spent every Miami game criticizing the refs for all the calls he was getting those playoffs, and there'd be no reason for him to say that unless he truly felt it was bogus.

Also to Tzz, Lebron's never been that great of an on ball defender, he looks like a world beater against Rose because Rose can do 1 thing (drive) and Lebron has the speed to stop that 1 thing. Lebron's mainly a really good help defender. I also don't think his defense has declined, the skills are still there, Miami has just largely been coasting throughout the regular season this year, and obviously Charlotte wasn't a real threat.