| |
|
NBA PLAYOFFS -- Kemba's star is rising
By Eugene Nepangue PhilBoxing.com Thu, 28 Apr 2016

CHARLOTTE -- After 12 agonizing years, the Charlotte Hornets finally won another playoffs game when they toppled the Miami Heat, 115-97, in Game 3 of their ongoing opening round series last week. Two nights later, at the Time Warner Cable Arena, the Hornets toppled the Heat anew, 89-85, tying the best-of-7 duel at 2-2.
Of the many players that point to Charlotte's success, no Hornet is shining brighter than Kemba Walker, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound scoring machine out of the University of the Connecticut.
The 9th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Walker is heating up this postseason. Through four games thus far, the 25-year old is averaging 24.8 points per while shooting a staggering 95.8 percent from the free throw stripe. In Game 4 against the Heat, Walker exploded for 34 points, pulling the 6th seeded Hornets even with No.3 ranked Miami.
Beating the mighty Heat twice required help from other Hornets. And that hasn't been an issue thus far as reserve guard Jeremy Lin (14.8 points, 2.5 assists per game) and center Al Jefferson (14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds per) have stepped up to the plate and delivered. Big men Cody Zeller and Frank Kaminsky had put in their fair share as well, combining for 15.1 points and 9.6 boards a contest.
But so far, it's looking like the Hornets can only go as far as Kemba can take them, especially now that Nicolas Batum is out with an injury, creating a huge scoring void.
With the series now reduced to three games and Miami hosting Games 5 and 7 (if necessary) at the AmericanAirlines Arena, the road the second round remains an uphill climb for Charlotte. But so long as they have a healthy Kemba Walker, these Hornets will always have a puncher's chance.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eugene Nepangue.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA , Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25 , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy , Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON , Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships , Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights” , Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN , Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA , Mon, 07 Jul 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|