Kemba Walker takes on the new gunslinger, Ja Morant

The All-Star point guard stands in the middle of the court. A few months away from turning just 30, he is, in NBA parlance, a veteran gunslinger awaiting the challenge of the next kid with a quick trigger finger.

And Kemba Walker absolutely loves it.

Ja Morant is the latest model, and the Grizzlies’ slick conductor stepped onto Walker’s street averaging 17.9 points and 7.0 assists. Over the five games before challenging the Celtics, those numbers were 18.3 and 9.8, respectively.

He’s 20 years old, he’s a slim 6-foot-3 and he’s ready on the draw. Last year it was Trae Young. This year it is Morant. Always another contender.

“That’s how it should be,” said Walker. “I get excited really, you know? I love seeing the young’uns come in.

“The thing about it for me is how good they are when they first get here. Like, that’s what impresses me the most.

“I’m always going to prepare myself to be at my best, so I don’t worry about stuff like that. But, yeah, I just love seeing the way they come in and how mature and good they are. Like Trae came in, and he had a lot of doubters. I don’t think a lot of people thought he was going to be that good. But look at him now.”

And look at the way the NBA is moving.

“That’s the way the game’s evolving,” said Marcus Smart. “Over the years, the bigs were dominating, and now the guards are taking back over.

“There’s always going to be a new guy, and especially at the point. Always. That’s part of the game.”

As for Morant, Smart nodded before tipoff and said, “We’ve seen what he’s capable of doing, so it takes a full team effort to deal with him.”

Brad Stevens was well aware of that as he put together a defensive plan to deal with Morant and the improved Memphis crew around him.

“When I watched him play last year at Murray (State), I thought obviously the athleticism was just ludicrous, but his passing’s special,” the Celtics’ coach said. “He sees the floor really well. You can see that translated, and as he continues to just get more and more comfortable, everything’s going to come together.

“But he’s got a chance to be amongst the best in the position that is just unforgiving. You know, every night is incredible play at that spot, at the point guard spot.”

The current NBA concept is leaning toward athleticism. With rules geared toward the offense and more shooters to spread the floor, point guards like Morant have more room to work their magic.

“The court’s open, (and there are) a lot of shooters around a guy like him,” said Stevens. “They’ve got really good rollers. And then you’re not going to put your hands on him out there, and it’s hard to keep that guy in front, just the way it is.

“He’s going to have two on him a lot in pick and roll situations or off of actions, and the scary part is he makes the right read. So, I mean, he’s going to be really good. He already is really good.”

He’s not alone. Morant is part of a pack of point guards who make life difficult on each other each night.

Walker seems genuinely stoked by the task.

“For me, just watching those kids play and the way they play and how quick they get better and how athletic they are, that’s what I get excited about,” he said. “I just love watching them play. I watch League Pass all day, so that’s what I get excited about.

“I always look forward to playing against the new guys — and just everybody really. It’s always a challenge. That’s what I like.”

Walker enjoys the Old West duels.

“That’s how it should be,” he said. “That’s how it should be. It’s fun though. You love to play against the best. To me, that’s what it’s all about. It’s about going against a great player every night. You have to love that.”

If you don’t, you wind up on your back on a dusty NBA road between the general store and the saloon.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/36nlBIJ