Is Perk hurt?

[SamuelAdams]

I think the shoulder injury is bothering him. There is no doubt his game is different since then. As to the T's, he was not speaking at all to the refs for a while (and stopped getting T'ed) but lately has started complaining after the calls.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

I'm a HUGE Perk fan and believe he's 100% healthy (asides from the obvious wear-and-tear which is the 82 game season).

In terms of fantasy production, Perk has remained right around his 8pt/8rb/1.5+bpg production rate.

It's Glen Davis who has stepped up big time in the absence of KG. Perk has just maintained and I LOVE THAT ABOUT HIM! A lot of other young Centers would try to step up in a way they are incapable of doing. Perk, however doesn't get out of character or try to do too much (he's trying out the 12+ footer again which I have no problem with as he only takes them when he's on an island), and IMHO he should be praised.

[KungPoweChicken]

Perk is not hurt. What we have seen from Perk is just his talent level.

[moiso]

I'd love to see Perk grab a couple extra rebounds per game.  I don't think he's hurt.

[Thruthelookingglass]

He's the same Perk - he's still rebounding, defending, etc.  Fact is, though, that with KG out he's now the best defensive big on the team, and that's a big load to carry.  Unfortunately, that's sometimes a Catch-22.  He has to bring more defensive intensity to the floor, and he HAS to stay out of foul trouble or his team becomes very short on the back line very quickly.  Some nights he figures it out, and some nights he gets in foul trouble real quick, or worse yet, he stays out of foul trouble but Doc doesn't play him anyway.  

Offensively, he doesn't get the benefit of KG being doubled by the other team's two big men, which normally opens Perk up for easy uncontested dunks.  Perk's points come from ball movement and the opposition focusing on KG, who, incidentally, does a lot to facilitate ball movement.  Without KG on the floor, we're seeing a lot more "give it to Ray off the curl and watch him drive or pull up for the midrange" than we did earlier in the season.  The spacing just isn't as good without KG (or, interestingly enough, Scal) on the floor.  BBD doesn't require the same attention that KG does from the outside..no surprise there.  

All that said, Perkins looks un-injured out there to me.

Excellent explanation.  Perk has been forced to anchor our defense as the lone (real) big.  He has little room for error as you've noted and I think this burden has affected his play.  I've really appreciated Perk's effort without KG.

And whoever posted about Perk and Rondo as our foundation for the future, I'll offer another "Amen!"

[KungPoweChicken]

He's the same Perk - he's still rebounding, defending, etc.  Fact is, though, that with KG out he's now the best defensive big on the team, and that's a big load to carry.  Unfortunately, that's sometimes a Catch-22.  He has to bring more defensive intensity to the floor, and he HAS to stay out of foul trouble or his team becomes very short on the back line very quickly.  Some nights he figures it out, and some nights he gets in foul trouble real quick, or worse yet, he stays out of foul trouble but Doc doesn't play him anyway.  

Offensively, he doesn't get the benefit of KG being doubled by the other team's two big men, which normally opens Perk up for easy uncontested dunks.  Perk's points come from ball movement and the opposition focusing on KG, who, incidentally, does a lot to facilitate ball movement.  Without KG on the floor, we're seeing a lot more "give it to Ray off the curl and watch him drive or pull up for the midrange" than we did earlier in the season.  The spacing just isn't as good without KG (or, interestingly enough, Scal) on the floor.  BBD doesn't require the same attention that KG does from the outside..no surprise there.  

All that said, Perkins looks un-injured out there to me.

Excellent explanation.  Perk has been forced to anchor our defense as the lone (real) big.  He has little room for error as you've noted and I think this burden has affected his play.  I've really appreciated Perk's effort without KG.

And whoever posted about Perk and Rondo as our foundation for the future, I'll offer another "Amen!"

Rondo is an essential piece for the future, but Perk is easily expendable. If Perk didn't have three future hall of fame players and an elite point guard around him, his game would have gaping holes in it. In other words, he is not a player you hold onto after the big three is done.

[BballTim]

He's the same Perk - he's still rebounding, defending, etc.  Fact is, though, that with KG out he's now the best defensive big on the team, and that's a big load to carry.  Unfortunately, that's sometimes a Catch-22.  He has to bring more defensive intensity to the floor, and he HAS to stay out of foul trouble or his team becomes very short on the back line very quickly.  Some nights he figures it out, and some nights he gets in foul trouble real quick, or worse yet, he stays out of foul trouble but Doc doesn't play him anyway.  

Offensively, he doesn't get the benefit of KG being doubled by the other team's two big men, which normally opens Perk up for easy uncontested dunks.  Perk's points come from ball movement and the opposition focusing on KG, who, incidentally, does a lot to facilitate ball movement.  Without KG on the floor, we're seeing a lot more "give it to Ray off the curl and watch him drive or pull up for the midrange" than we did earlier in the season.  The spacing just isn't as good without KG (or, interestingly enough, Scal) on the floor.  BBD doesn't require the same attention that KG does from the outside..no surprise there.  

All that said, Perkins looks un-injured out there to me.

Excellent explanation.  Perk has been forced to anchor our defense as the lone (real) big.  He has little room for error as you've noted and I think this burden has affected his play.  I've really appreciated Perk's effort without KG.

And whoever posted about Perk and Rondo as our foundation for the future, I'll offer another "Amen!"

Rondo is an essential piece for the future, but Perk is easily expendable. If Perk didn't have three future hall of fame players and an elite point guard around him, his game would have gaping holes in it. In other words, he is not a player you hold onto after the big three is done.

  He's one of the better defensive centers in the league. He might not be a cornerstone but he's not the kind of player you just get rid of.

[SamuelAdams]

Oh, then he would be a lock to make All Star.  Ben Wallace was 4 times...

I love Perk but lets not go overboard here. He fits great with KG and he fits perfectly with payroll.

[BballTim]

Oh, then he would be a lock to make All Star.  Ben Wallace was 4 times...

I love Perk but lets not go overboard here. He fits great with KG and he fits perfectly with payroll.

  Aside from the fact that nobody said Perk was as good as Wallace, Ben was 28 before he made the all-star team. Perk's 24. He might not make it, but nobody was predicting it for Wallace at the same age.

[Section301]

Rondo is an essential piece for the future, but Perk is easily expendable. If Perk didn't have three future hall of fame players and an elite point guard around him, his game would have gaping holes in it. In other words, he is not a player you hold onto after the big three is done.

I think I understand your point, but I wouldn't agree that he's *easily* expendable. To me, POB or Darius Miles is easily expendable (i.e. you can let him go for nothing in return and it doesn't hurt the quality of the team on the floor).  A big man like Perk who's willing to work hard on D and not demand the ball more than his skill set warrants is a valuable commodity, whether you keep him or trade him.  But it doesn't make him untouchable by any means, and what another team would need to offer to pry him away would not be nearly as much as they'd have to offer to get Rondo.  But 3 years from now when the GPA era is in far decline and it's Rondo's team, a 27 year old Perk (who knows the system, has been through the wars of postseason, does what it takes to win, and is quite likely still relatively cheap) would probably be more valuable than he is today, especially to the Celtics.  He'd add stability on and off the floor as they transition players in to continue their dynasty....

[Edgar]

one center, that gets 10 and 8, knows the syystem, dont overask for the ball ,  can try to score when needed, is young, still getting better, hustles, its a good to very good one on one defender and good on the help.
THAT isnt by any means an expendable player