Perk Fans?

[Rondo_is_better]

While I love Perk and applaud his recent success, I have to back up a bit when talking about his future contracts based on current performance. Simply put, Perk would not have the numbers he has without playing next to the big three and Sheed. When he shows the ability (like Rondo did last year in the playoffs) to take over and dominate the game against quality competition at will.....I will be the first to say give him a well deserved 10 million per contract.

For now I will just enjoy watching and cheering for a gutsy, no nonsense, hardworking, lunch pail guy who leaves it on the floor every single nite.

I don't know, right now Perk looks like he could get it done (at least 10/10/2 kind of numbers) against quality competition even without the Big 3.  In fact, he'd be getting more touches down low without the big 3, so the scoring could be even higher.  Most of the passes he gets into the post are from Rondo anyway.  Rondo and Perk are a very effective combo and I think the Celtics will pay top dollar to keep them together.

Uhh, yeah... what Posimpos said. That's what's actually happening with the big three around, none of this illusioned "big three effect" stuff is real. Perk and Rondo both play as well as they do on their own merit.

[LarBrd33]

Perk's low post game is so far better than it was a couple years ago it's ridiculous.  He's WAAAAY better.  And he might be the best defensive center in the league.... or at least the only center in the league who can make Dwight Howard look human.

My biggest problem with Perk was always that it seemed to take him 5 seconds to collect himself after receiving a pass.  We'd dump the ball into him, he'd collect himself... bring the ball down...  dribble the ball once... bring the ball back up... have a cup of tea... and eventually the defender would catch up to him and he'd go to the line.  He's gotten a lot better about that.  I still don't think he's super "explosive", but his reaction time is far better.   His footwork and touch are light years beyond what they once were.  Every once in a while he wings a pretty flat bullet hook into the rim, but I'm starting to buy into the idea that Sheed is teaching him patience down there.

5 game win streak Perk's stats: 30.4 minutes 16.2 points,  10.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks... 81% shooting.

Really hope he keeps it up.  He's my favorite player to watch right now.

[jackson_34]

Loving Perk's Progress, I really, really hope he gets a reward for his hard work... All-Defensive Team, Maaaybe All-Star. A championship wouldn't go down too bad either! 

I think Cliff Ray deserves cred for the work he's done with Perk, the guy obviously knows how to coach a big man!

[Greenbean]

You know what I am looking forward to the most with Perk? Now that he is a legitimate option in the post, I am hoping he will be able to get Dwight into foul trouble in the playoffs. Or at the very least make him work as an on ball defender, something he rarely has to do.

[Kwhit10]

Perk's low post game is so far better than it was a couple years ago it's ridiculous.  He's WAAAAY better.  And he might be the best defensive center in the league.... or at least the only center in the league who can make Dwight Howard look human.

My biggest problem with Perk was always that it seemed to take him 5 seconds to collect himself after receiving a pass.  We'd dump the ball into him, he'd collect himself... bring the ball down...  dribble the ball once... bring the ball back up... have a cup of tea... and eventually the defender would catch up to him and he'd go to the line.  He's gotten a lot better about that.  I still don't think he's super "explosive", but his reaction time is far better.   His footwork and touch are light years beyond what they once were.  Every once in a while he wings a pretty flat bullet hook into the rim, but I'm starting to buy into the idea that Sheed is teaching him patience down there.

5 game win streak Perk's stats: 30.4 minutes 16.2 points,  10.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks... 81% shooting.

Really hope he keeps it up.  He's my favorite player to watch right now.

Same here.  It's been great watching him develop.  Yea his biggest improvement has been the time it takes him to get a pass and put up a shot.  I guess we should give a lot of credit to C. Ray too. 

That 5 game stretch is fantastic, what a FG%!

[jasail]

This guy is the absolute definition of hard work paying off.  Sure he was blessed with being 6'11 but when he came into this league out of HS he had little else going for him.

He was overweight, had slow feet, no post game, hands of stone.  I shook my head for at least two years as to why danny bothered taking him in the first round, or at all.  But the kid worked on his body, his game, his skills.

Kudos to perk, cliff ray and to danny.  Hard work and perseverance are really beginning to pay off.  Best part is, the kid just turned 25. 

[nickagneta]

Love these things about Perk:

1.) He might be the only 7 year vet I have ever seen that got measurably better each and ever year he has been in the league.

2.) He's only 25 and one of the top 3 best defensive centers in the league

3.) His temperament and work ethic are infectious and are the exact thing you want in a starter.

4.) He adds a new wrinkle every off season. From his increased strength, to decreased fat, to increased mobility, to decreased bad habits. From his jump hook, to his turnaround jumper, to his three step out under and up post move to his ability to put the ball on the floor. From his back to the basket game to his face up game. Something new every year and every year those somethings get better.

[moiso]

The progress has been amazing.  Some of it makes sense in a player that works so hard, but I can't remember a player come into the league with such bad hands turn himself into a player with glue hands.  Usually natural ability is a huge factor in catching a pass or not.  Perk used to fumble everything, now he catches even short bullet passes.  That's the most amazing aspect of his game to me.  It's like the equivallent of Rondo becoming a Ray Allen type shooter- that stuff just never happens.

[Celtics17]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I remember when Don Nelson said something similar about Dirk Nowitzki becoming a very good rebounder when he had been poor. Nelson said that it just never happens that way. Perk is becoming a much better player and if he continues his development we are sure to be in contention for #18 in June.

[Kiorrik]

Love these things about Perk:

1.) He might be the only 7 year vet I have ever seen that got measurably better each and ever year he has been in the league.

2.) He's only 25 and one of the top 3 best defensive centers in the league

3.) His temperament and work ethic are infectious and are the exact thing you want in a starter.

4.) He adds a new wrinkle every off season. From his increased strength, to decreased fat, to increased mobility, to decreased bad habits. From his jump hook, to his turnaround jumper, to his three step out under and up post move to his ability to put the ball on the floor. From his back to the basket game to his face up game. Something new every year and every year those somethings get better.

Point four gave me goosebumps. My gwad that guy is awesome, isn't he?

Yesterday, when he faked, put the ball down and came out from behind the backboard with a reverse layup... When he started that move, I was like - NO PERK! CMON! DON'T! YOU'RE NOT THAT TYPE OF PLAYER! - and when he finished it, I was just absolutely stunned. So-[dang]-smooth

Amazing!

[Bankshot]

Loving Perk's Progress, I really, really hope he gets a reward for his hard work... All-Defensive Team, Maaaybe All-Star. A championship wouldn't go down too bad either! 

I think Cliff Ray deserves cred for the work he's done with Perk, the guy obviously knows how to coach a big man!

I hope he get rewarded with another championship!

[indeedproceed]

Anyone else see that crazy lil ditty he pulled on Tyson Chandler? Between the legs after a backdown then a nift lil reverse lay in?

He made Tyson Chandler his pretty little princess. Something that yours truly might've called

Keys to the Game for the Good Guys:

1: Ram. It. Low.- Call me optimistic but I think Tyson Chandler can't hang with Perkules anymore. Couple that with Boris Diaw on Garnett and that's just the starting lineup. After that it just gets ugly for the Bobcats. We gotta get that ball low early and often.

[Prof. Clutch]

Love these things about Perk:

1.) He might be the only 7 year vet I have ever seen that got measurably better each and ever year he has been in the league.

2.) He's only 25 and one of the top 3 best defensive centers in the league

3.) His temperament and work ethic are infectious and are the exact thing you want in a starter.

4.) He adds a new wrinkle every off season. From his increased strength, to decreased fat, to increased mobility, to decreased bad habits. From his jump hook, to his turnaround jumper, to his three step out under and up post move to his ability to put the ball on the floor. From his back to the basket game to his face up game. Something new every year and every year those somethings get better.

Good call.  He's one high free throw percentage away from being a fantastic all around player.  He's even gotten so much better with the whole moving screen thing this year.  He got whistled for that like every game last year.  I don't recall that being an issue at all this year.  Love Perk!

[wdleehi]

Perk's low post game is so far better than it was a couple years ago it's ridiculous.  He's WAAAAY better.  And he might be the best defensive center in the league.... or at least the only center in the league who can make Dwight Howard look human.

My biggest problem with Perk was always that it seemed to take him 5 seconds to collect himself after receiving a pass.  We'd dump the ball into him, he'd collect himself... bring the ball down...  dribble the ball once... bring the ball back up... have a cup of tea... and eventually the defender would catch up to him and he'd go to the line.  He's gotten a lot better about that.  I still don't think he's super "explosive", but his reaction time is far better.   His footwork and touch are light years beyond what they once were.  Every once in a while he wings a pretty flat bullet hook into the rim, but I'm starting to buy into the idea that Sheed is teaching him patience down there.

5 game win streak Perk's stats: 30.4 minutes 16.2 points,  10.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks... 81% shooting.

Really hope he keeps it up.  He's my favorite player to watch right now.

During the losing streak, and I started the "I need more Perk" thread suggesting that the team needed Perk to play around 30 minutes a game, (one of the few thread I have seen where everyone agreed) I never expected to see so quickly such clear proof.

Credit the Celtics coaches for making such a good adjustment to the rotation.

[pengaloo]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, as I don't want to move this thread into what could be perceived as a negative direction. But I'm curious... during last night's CSN postgame show, Tommy was answering questions in the studio from fans. One of the questions was something along the lines of whether Perk has the ability to carry the team on his back, given how much he has been improving. Tommy in a roundabout way, essentially said no without giving reasons as to why not.

Maybe I'm just blinded by how impressed I am with Perk, but he's still young, and he's shown such improvement. I can't imagine why it'll stop here. I'm curious as to what it is about Perk that doesn't allow him to carry a team on his back in the future?