Kemba Walker’s minutes restriction as frustrating as refs in Houston loss

Boston Celtics starting point guard Kemba Walker admitted his emotions got the better of him against the Rockets — but sitting was as much a problem as the refs.

Few things get under most NBA player’s skin as much as a bad call, but for the Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker, not being able to play is right up there.

Both were obstacles to winning for the UConn product in Boston’s Feb. 11 loss to the new-look Houston Rockets, and it seems the latter was at least as much of an issue for the Bronx native.

Recognizing his own importance to the team in terms of setting a positive example, Walker is making a conscious decision to not allow his emotions to impact his on-court behavior in the way it did Tuesday.

The former Husky even uncharacteristically picking up a technical foul at one point in the loss.

“I’m not a type of player to play with frustration anyway,” offered Walker (via the Boston Herald’s Mark Murphy). “I think that’s when I kind of have my worst games — when I am frustrated.

“So I’ve got to be more conscious of not letting things like that affect me. Especially me, because I’m one of the leaders of this team. I’m one of the guys that these guys look at. So when I get frustrated, it kind of trickles down to everybody. Everybody starts to get frustrated.”

“I’ve got to be better with not showing my frustration as much as I did,” he added.

Walker even made a point of offering sympathy for the officials, who are far too often pilloried for enforcing league mandates — and making calls against teams that could have done more to put themselves in a winning position in the first place, bad calls or not.

“It’s always a touchy subject. But the referees have it tough, I think,” he said.

“They try their best — as best as they can, I guess. It’s whatever. I’m just going to keep attacking,” offered Walker.

For the former Connecticut champion, the minutes limit keeping him on the bench as he was being kept under 30 minutes in the contest while watching teammates on the floor well over that number was hard to tolerate.

That limit should go away soon, but Walker supports the rationale behind it, even while it frustrates.

“I hope it’s over. I’m tired of it. It’s tough … But you know, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Especially going into the break, getting more healthy. Hopefully after the break it will be over.”

With just one more game — Thursday’s rematch with the Los Angeles Clippers — on deck before the All-Star break and rest in the relentless midseason schedule it brings, it’s possible the All-Star starter will be cleared to run riot over his opponents soon enough.

But don’t expect to see it or bad calls bother Walker any time soon on the court.

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