Has Perkins let it go to his head?

[rav123]

Perk was a wonderful role player last season and championship season. A great defender, and solid rebounder.
Last season, he had to assume a greater (offensive) role in the playoffs due to the absence of KG. He showed us he could get 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks a game.

Then (although he had been a good defender for 2-3 years already), he began getting league-wide recognition as one of the best man-to-man defenders in the post due to his great job on Dwight Howard during the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Now Perk seems to be playing poorly. He rarely kicks it out after recieving it in the post. He still does not have a short jumper, and possesses only one move - a right-handed jump hook - yet, he seems to force a shot at every opportunity. Granted, this doesn't occur much, but as his number of touches increase, so does his detrimental impact on the offensive end. His defense is still excellent, but his rebounding has not improved, even as more boards have become available due to KG and Sheed's regression in that area. He also has an attitude problem: his scowl has earned him a number of technical fouls, and he still has not solved his moving screen and travelling-in-the-post woes. He also called (out) the team as (for) being "bored", and has had issues with his minutes and touches, while also directing veiled criticism at our vets.

Has he let it go to his head? Does he feel that his defensive excellence needs to be rewarded with more offensive opportunity, or minutes?. Or does he feel the pressure from the fanbase to perform, to progress at the offensive end? Does he feel threatened by Sheed's presence - does he think Sheed will continue to eat into his playing time if he does not score more?

Maybe this rant is unwarranted. Maybe the statistics refute my point totally. Maybe I am just overreacting to a few bad games such as the last one against the Bucks. But I think I definitely see a different Perk this year, one that I don't like as much as last season's.

[Drucci]

I think it really got into Perk's head. Also, the team is going to him more often but I just don't understand why the C's keep going to Perk in the post when they desperately need to score on a possession, they did it all the time during their terrible stretch in January/February and they kept doing it again and again last night until Doc pulled Perk out of the game.

It's just terrible decision making from both Perk and his teammates. From Perk, because he should really only go for his own shot when there is a lot of time left in the clock and he can work on his defender. From his teammates, because they know he is not going to make a pass so this possession will either result in a miss or a turnover when the opponents double team him (or just send a guy to help, his mere sight will make Perk panic and fumble the ball).

Perk needs to get back to his role of a defensive stopper first. His offense is at its best when he is just cutting for Rondo's passes or getting his move on some definite occasions.

But I think that last night's game was also one of his worst because he was frustrated of getting killed by Bogut on every possession (you can't blame Perk for not trying, he just can't guard Bogut, too mobile and too strong), so he wanted to get back at him on the other end... the problem is Perk is nowhere near Bogut offensively.

[asiangreen]

Obviously, Perk has some issue in his head and has caused him to play poorly lately. A few posts tried to analyse "why". To me, I believe that he wants an opportunity to show off his offensive skill more. Last year it was him and Rondo who left non-all stars on the starters and he felt he got a friend. This year he's left alone. I believe that he believes that if he got a better offensive stat, he deserves to be one of them. Like Rondo mentioned last month that some players had their own agenda. Perk is one of them.

I like Perk but never be a big fan of him. To me, he is too slow, cannot jump or make FT consistently and always repeats the same mistake, again and again. I didn't look at his number but believe that he one of the worst FT shooters in the leauge. How could he make a FT when he didn't even look at the hoop before shooting. If he just made some more FTs a game, we should have won a couple more close game really. Doc should support him and should tell him frankly that he is just a cat not a tiger so just being a great cat not a bad tiger for the sake of the team.

[wdleehi]

Perk is in a slump.  Happens.


He will get out of it. 

[Bahku]

Let what go to his head?!? All the positive press and accolades that he recieves? (Guess I missed it). Honestly, last season I was ready to trade him in an instant, the year before was even worse. This year he has gotten in better shape and worked hard to improve his game ... I just don't see all this negative stuff in the OP. He's in a short slump like everyone on every team gets into from time-to-time ... they don't last, and neither will this one.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't mind so much Perkins as I mind the team going to him as often as they do. It's ridiculous, and ineffective. Same to dumping the ball to Baby in the post. What is it about this Celtics offensive system that has all the players getting the ball more often than they should in places where they're not effective?

[wdleehi]

I don't mind so much Perkins as I mind the team going to him as often as they do. It's ridiculous, and ineffective. Same to dumping the ball to Baby in the post. What is it about this Celtics offensive system that has all the players getting the ball more often than they should in places where they're not effective?

It makes you wonder.

Are the other three options not working themselves open as often as they used to?  A combination of reduced speed and the other teams having great scouting reports closing the windows that used to be there?   

And when he does get the ball, there rarely is a double team.  Are the other guys doing the work needed to get open again? 



Perk is in a slump and I would expect him to get out of it.

[FatjohnReturns]

Good post. I think it a combination of issues for Perkins. I think the best way for Perk to get outta his slump is too ride the pine for a while.

[wdleehi]

Good post. I think it a combination of issues for Perkins. I think the best way for Perk to get outta his slump is too ride the pine for a while.

How does that help his slump?  He has to play his way out. 

[FatjohnReturns]

Has Perkins let it go to his head?     yea he has.
I think its his attitude right now and I think a stint on the bench would help. Could you move Perkins to the second unit and start Rasheed? 

Bottom line though Perk needs to be professional and ready to play when called upon like House in 08.

[Eddie20]

Last night I couldn't help but think that Perk is trying to be more assertive offensively, instead of concentrating on his strengths, when he demanded the ball in the post vs. Bogut with about a minute to go and while down 4.

Don't really mind if he has good position and/or has a mismatch. However, when you have KG, PP, RA, and Rondo as options a 8-10 foot fade away from Perk really makes me cringe.

[wdleehi]

Has Perkins let it go to his head?     yea he has.
I think its his attitude right now and I think a stint on the bench would help. Could you move Perkins to the second unit and start Rasheed? 

Bottom line though Perk needs to be professional and ready to play when called upon like House in 08.

Now is not the time to start changing the lineup.


The starting 5 is the starting 5.  They need that time on the floor from now to the playoffs to get everyone on the same page.

[FatjohnReturns]

How do you think Perk would respond if Doc played him with the second unit? I think he would play alot better. You can start him again when the playoffs start.  I think the answer to the question is yes though. Being a starter has gone to his head. He wants to be respected with having field goal attempts just like everyone else.

 How do you deal with it? I don't know.

[Q_FBE]

I think he has been one of the victims in the lack of trust and chemistry breakdowns on this team. Plus KG and Rondo helped get him easy chances in the past two years that aren't there now. Plus I think Doc has screwed Perk through his lack of coaching, too.

If anything, Perkins has lost his confidence well the team has lost its mojo. How do go from 23-5 to being a .500 in the EC overnight? Don't tell me injuries. It is a breakdown in the teams performance that cannot be quantified by me or any one else around here.

At least KG is getting p---ed off at the media (instead of Perkins and Rasheed being bored) so perhaps one last Celtics rally is coming (or so we hope).

Benching Perkins is a serious mistake by the way. He is one of our few capable defenders and rebounders remaining.

[Donoghus]

Bogut was definitely in his head last night.  I can't recall Perk having such a bad game in a very long time.  It was extremely frustrating to watch and I really wish Doc had pulled him in that 4th quarter.  He killed us.