Perkins has little skills

[Roy Hobbs]

Kendrick Perkins, as the fifth and last offensive option on a championship team, is averaging 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks while leading the league in field goal percentage. Despite being a player who makes his name doing the things that DON'T show up in the box score, he is STILL putting up numbers. Not every player on our team is a superstar, but what Perk does, he does extremely well.  Despite being an NBA veteran, he is still a young player who has a lot to learn, but I can't complain about a guy who works hard, plays hard-ass defense, crashes the boards, and does what he does best on the offensive end. PERK IS A BEAST.

TP.  Perk is the perfect center for this team, and is a darn good center on any team.  He's not a franchise corner stone, but he's an excellent role player. 

I think that if we meet Orlando in the playoffs, certain of Perk's detractors will be very glad he's on our side.

[BballTim]

Firstly, let me preface this by saying this is NOT your typical Celticsblog frustration thread. I've been wanting to make a thread on this for a while now. I just never got around to it. So enough rambling; here it is. Perkins has very, very little skills. Now, I know some of you will probably say, "How is this news?" Well, the reason I write this is because so many fanboys on this site throw out the name Perkins like he is a top five center. People need to get real. Perk is not even a top fifteen center in this league. When we drafted him, it looked like he had never touched a basketball. Now that he is an "NBA veteran," it looks like he has touched a basketball...a few times.

While Perk may be one of the strongest in the league for his height, at 6-10, he is, without a doubt, one of the slowest. People rave about his defense, but if Perk has to guard a skilled big man who doesn't live in the paint (like Chris Kaman), he will get eaten alive. His offense is incredibly robotic. It looks like he watched a few Better Basketball DVD's, learned two moves, and called it a day. He lacks athleticism (even as far as "big man athleticism" goes). He has no head on the floor. And on top of all that, after six years in the league, the dude still doesn't know how to set a screen.

There are many centers I would rather have than Perk. And to illustrate this point, I will list them. (For your information, this list has nothing to do with salaries, trades, or whatever. These are just centers who have a better skills than Perkins). A list compiled from too many people over exaggerating Perk's skills.


In no particular order:

Brook Lopez
David Lee
Emeka Okafor
Joakim Noah
Andrew Bogut
Dwight Howard
Yao Ming--when healthy
Tim Duncan
Nene
Al Jefferson
Greg Oden--when healthy
Chris Kaman
Andrew Bynum
Marc Gasol
Amare Stoudemire



As you can see, Perk is bottom feed. He's good for this team and system (surrounded by All-Stars). But let's not act like he is something more than he is; he's not. He is a fringe starting center in this league. He is a guy who has had his hand held by three future Hall Of Famers. I wish him the best, and I am a fan, but if you take away the players around him, he's no better than Jordan's Luc Longley.

  Why don't you restart your list, only including players who play defense against Dwight Howard as well or better than Perk? Most of your list falls into the category of "Bigs who put up better stats than Perk who we'd never win a title with".

[reggie35]

KG = invaluable all-star/ Perk = expendable role player

Perkins is not much of a center without KG in the power forward spot. He is a great fit for this team but he is no all star. His awesome FG% wouldn't exist if he didn't get all the space that KG provides on offense. And his defense wouldn't be as good without KG's communication.

There are definitely some centers I would take over Perk and would play even better when paired with KG. However, considering he is 24, cheap, and OUR center, I would say he is perfect for this team :-)

[dasandruler]

boooy, I think folks are underrating Perk here.  taking him for granted like tiger wit his wife at home.  Perk is A MAN inside.  da guy is a consistent inside fadeaway/bunny jumpshot from being a Monstah. The fact that's hes slow just makes my point. He take the best shots within the gameplan than anyone else on the team....the undisciplined play of the rest of the team unfairly affects his game. 

off topic: scal is just awful to watch...painful

[footey]

Perkins is a great role player, but he will never be able to be the focus of a championship caliber team on offense. Last night was exhibit a.

[slamtheking]

This is one of the worst threads I've seen started by someone who's been a longtime participant on this site.  

Usually the OP produces some stuff worth reading but this was a lousy thread.  seriously, is there anyone that really watches the team's games that can't see what Perk brings game in and game out?  I mean, wow, that's just unfathomable.

Are there some centers out there that are better than Perk overall, very few.  Are there centers (real centers, not PFs forced to play center) that can do some things better than Perk, sure.  But I'll take Perk over the majority of the players mentioned---particularly the ones that are true centers.

[KungPoweChicken]

Some people have responded like the 15 players I listed can't touch Perk's jock (pure homerism at its finest). See, I guess that's where we differ. I would gladly take any of those 15 guys, instead of Perk.


The whole post was based on how Perk has very, very limited skills. (Sure, Perk dominates his role, just like Fisher dominates his role on the Lakers). But that doesn't mean he is a good center. He is a solid role player at best. All 15 of the players I listed have a better skill set than Perk. If you cannot see that, then I don't know what you're watching.



If you think Perk is a beast on this team, do you have any idea how big of a beast Andrew Bogut would be here? How about Brook Lopez or Joakim Noah or Chris Kaman? Perk just isn't as skilled as any of those guys (including the other guys from the 15), no matter how you slice it.


Look at it this way. If perk was playing for the Kings or the Nets or the Knicks, do you think he would still be the same "beast?" No. He would just be a simple role player.

[KungPoweChicken]

Perkins is excellent defensively (except against mobile centers)... and he has more offensive moves than Dwight Howard.

Not really. They have about the same amount of moves. The only difference is that Dwight Howard is about two times (and maybe even three times) quicker than Perk, so he can can a lot of easy jams.

[moiso]

Perkins is a great role player, but he will never be able to be the focus of a championship caliber team on offense. Last night was exhibit a.

So?  Even KG is never going to be the focal point of a championship team on offense.  What is the point?  What center on that list could be?  Maybe Yao on the right team.  That's it.

[Rondo_is_better]

Perkins is excellent defensively (except against mobile centers)... and he has more offensive moves than Dwight Howard.

Not really. They have about the same amount of moves. The only difference is that Dwight Howard is about two times (and maybe even three times) quicker than Perk, so he can can a lot of easy jams.

Uhhh, not at all. Howard has moves that he TRIES, like that ridiculous running hook, whereas Perk MAKES his hooks, fadeaways, and up-and-unders. Howard has never dunked with Perkins defending him. Never. He's dunked on Shelden Williams - not Perk. And by the way, I don't know if you've noticed, but Perk gets a TON of dunks and layups. If he didn't get to the rim as much as Dwight he wouldn't have a higher field goal percentage.

[Rondo_is_better]

Some people have responded like the 15 players I listed can't touch Perk's jock (pure homerism at its finest). See, I guess that's where we differ. I would gladly take any of those 15 guys, instead of Perk.


The whole post was based on how Perk has very, very limited skills. (Sure, Perk dominates his role, just like Fisher dominates his role on the Lakers). But that doesn't mean he is a good center. He is a solid role player at best. All 15 of the players I listed have a better skill set than Perk. If you cannot see that, then I don't know what you're watching.



If you think Perk is a beast on this team, do you have any idea how big of a beast Andrew Bogut would be here? probably not a beast at all How about Brook Lopez or Joakim Noah or Chris Kaman?Brook Lopez and Kaman are the 2nd and 3rd best Centers  in the league, Noah would be a midlly useful role player that would be a nice piece coming off our bench BEHIND Perk and KG. Perk just isn't as skilled as any of those guys (including the other guys from the 15), no matter how you slice it Yeah, Shaq was never as "skilled" either..


Look at it this way. If perk was playing for the Kings or the Nets or the Knicks, do you think he would still be the same "beast?" No. He would just be a simple role player. FALSEHOOD.

Still, its your right as an American citizen to be wrong.

[moiso]

Perkins is excellent defensively (except against mobile centers)... and he has more offensive moves than Dwight Howard.

Not really. They have about the same amount of moves. The only difference is that Dwight Howard is about two times (and maybe even three times) quicker than Perk, so he can can a lot of easy jams.

Uhhh, not at all. Howard has moves that he TRIES, like that ridiculous running hook, whereas Perk MAKES his hooks, fadeaways, and up-and-unders. Howard has never dunked with Perkins defending him. Never. He's dunked on Shelden Williams - not Perk. And by the way, I don't know if you've noticed, but Perk gets a TON of dunks and layups. If he didn't get to the rim as much as Dwight he wouldn't have a higher field goal percentage.

TP to you.  Perk's shooting percentage shows that he is pretty skilled and smart.  He doesn't get a ton of open garbage baskets either.  He gets the ball, makes a move to get an easy shot.  You can compare him to Howard, and also players like Rasheed.  If Sheed is such a great low post player, it's strange that he's unable to do what a "stiff" like Perk can do.  Look at the field goal percentages.  You throw the ball to Perk, and he scores over 60% of the time.

[EJPLAYA]

A 64.3% season from the floor (56.3% career) averaging 12 and 8 and the guy has little skills?! Give me as many of those guys as you want. Shaq never could guard a mobile big man that could shoot from the outside either and he seemed to make up for it in other areas. If you think that Perk is the problem on this team then you really shouldn't put any resumes into the league to be a scout or GM...

[moiso]

Having a clue which shots you are likely to make is a SKILL I wish every celtic had.

[GreenFaith1819]

Some people have responded like the 15 players I listed can't touch Perk's jock (pure homerism at its finest). See, I guess that's where we differ. I would gladly take any of those 15 guys, instead of Perk.


The whole post was based on how Perk has very, very limited skills. (Sure, Perk dominates his role, just like Fisher dominates his role on the Lakers). But that doesn't mean he is a good center. He is a solid role player at best. All 15 of the players I listed have a better skill set than Perk. If you cannot see that, then I don't know what you're watching.



If you think Perk is a beast on this team, do you have any idea how big of a beast Andrew Bogut would be here? How about Brook Lopez or Joakim Noah or Chris Kaman? Perk just isn't as skilled as any of those guys (including the other guys from the 15), no matter how you slice it.


Look at it this way. If perk was playing for the Kings or the Nets or the Knicks, do you think he would still be the same "beast?" No. He would just be a simple role player.

So, KungPoweChicken....how do you think that Kaman, Noah or Lopez would do against Shaqtus or Dwight? Either of those two (especially Dwight) would back Kaman, Lopez, or Bogut down and embarass them. They are strong offensively, but just not strong physically. And Bogut is rather brittle if you ask me.

Dwight or Shaq just can't move the man called Kendrick Perkins. He's Juggernaut. That's why we will have an advantage on our road to the Championship through these two teams in the East.