Perk's Finest and More From a Monkey-Off-Back Win

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 12:00 AM EDT in NBA Articles

A Daily Babble Production

Full disclosure: My optimism regarding Kendrick Perkins has long been cautious at best.

Though he has had by far the best season of his career, his play largely continues to leave me underwhelmed with regularity, and there have been a few recurring complaints on this end.

But the previous sentence is the last you will hear of those complaints today. Because this isn't the time or the place.

That's because last night, the usual complaints weren't pertinent. At all.

In the Celtics' first road win of the 2008 postseason, Kendrick Perkins did everything asked of him -- and a few things that I couldn't have imagined asking of him.

For a night, Perk was as wonderful a defensive and rebounding stalwart as possible. He was consistently in good position defensively, rotating fluidly and sliding to the spot correctly. On the interior, he altered shots with regularity, and the ease with which he moved on switches on the perimeter belied his usual lack of lateral quickness. He had one excellently timed block shot and one picture-perfect steal off the dribble from Chauncey Billups after what looked to be an unfortunate switch at the top of the key. So it was -- for Detroit.

Perk earned his ten boards, too. They weren't merely results of being in the right place at the right time while the rest of the team boxed out. He routinely got position and rose up in traffic to grab the ball or to tip it away from the white jerseys and into his own hands or those of a teammate.

The true surprise, of course, came on the offensive end. Perk had an excellently efficient 6-for-7 performance, and perhaps even more impressively, he didn't turn the ball over once. There was one perfectly executed tip-in and two shots that Celtics fans probably cringed to see Perk take in the first place. But when it's your night, it's your night. Perk managed to pound the ball for a few seconds and bang a baby jumper over Rasheed Wallace in the post, and he drained one from mid-range on the left-side baseline. Two classic "No-no-no-no-yes!" plays. Celts fans will certainly take 'em.

So here's to you, Perk: for coming up nothing short of huge in the ultimate monkey-off-the-back victory.

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Comments

The Celtics have a remarkable 83-59 advantage in rebounds over the last two games.

by Celtsfansince55 on May 25, 2008 5:15 AM EDT reply actions

I’m sure enjoying the ride! Great game. Perk was great! Not the biggest Perk fan normally but give him props last night. Awesome D all around. Billups is hurting, no? If not, what a gag job turned in by him last night. Same goes for Prince. Except that’s his MO, he turns in some invisible jobs in important games too much of the time. I really thought Ray was going to come out stroking it. Imagine if he was hitting consistently, we might be up 3-0! Here’s hoping for game 4.

by celty86 on May 25, 2008 7:12 AM EDT reply actions

I am a big Perk fan, and though no, he’s not and never will be Dwight Howard, he’s an underappreciated, 23yo tough defensive gem of a player right now. When will he get his due? Maybe 3 years out, at the ripe old age of 26, after starting on a couple of championship teams?

I do think that 3 years from now he’ll be respected as a balanced offensive and defensive player. Even next year he’ll have incorporated that baby jumper, he’ll stop having to put the ball on the floor before going up after a rebound, and he’ll take and make enough shots to be recognized as one of the highest percentage shooters in the league. Maybe that’ll be a start.

by clover on May 25, 2008 7:29 AM EDT reply actions

Two classic “No-no-no-no-yes!” plays

Is it terrible that I actually said it exactly like that? When he hit that turnaround against Sheed, I shouted so loud my roommate thought I’d thrown my back out again ;) Seriously though, I LOVED Perkins’ game last night. I think that, quite honestly, as Perkins goes, so go the Celtics. I’m not saying that he’s more important than Pierce or Allen or KG, but we don’t have anyone else off the bench who can provide the defense and rebounding that Perk does. I mean, Brown’s good, but he can’t be playing Perk-like minutes and remain effective. As long as Perkins is hitting his shots, playing good D, and not picking up fouls, the Three Amigos can focus on doing the things they do.

Also, I LOVE PJ Brown. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: aside from Posey and the trades, Brown’s going to go down as the most important signing we had this year. The guy never seems to be out of position, and he plays smart basketball. He may not be the PJ Brown of the Hornets/Heat era, but he’s one of the better bench big men left in these playoffs.

by BUTerrier on May 25, 2008 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

Good points on Perkins, Steve, and I’ve been as critical of him as anyone. If he can consistently offer up this kind of play, we’re really in business.

And as for PJ Brown, if he wants to play next year, we’ve got a place for him. Period.

by CoachBo on May 25, 2008 8:24 AM EDT reply actions

I’m as delighted as everyone else with their performance.

One thing that has gone unmentioned is how they got to the charity line. Smart, aggressive drives into the overly face of the overly aggressive Detroit defense. Sam I am came in and drew a couple of fouls on Lindsey Hunter just like a veteran point guard should. Lindsey Hunter ain’t that good, the Celtics have just been daunted by the pressure defense.

Another thing the Celtics all did last night was box out with determination. My favorite example of professional boxing out came when Big Baby made Maxiell bowl him over on his way to rim. That’s the kind of veteran basketball all the Celtics have to play from here on out. They have to force the refs to make the calls or they won’t get them, that’s a big part of the reason that there has been such a disparity between the Celtics and the other teams in fouls.

In general, the Celtics have gotten away with playing a Sunday School version of the game. Want a great example of the type of play that wins championships? How about Rip Hamilton repeatedly bear hugging KG’s left arm, then falling backward to get a foul called on KG? Outrageous? Yes! Effective? Yes!

Here’s hoping the Celtics continue to punish Detroit for their aggressiveness. As we have seen, there are ways to do that. I hope they can find a good answer to the 1-3-1 defense Detroit used in the last half of the game. Getting Rondo to quit throwing lazy passes will solve half of that. Perhaps they got a little mad last night! Maybe KG will reserve the hugs for the opposing players until post-series.

One final question? How many of you high-fived your compatriots as Ray Allen hit a normally meaningless 3 at the end of the game? Ray’s cold streak has really become an undercurrent to the Celtics’ post-season hasn’t it? When you think about it, it is amazing they have gotten this far when such a critical part of their offense has yet to show up. They’ll return to what we saw during their regular season if Ray’s shot comes back.

by LonelyTXCelt on May 25, 2008 8:58 AM EDT reply actions

Great read Steve…I think diehard Celtic fans felt that Perk would become a solid NBA center..what we didn’t know is that he has the ability to step it up on the biggest stage !

by Fastbreak on May 25, 2008 9:06 AM EDT reply actions

The best things for me about Perk:

He continues to improve and never takes a game off. You never see a day when Perk isnt giving you his whole heart and soul on the floor. Perk is still learning the game, he is possibly a slow developer as bigs go. I dont have a problem with that because he is a lunch pail guy with a great attitude.

Perk is a true Celtic in the old tradition and keeper. 8)

by billysan on May 25, 2008 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

perk was superb and he did get the credit from van gundy. it’s amazing what the c’s can do when they move their feet. the pistons were out of it and played their b game, but they will be back. doc should have taken rondo out 3/4s of the way in period 3- he was playing tired and poorly and it changed the momentum. posey was magnifico and he really showed up. perk is a bit enigmatic- sort of slow to the ball but he can slide and crash the boards pretty quickly. he is a team guy who doesn’t need the spotlight and knows his role. the role players won the game sure and simple- let’s hear it for all of them- even eddie cheering from the bench.

by nazzbo on May 25, 2008 10:17 AM EDT reply actions

Perk has been a great defender and powerful on the boards all playoffs. His key is to stay out of foul trouble. Half of that is on him, half of that is hoping the refs don’t call touch fouls, because they are really hard on Perk.

by Last Train on May 25, 2008 11:27 AM EDT reply actions

The green still needs to be wary of committing silly fouls and sending this team to the line too easily (and Rodney Stuckey in general), but it was still a largely dominant showing.

The Celtics cannot predict when the officials will call fouls which leads to some really ticky-tack fouls and some mind-mindblowing calls going the wrong way. There was one play in the late third/early fourth quarter where KG was called for a foul on Stuckey. KG looked genuinely confused that the officials would call a foul on a seemingly clean block. He muttered to himself all the way to the bench afterwards. That being said, they have made a some overly aggressive plays resulting in very avoidable fouls.

by BleedinGreen417 on May 25, 2008 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

In Perk’s rookie season he saw some daylight in a game against Chicago and in a clumsy, just-out-of-high school rookie way, he demonstrated that HIS team would not be pushed around (he was later quoted saying something like that).

Here he is in the Eastern Conference Championship, making good on his promise that his team won’t get chumped. I was mightily surprised, encouraged and gratified by his gutsy performance last night. And don’t forget relieved.

Thanks for giving Perk his due!

by Thruthelookingglass on May 25, 2008 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

Celtsfansince55,

Nice stat, thanks for bringing it up. I do hasten to point out, however, that at least for Game 3, the Celtics should have naturally had a rebounding edge thanks to the fact that they held Detroit to a much-lower percentage than they shot from the field. Still, it’s been a very good performance on the glass.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 7:06 PM EDT reply actions

celty86,

Thanks for the comment – definitely right with ya on the ‘enjoying the ride’ end of things.

Ironically enough, I’m not sure of the accuracy of the “if Ray were hitting, we might be up 3-0” claim, seeing as the one game in which he got hot was the game the C’s lost. I’m not seriously knockin’ ya, just amused by the twist there.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

clover,

Last night was great defensively for Perk. I’ll still maintain that he is regularly a lot slower in getting to spots and moving his feet in help defensively than he gets credit for — thus making me wary of the “defensive gem” label — but I was no doubt thrilled by the Game 3 performance.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 7:10 PM EDT reply actions

Hey BU Terrier,

Long time no hear from you; good to have ya back! ;)

Two classic “No-no-no-no-yes!” plays

Is it terrible that I actually said it exactly like that?

Absolutely not. That’s exactly the way it went in my house as well. Watching the game with Pops — we screamed it in unison. Just glad the shots fell ;D

-sw

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 7:12 PM EDT reply actions

CoachBo,

Good points on Perkins, Steve, and I’ve been as critical of him as anyone. If he can consistently offer up this kind of play, we’re really in business.

And as for PJ Brown, if he wants to play next year, we’ve got a place for him. Period.

With ya all the way. I’ve been quite critical over the years, but that will certainly began to cease if we see more of the same from last night.

Ditto on PJ. Concisely and perfectly articulated. Love him.

Thanks as always for the time.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

LonelyTXCelt,

Great point about the Davis box-out on Maxiell — I definitely meant (and subsequently forgot) to put that in my Pugnacious Papoose section of the bullet points. A very wise and effective play. Thanks for bringing it up :)

-sw

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions

Fastbreak,

Thanks a lot for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the piece, and I’m even happier that we all enjoyed Perk’s play so much last night — and the ‘W’ that came of it.

-sw

by Steve Weinman on May 25, 2008 7:16 PM EDT reply actions

I’m glad Perk is getting some good vibes here. Since he’s gotten over Obie, rookiness, injuries his play has been under appreciated and misunderstood. Perk would score more points if he took more shots. Tommy says Perk hits the 18 footer continuously in practice. I’m sure he doesn’t have the confidence to take it in games and this is not the time to develop that confidence (though he did hit one last nite). Maybe next year. His role is defense and alot of his defense is backup defense (the reason why he’s often not in position to rebound). The way to judge Perk is to focus solely on him at the defensive end and count the points he prevents from being scored. For the stat lovers add those to the points he scores and you can have your 20 points a game from Perk.

by TrueGreen on May 25, 2008 8:38 PM EDT reply actions