For Kemba Walker, too many things have happened in the past year.
He suffered a knee injury, stopped and stopped due to rehabilitation, and his competitive state also fluctuated greatly. By the end of last season, the Celtics were no longer willing to retain the star he had signed on the free agency market, so they sent him to the Thunder. The Thunder, knowing that they would not be able to sell his contract again, reached a buyout agreement with him — and when Sam Presti couldn't sell you, it only proved that your selling appearance was too bad.
In a sense, this is a good thing for Walker himself, which is why he has the opportunity to sign with his hometown team, the Knicks. But after experiencing so many big ups and downs, his market situation naturally suffered a lot of blows.
He was only 6 feet tall , suffered from a knee injury , and was over thirty years old. We all understand that his All-Star years are gone, and we can't help but wonder if he's just starting to decline. Will his future fate be to become a substitute player? Will his body recover enough to withstand the game?
Walker's first three games with the Knicks failed to prove himself, especially for those who were more impatient — he scored just 10, 11 and 10 points in those three games. However, it is worth mentioning that because the Knicks' lineup depth is among the top in the league, he has not made more than 8 shots in these three games.
The result is always the most important, and Walker's answers in the first three games are not very good. But after scoring 19 points in a single game on Tuesday night and helping the Knicks overturn the formidable 76ers, Walker proved he could provide a lot of help to the team that has always needed him.
The win also allowed the Knicks to end their previous 15-game losing streak against the 76ers. Walker said after the game: "It was fun and hopefully I ' and our team – will play a few more moments like this. It was a great team win, everyone contributed on different levels, and that's what a basketball game should look like. ”
Walker didn't score a single point in about eight minutes in the first quarter, which made everyone more suspicious of his competitive state, but then he played with 5:49 left in the second quarter (when the Knicks led by 11 points), finishing the rest of the quarter. During this time, his performance was enough to make his teammates, the coaching staff and fans across madison Square Garden Regain confidence in him.
He scored 10 of the 19 points in less than half a quarter, and all four athletic goals were hit in a row. The 76ers' contraction strategy in defensive blocking largely set the stage for Walker's outburst.
"No matter how they defend, I have a way." He said after the game, "I have more opportunities, and their big ones like to take back, then I can directly pull." And I have the ability to shoot that kind of ball. ”
Walker single-handedly delivered a small 10-2 surge that led the Knicks to extend their advantage to 17 points. By the end of the first half, the Knicks were 20 points ahead, and the "New York Native" from the Bronx finally received the cheers he had always dreamed of.
"I've been waiting for this moment," Walker said of the reaction of his fans when he exploded in the second quarter, "Since I started watching Knicks games as a child, I've dreamed of one day coming to the NBA." It was a great moment for me. ”
Walker shot 5-of-11 from outside the three-point line, provided five assists in addition to scoring 19 points, and made just one turnover. He provided the Knicks with scoring power, and the plus-minus of the whole game was also +3. After the offensive he led, the Phillies never found a chance to come back.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau also said: "I think it was Kemba's performance that helped us win. ”
While Walker's form last night didn't necessarily extend into the next away game against the Bulls, the team scored in double figures with five players in this game, and three others scored 8 or more points, and the overall state was also quite good.
The Knicks just need to know that Walker still has the ability to play such a state. If someone had suspected it before, now they don't have to worry. Whether it's the 76ers, Knicks fans, or anyone else in the NBA, they should understand that there's room for steam in Walker's tank.