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August 10, 2008
Perkins' Props: Punched Pistons
It's official.
Kendrick Perkins is not only respected by team mates, and opponents. NBA scribes are admitting he can cause big problems. We're not talking about defense here, either.
Perhaps it wasn't the best choice of phrases when writing about the Pistons, but it was vivid enough to catch my eye and describes how that particular writer felt. Perhaps there are other spectators of the Conference Finals living in the Midwest who feel the same, but were unable to get the courage up to say it. Whatever. It is newsworthy.
Here is the quote. Chris McCosky, Detroit News....
Think back to the Boston series. The Pistons, focused on stopping Kevin Garnett, wound up getting punched in the gut by Kendrick Perkins. Neither Rasheed Wallace nor Antonio McDyess could handle his athleticism, and Jason Maxiell, at 6-7, couldn't handle his size.
Kendrick Perkins, known for the silent, but smothering defensive presence working in tandem with Kevin Garnett, just received props for his....offense. Size, yes. But he said athleticism. I heard him. That is a adjective usually used for other players who soar through the air and make big money. Nice to see someone appreciate the dismantling that Kendrick did to his assigned defenders. KP did indeed punch the Pistons in the gut offensively - multiple times.
Usually, Kendrick won't try to make moves if he is covered. Not so in a three game stretch in the biggest games of his career at that point. He shaked and baked his way to shooting a 6 for 7, 4 for 6 and finished with an 8 for 11 demolition in the critical game 5 win with the series tied at 2.
The scribe was talking about why the Pistons needed to sign Kwame Brown. They need someone to defend Perkins. As witnessed by all, but mentioned by none, they had no one who could handle him one on one. He aptly described how Kendrick went off for some very painful points against an exposed interior defense of one of the top 2-3 defensive teams in the league.
Garnett and Perkins worked wonderful defensive magic in keeping all comers out of the middle through the year and most of 26 additional play-off games on their way to the NBA title. The Celtic perimeter players job was to stop the shot from the arc and to funnel all drives towards the center of the paint, where KG or KP would take over. Cut off baseline. Make them go middle. Perkins will be there. He was there enough to be a vital cog in the league's best defense. Anything he did at the other end of the court was largely an afterthought, and/or early in the game.
His offense has largely gone unnoticed. Early in the year, it was often hard to find. When you found it, it wasn't always pretty. But darned if he didn't quietly improve throughout the year. It culminated in a 'shut my mouth' 16 rebound 18 point effort against the Pistons that was nothing short of spectacular. Perkins was huge that game.
Actually KP had 3 straight games of double digit scoring, which by itself is worth commenting on. the 18 points were preceded by 10 and 12. He had 2 double-doubles in the important three game spurt. I must not fail to mention a jaw dropping, turn around fadeaway he delivered as a body punch to further soften the Pistons up. Hit them in the body and the legs get weak.
If you talk to Kendrick he'll talk about knowing his role and doing the best he can. His role is defense. But think what a center on the Celtics could do if he developed some offensive go-to moves. Kendrick opened eyes in that Detroit game. Let it be known that Kendrick played 41 plus minutes in the all important game 6 of the Conference Finals. That was his high for the play-offs and the year - by far. Early in the year, if fouls didn't dictate his minutes, his conditioning and perhaps poor foul shooting did, resulting in fewer minutes as Doc played small ball in the 4th quarter.
He is young. You have to remember with 'high school to pros' players, he is still developing, in spite of playing for 4 years. He hardly played at all his first year. Now that he's getting the defense down, could we possibly see a bit more from Perkins when the Celtics have the ball?
It will depend on game strategies and individual match ups. Tall, strong defenders like Ilguaskas will give him trouble. Perkins finished game 7 of the Hawks series with a double double (10/10 with 5 blocks), shooting 4-8, and was a crisp 5-5 with 14 points the game before. At that point, KP had made at least 12 straight foul shots. His nickname may never be K-Smoove, but Kendrick is still reaching his potential.
If Kendrick will develop a few sneaky 'go to' moves around the hoop, things he can use with a man on him, and perhaps a reliable mid range open jumper, it will do wonders for the sometimes struggling offense, when teams collapse on those other three guys.
It has now been written that one of the top teams in the league just signed a guy to stop Perkins. I'm not sure anyone would have believed they would be reading that, earlier in the season. Guard your gut. Perkins is in action and he is proving there are times when he can deliver the punch.
Posted by Tom on August 10, 2008 10:27 PM
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Comments
"They need someone to defend Perkins."
A sparkling oasis in the arid cavern of the off season.
Nice job, "T."
Posted by: JB at August 11, 2008 6:49 AM
Thanks, JB.
Boston's resident manchild and all around great team mate gets some well deserved recognition.
You can't stop him. You can only hope to contain him!
T
Posted by: Tom Halzack at August 11, 2008 9:07 AM
I am very glad to see Perk getting some props. He very much deserves them. He does so much that doesn't show up in the box score if you watch him. He may not get the rebound, but he boxes out so that a teammate can. He may not take the shot, but he sets the pick so that his teammate can. Perk does everything that is asked of him by the coaches and that is what makes him so valuable. His value to the team can be clearly seen by watching game 5 of the finals. In the game he didn't play, Gasol and Odom went from ineffective scrubs to all stars because Perk wasn't there to intimidate them. Thanks for giving Perk some well deserved recognition.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 11, 2008 9:59 AM
Sorry for the anonymous comment. That was me thanking you for the nice piece on Perk. I have been singing Perk's praises since his first season and finally others are joining me.
Posted by: FLCeltsFan at August 11, 2008 11:30 AM
Good point about game 5 in the Finals.
It was also true when he went out at other times, including the Atlanta series.
PJ Brown is a good defender but can't clog the middle like Perkins could. Other than that, the Cs had no one who really replaced Perk's D when he went out.
T
Posted by: Tom Halzack at August 11, 2008 11:36 AM
Although a starter, Perkins slipped below Posey as the 5th guy on the floor during crunch time. From what you are saying, depending on match-ups of course, there is room for the man-child Perkins to continue to make progress as a legit starting Center and perhaps be there when it counts this season.
Also, remember when he was ranked last amongst starting centers before last season. Look for him to move up about 10 spots this year . . .
And where is Perkisabeast.com to comment on their favorite???
FLCeltsFan - a Powe and Perkins sentimentalist if there ever was one, and we need those bangers, and their success is especially sweet since they were drafted by the Celtics - and know nothing in the NBA but Celtics. That's cool.
Keep going over those reels and reels of interview tape tenaciousT for off-season inspiration!!!!
Posted by: ManchvegasBob at August 11, 2008 4:41 PM
Hey guys, this is perkisabeast.com, and i just wanted to thank you guys for giving perk the props he deserves.
Posted by: perk is a beast at August 11, 2008 5:05 PM
The 'Cult of Kendrick' surfaces...
Greetings to FLCeltsfan, ManchvegasBob and Perkisabeast. That's some good company right there.
Maybe I'll have to turn this blog into the "Continuing Saga of the PerkBeast"
I don't know what the initiation is, but I'm joining up. Mmmmm....uhhh.....Maybe I should ask that question first!
I appreciate the comments from all.
What is Perkin's upside? Any takers?
T
Posted by: Tom Halzack at August 11, 2008 6:16 PM
