In the latest episode of the CelticsPod, I’m joined by 2008 NBA champion and current ESPN/NBC Sports Boston analyst, Kendrick Perkins.

Earlier this week, Perk appeared on the All The Smoke podcast where he discussed his thoughts on Jaylen Brown’s ascension toward his first All-Star appearance. Following on from Perk’s discussion with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, I asked Perk what he thought was behind Brown’s continued improvement, and if a Most Improved Player award was possible at the end of the regular season.

Want to know Perk’s thoughts on Robert Williams? I did, so I asked him what he saw in the young big, and if Williams could have a bigger impact than Perk did during his time with the Celtics.

A way bigger impact (than me). Robert Williams is actually something that I’ve never been and that’s athletic. He’s relentless, he’s fearless, he plays with an edge and a tenacity. He’s everything you want from a big in today’s game, the way that he’s a lob threat at the basket, he rolls hard, he sets great screens, he offensive rebounds - and most importantly he anchors a defense and protects the basket with the best of them.

Another thing Perk had discussed on his All The Smoke appearance was his opinion on “new school” vs. “old school” coaches. I asked Perk about the role a coaching staff plays in a player’s development, what the value of external trainers are during the summer, and how much “comfortability” plays a role in a player’s developmental success.

Another player I wanted Perk’s opinion on was Grant Williams, who has struggled to start the year. Perk explained his thoughts on how the second-year wing can re-discover his best form.

There’s also a discussion surrounding the upcoming game between the Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, where Perk gives his thoughts on a potential gameplan for Boston, and how attacking Marc Gasol will be a key factor.

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