Kendrick Perkins
He is a winner. If you look at a box score you aren't going to be impressed, but he brings toughness and leadership to a young team. The NBA isn't just about what is played on a court for 48 minutes, because Perkins is a great locker room presence. He is a veteran leader 29 other teams would love to have.
I agree. If you look at the boxscore you won't be impressed, but if you look at how he impacts the team as a whole you won't be impressed either.
http://www.82games.com/1213/1213OKC.HTM
http://www.82games.com/1213/12OKC13.HTM#onoff
No, he is not a winner. He's had the great fortune of playing on great teams with great players that could make up for his mediocrity. Plus that doesn't address my question of how is the guy a starter, because he shouldn't be, especially for a team as good as OKC, would I like to have him in the locker room with the young guys? yea. Do I want him starting and playing quality minutes? HELL NO!
LOL at "fake toughness", but it's true. Before Perkins, OKC's center was Nenad Krisitc. Not so threatening in the frontcourt, right? He was brought to bring a tough demeanor to the team. He sucks on offense, but that's not what he's called to do.
no matter what on a contender, let alone thee contender. I would say start Collison at the 4 and Serge at the 5 or vice versa on offense, but he is just a place holder. I think they have to ship either Lamb, PJ3 or that T.O pick (last option) for a post player. Even though its not really conceivable, I would send that whole package to Memphis for Zack Randolph. Zack could play post while Serge could roam at 17 feet, where apparently he is most comfortable. His weak side shot blocking makes up for Z Bo's lack of length. Lamb, a team that will take Perk, the T.O. pick and or PJ3 should get it done. Some version of this deal was floating around for Varejao and as much as I love Andy, he is no Z Bo. Besides they need a low post threat to defeat the Heat. Or the same deal without the pick for Rudy Gay and have him or K.D. play the four against the Heat small ball. With Lebron playing the four it really wouldn't matter. Even a deal for Gasol, screw the cap, "you only get one chance, the moment you own it, never let it go".
I think Hollinger and Presti would be scared that one of them would eventually look foolish if a trade like this happened. OKC should press it because that's a NBA Championship line up.
crown, that's what the Grizzly's said. According to, http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/21520785/berger-griz... and http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/jan/08/grizzlies-rudy-gay-unru... , they are shopping Gay and or Randolph as a salary dump and for picks. Besides I prefaced it with this isn't "conceivable". But talk lately about competing at the right time could make the Grizz consider it. The right time is after the Thunder and Heat slow down, I suppose. Besides what better deal has been mentioned for Gay or Randolph. Nothing Phoenix has, including Jared Dudley (c'mon son) can beat Lamb, T.O. pick and PJ3.
I've been saying this for years that Perkins isn't anything special and people would chastise me for it. I've said numerous times that for a suppossed defensive force he doesn't rebound at an elite level, he doesn't block shots or accumulate steals at an elite level, he doesn't have the foot speed to cover the PnR effectively anymore. And I said when he lose weight that he just lost his most effective assett which was in fact his weight.
He's a hard worker with a great work ethic and a very strong locker room presence but he's getting paid way to much for that. He's not even a great enforcer along the lines of a guy like Charles Oakley who could atleast rebound, and hit a mid range jumper at an elite level for a big.
I really like Perkins for OKC, despite being slow he is extremely good at defending against guards (which he needs to do because OKC switches all the time on defence). He is a very good passer offensively, sets good picks and can make an open shot.
He is also a big body on defence and doesn't allow easy baskets. His shot blocking has been good lately
Brooks and Presti don't want to admit a mistake. And OKC is good enough that they can win games giving Perkins time. So Brooks and Presti don't really have to admit this yet. If they lose a playoff series because of this, then they will really be idiots. But this isn't killing OKC. Also they might believe in some sort of intangible thing that having Perkins on the court. I used to believe that Brooks might have thought that at one point, but I doubt he could still believe that.
Also if they don't play Perkins and they get exposed for having no big guy, fans might remember that they traded a seven footer to get the chance to swap Harden for K. Martin (and I think it is just one year of K. Mart, at that). Cole Aldrich hasn't been good yet, but Presti doesn't want OKC to ever be perceived as too small while that trade is still fresh in everyone's mind.
I always recall the one play off series where he just muscled out D-12 with his bulk, his contributions this year on the stats sheet don't look great, put his on court plus and minus rating is always good. Personally I don't think he has been as effective for OKC as he was for the Celtics.
He is flat out terrible! How in the hell does he start for OKC, one of the best teams in the NBA, much less any team? He can't do jack shiiit on offense, unless you count fumbling the ball into a turnover or missing a contested lay-up. He's terrible on pick and roll defense, he really isn't that great of a low post defender, he' alright. Not much of a shot blocker. He's slow as hell. It seems all he's good for is being a body guard for Durant or Westbrook, and complaining about a foul or playing time. Perkins should thank Rondo and KG every day for the ludacris salary he makes. Ainge was smart for trading him. OKC wins despite of him, it's amazing OKC is this good with a guy this bad starting for them, even if it's the Center position.