Celtics stats snapshot: Boston point guard Kemba Walker’s a killer again

For a while, it looked like the Boston Celtics might have a problem given the size of starting point guard Kemba Walker’s paycheck compared to what he was able to produce after coming back from an offseason knee procedure designed to help him return to his status as an elite scoring option.

But after carefully following the Celtics’ plan to strengthen his knee and ease the UConn product back into a bigger role with the team, it’s starting to look like Walker may indeed have turned the corner in recent games, with the New Yorker having played some of his best basketball with Boston recently.

Over Walker's last nine games, a period dating back to Boston's contest with the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 11, the former Husky has been playing more or less like the guard the Celtics hoped to be signing the offseason before last. Over that stretch, the Bronx native has averaged 22.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 43.5% from the field and 42.2% from beyond the arc. He's also been getting to the free throw line 4.2 times per game while converting 92.1% of his shots there. https://twitter.com/TheCelticsWire/status/1367207206307962880?s=20

While not quite All-Star level play, the Connecticut product has been above his career averages since that away game held at Toronto's temporary home in Tampa, Florida in every category noted save assists and free throw attempts -- and those are just decimals lower. It seems the doomers ready to proclaim his career as a high-level player in the regular season over were absolutely premature, though questions about his overall fit in a halfcourt-heavy postseason offense remain. One battle at a time is a more prudent perspective for both Walker and the Celtics however, and for their first mutual test, it seems the Bronx native has passed with flying colors. [jwplayer eVnA9Zz2-z6KDnl0B] [lawrence-related id=47331,47305,47291,47262] [listicle id=47261]

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