Going back and fourth between writing off Kemba's 4th qtr disaster as merely weirdo All-Star Game conditions or genuine concern that this is his playoff true crunch time preview. And then I found this:
http://paceandspacehoops.com/kemba-walker-is-one-of-the-worst-clutch-players-of-all-time/
This can improve, right? Because he looked scared last night.
Kemba definitely has some problems scoring against larger players, but that is a problem for all small players. PGs historically have a lower field goal percentage for that reason. Some other things:
1. With the exception of a couple of Al Jefferson seasons, he has never played with any other player who was even close to a #1 scoring option.
2. Kemba was a bad outside shooter for the first few years of his career. He is a much better shooter now.
3. The Celtics will likely work the best matchup in crunch time, and if everything clicks they should be able to find a weakness against even the best teams between Kemba, JT, Hayward and Brown.
4. Kemba isn't an egomaniac and will be totally cool with someone else taking the last shot.
5. A team of Kawhi, Davis, Paul and LeBron all playing intense defense is one of the greatest defensive lineups ever assembled on a basketball court, even with Harden out there. No team is going to be able to roll that out in the playoffs.