CELTICS JOURNAL: Walker’s going where he’s never been before

He left the Charlotte Hornets after eight seasons in order to have a chance to go deep in the playoffs.

Kemba Walker had appeared in only a pair of first-round series in 2014 and 2016, both against the Miami Heat, getting swept the first time and losing in seven games four years ago.

So he signed with the Celtics in the summer of 2019, a team in need of a point guard after the departure of Kyrie Irving.

In his first season with the Celtics, [...]

He left the Charlotte Hornets after eight seasons in order to have a chance to go deep in the playoffs.

Kemba Walker had appeared in only a pair of first-round series in 2014 and 2016, both against the Miami Heat, getting swept the first time and losing in seven games four years ago.

So he signed with the Celtics in the summer of 2019, a team in need of a point guard after the departure of Kyrie Irving.

In his first season with the Celtics, Walker will be playing in the Eastern Conference finals after winning the first two series of his career. It marks the first time he’s advanced in a postseason since leading the University of Connecticut to the NCAA championship in 2011.

"Man, oh, man,’’ is how Walker began his late-night video conference Friday after the Celtics eliminated the defending champion Toronto Raptors in Game 7. "Unreal, it feels unreal. It’s a great feeling, especially since it took us seven games. It’s a special group we have. We fought. We stuck with it.

"I’ve been in the playoffs two times before this. From that and the last one being in (2016), to be here in my first year and accomplish this, getting to the Eastern Conference finals to play against a really good Miami Heat team, we have a chance to advance past that, it’s big time.

"It’s a special feeling. It feels good to be able to play meaningful basketball.’’

Walker had a difficult time at the offensive end in Game 6 and 7 against the Raptors, who hit him with a box-and-one defense to take him out of his game.

After making only 2-of-11 shots, going 1-for-6 on 3-pointers, and scoring five points in Wednesday night’s double-overtime loss, Walker went 5-for-16 (1-for-7 on 3s) and scored 14 points (four in the first half) in Game 7.

"I struggled last game, I struggled this game, but there wasn’t no quit in me,’’ said Walker. "My teammates, they encouraged me so, so much tonight. They made me keep my head high. Much credit to those guys because I easily could have got down tonight, but they wouldn’t let me. That’s what a team is for.

"They box-and-one’d me both games. I thought it took me out of rhythm a little bit. … These guys saved me all night. I really appreciate it.’’

Coach Brad Stevens is glad that Walker is going to get a chance to be part of the NBA’s final four in his ninth season after his team’s had no success in the playoffs in the past.

"We’ve been really spoiled here in the last few years, getting a chance to do this,’’ said Stevens of going to the conference finals a third time in four seasons. "Even getting to the second round of the playoffs is really hard because it means you have to win a playoff series. I’m really happy for hm. He really deserves to experience this.

"He’s everything that’s good about basketball. He loves the game. He’s a great teammate. He doesn’t care if he gets any of the glory. He’s just a special guy. Guys like that deserve to play on these stages for all the marbles and I’m glad he gets to keep doing this.’’

Reunion time

When the Celtics play the Heat in the conference finals starting on Tuesday, they will go against a couple of former Boston players.

Jae Crowder is starting for the Heat after being acquired in a three-team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 7.

Crowder joined the Celtics in 2014 as part of the Rajon Rondo trade with the Dallas Mavericks. He has also been with the Utah Jazz and Grizzlies since leaving the Celtics.

In nine playoff games, Crowder is averaging 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Heat.

Former Celtics first-round pick Kelly Olynyk is in his third season with the Heat after playing four years in Boston.

Olynyk, who signed as a free agent in Miami, is scoring 6.9 points in eight playoff games off the bench after averaging a career-low 8.2 points in 67 regular-season games.

Game times

The first three games of the Celtics-Heat series are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Game 1 will start at 6:30 or 8:30 p.m. If the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers play a seventh game, it would be Tuesday, meaning the Celtics-Heat opener would begin at 6:30.

The starting time for Game 2 is to be determined, but Game 3 begins at 8:30.

jfenton@enterprisenews.com

On Twitter at @JFenton_ent