Offense Seems Soooooo Much Better With Shaq

[Bankshot]

Not many dropped passes, multiple moving screens a game, or getting stripped by bringing the ball down.  All those fumbled passes, etc. are turning into easy points with Shaq. Loving it!

Note:  I am NOT saying I want to be rid of Perk, because I don't.  Just stating how much better the offense is with Shaq.  Hopefully Perk can learn a thing or two from Shaq.

[Fafnir]

I don't think Perkins can learn much from Shaq other than his excellent footwork.

What Shaq does at this point in his career is based on his massive size, length, and huge hands.

[the_Bird]

Forget Perk versus Shaq.  The Big Fella gives the offense a dimension it was solely lacking last year, someone down low that Rondo can dump it into who's going to get two points (or two free throws) 90% of the time.  It's easy to fall into a habit of just shooting jump shots when the team's full of jump shooters.

[Greenbean]

I don't think Perkins can learn much from Shaq other than his excellent footwork.

What Shaq does at this point in his career is based on his massive size, length, and huge hands.

It really is amazing how much he can offer considering he has almost zero of the athletic ability he used to have. Just a humongous human being.

[Birdbrain]

No doubt.  Shaq is the perfect fit for this team.  His only problem will be defending against the quicker Centers in the league causing him to get into early foul trouble.  But if everything goes well come playoff time the big man rotation will be out of this world.  When you add that to the myriad of scorers in both the starting and 2nd string lineups I have to wonder how they could ever lose a game.  They will of course but, if you just took LA and Boston as presently constituted you would give arguably 4 of 5 starters to Boston and the bench is no contest.  Save your Gasol comments for someone that doesn't play crazy defense like KG.  This isn't last year he's in full '08 mode baby.  

I'm giddy, Go C's.

[Bankshot]

Forget Perk versus Shaq.  The Big Fella gives the offense a dimension it was solely lacking last year, someone down low that Rondo can dump it into who's going to get two points (or two free throws) 90% of the time.  It's easy to fall into a habit of just shooting jump shots when the team's full of jump shooters.

Perk and Rondo are not jumpshooters.  Perk could do some of what Shaq does if he stopped dropping passes, bringing the ball down, etc. He won't clog the paint and be as big a target as Shaq, but there are some things he SHOULD be better at by now to help the offense flow better.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I was a big advocate of signing Shaq for this very reason.  We all knew he was going to struggle in particular defensive situations (mostly the pick & roll), but Perkins on offense is very frustrating.  For all of the fundamentals that they've taught Perkins, it blows my mind that he still brings the ball down low and takes an eternity just to "gather" himself before going up for a shot. 

With the Celtics slow & methodical style offense, Shaq fits right in.  And he's doing an even better job of rebounding than I had anticipated too, which is nice to see.

Also, don't underestimate how much he's helped relax the clubhouse a bit and perhaps open lines of communication.  And to think, he's making far less than just about everyone else on the team!!

[kozlodoev]

Not many dropped passes, multiple moving screens a game, or getting stripped by bringing the ball down.  All those fumbled passes, etc. are turning into easy points with Shaq. Loving it!

Note:  I am NOT saying I want to be rid of Perk, because I don't.  Just stating how much better the offense is with Shaq.  Hopefully Perk can learn a thing or two from Shaq.

On the other hand, the field goal defense has moved from being top of the league to being decidedly average.

[Fafnir]

Not many dropped passes, multiple moving screens a game, or getting stripped by bringing the ball down.  All those fumbled passes, etc. are turning into easy points with Shaq. Loving it!

Note:  I am NOT saying I want to be rid of Perk, because I don't.  Just stating how much better the offense is with Shaq.  Hopefully Perk can learn a thing or two from Shaq.

On the other hand, the field goal defense has moved from being top of the league to being decidedly average.

We're not average currently the C's rank 7th in eFG% at .485. Last year we were 9th for the season at eFG% .487.

[the_Bird]

Forget Perk versus Shaq.  The Big Fella gives the offense a dimension it was solely lacking last year, someone down low that Rondo can dump it into who's going to get two points (or two free throws) 90% of the time.  It's easy to fall into a habit of just shooting jump shots when the team's full of jump shooters.

Perk and Rondo are not jumpshooters.  Perk could do some of what Shaq does if he stopped dropping passes, bringing the ball down, etc. He won't clog the paint and be as big a target as Shaq, but there are some things he SHOULD be better at by now to help the offense flow better.

They ain't shooters at all.  Point is, last season there were a lot of times when the scorers on the floor were all reverting to jump shots.  Guys like Rondo and Pierce can and do drive to the rim, but Rondo's often not looking to score and Pierce still sometimes becomes too happy with the jumper.

Whether Perk *could* do the things Shaq does if he didn't drop passes, etc, is irrelevant since he's been in the league for what, seven seasons and is still doing those things.  Perk's never going to be a consistent inside scorer, that's fine, that's not his game.

Point is that there were many times last year when - for whatever reason - we didn't have any inside game to speak of.  KG shooting jumpers.  BBD shooting jumpers.  Pierce not driving.  Rondo not looking to score.  Ray shooting jumpers.  

Didn't have someone who can do what Shaq does - drop the ball in down low and let them get two points.

Adds an element to the offense that's been lacking.

[pearljammer10]

Hopefully Perk is taking some offensive notes while he is chillin on the bench. Shaq seems to always be in the right place at the right time and is very good with decision making when he gets the ball in his hands. Perk puts the ball on the floor waaaaay too much when he gets the ball under the rim on offense. he is powerful enough to catch or rebound, gather without dribbling, and slam it home like we have seen Shaq do.

[Fafnir]

he is powerful enough to catch or rebound, gather without dribbling, and slam it home like we have seen Shaq do.

Shaq is much taller, bigger, longer, and has better (bigger mostly) hands than Perkins.

I'd love for Perkins to be able to do what Shaq does, but its not in the cards.

Now he could keep the ball high and just get his shot up or dunk more often. But at some point a player is who he is. I'm hopeful that Perkins can get to where he was in the first half of last season. He was moving better on offense and defense and shooting a league high FG%. Then his knee started bothering him....

[Eddie20]

Offensively speaking, Perk(who I love for what he does bring) is also a main reason as to why we've struggled vs certain team in the past. Take the Hawks for instance. They can easily put Horford (who is a PF playing the 5) on Perk and have no fear whatsoever that Perk could take advantage of him. However, in those 20 minutes that Shaq plays, Horford better get help in the post because if not it's either going to be very easy shots or very quick fouls.

[Greenbean]

Hopefully Perk is taking some offensive notes while he is chillin on the bench. Shaq seems to always be in the right place at the right time and is very good with decision making when he gets the ball in his hands. Perk puts the ball on the floor waaaaay too much when he gets the ball under the rim on offense. he is powerful enough to catch or rebound, gather without dribbling, and slam it home like we have seen Shaq do.

Perk is huge, but Shaq is just so much bigger. I would love to compare the two in person. Shaq just takes up so much space. Maybe Perk can carve out space with his frame but there is a reason Shaq can still do it at his age. He is bigger than everyone else.

[Spicoli]

Great thread. I've been thinking the exact same thing. Perk is a decent player, and he compliments the other starters pretty well, but Shaq just fits so much better. We now have 5 guys who can score the ball. Shaq is pretty much getting single coverage, and getting himself open underneath. With a man his size, and with his amazing finishing ability, that's an automatic two points every single time. That could never be said of Perkins. Even when Perk gets fully healthy, i would still prefer Shaq to be the starter.