When will Perkins shift back into the Starting Lineup?

[Fafnir]

Soon. Also, when will give Semih more burn again? Seems like Perk has consumed all of his minutes. If Shaq continues to struggle, I would sit him more to get healthier, and give Semih some minutes.

Semih won't get minutes if Perkins/Shaq are both healthy unless we have severe foul trouble.

Doc is going to play Shaq/Perkins for around 40-44 minutes at C if possible, then he'll use BBD for the rest.

I'm all for resting Shaq some later in the season, try to get him some slightly fresher legs for the playoff run.

[pearljammer10]

At times Shaq has played the role of the best first quarter player in the NBA. I like him in the starting line up to get a few touches early while hes fresh and try to get the opposing big man into foul trouble. Let Perk play the majority of the minutes but he doesnt need to start necessarily. I think we can get a nice rotation going between the big men. And Perk seems to be doing quite alright off the bench currently. Perk's averaging great numbers off the bench but I et he wants to be a starter because its his contract year.

[CNYCeltsfan]

perk should look to McHale for his role this year.  Let someone else start, come off the bench and play aggressive defense and finish the games.  I would dare say he could even get more looks on offense with the second unit playing against weaker NBA Centers and up his contract value.  Shaq next year fades back to bench, perk signs and we build the post big 3 era around BBD, Perk, and Rondo.

Perk better look at Tony Allen and how he is doing away from Celtic Green.  Chasing starter minutes is not a guarantee to the ultimate pay day you hope to get.

[wdleehi]

perk should look to McHale for his role this year.  Let someone else start, come off the bench and play aggressive defense and finish the games.  I would dare say he could even get more looks on offense with the second unit playing against weaker NBA Centers and up his contract value.  Shaq next year fades back to bench, perk signs and we build the post big 3 era around BBD, Perk, and Rondo.

Perk better look at Tony Allen and how he is doing away from Celtic Green.  Chasing starter minutes is not a guarantee to the ultimate pay day you hope to get.

Perk is not chasing starter minutes.  He has been the starter for a title team.


Perk only leaves if someone offers a lot more money then the Celtics.

[ScoobyDoo]

I think we'll be fine with either Perk or Shaq starting but I prefer Shaq as a starter for this season.

1. Shaq is ultimately probably happier as a starter. Not that that really matters if you're the coach, but it's good for the team overall if this is the case.

2. Perkins just came off a very serious injury. He is playing very well. But Perkins will be here with the Celts long term. Start Shaq, get as many minutes out of him as we can, let Perkins come along slowly and without "starter pressure".

3. I like Shaq's flow with the first team, I think as someone said, he helps get some early fouls on the other team and benefits greatly from open looks off KG, PP and Ray, as well as Rondo's wizardry.

4. I REALLY like the energy, youth and toughness a "Perkins - Baby" combo brings off the bench to hammer other teams second units. What's better is if Baby does stay around after this year, we are putting Perk and baby together for good minutes now to ehlp them build on court chemistry together.

5. I agree with what someone else said as well - Shaq is probably banged up right now. Play Perkins and Semih for 3-4 games, let him rest. Maybe nbring him back for the Lakers game. Here's the kicker though, I'd start Semih and still bring Perkins off the bench.

I just like Perkins coming off the bench for this year. I think it's pretty intimidating for the other team.

Perkins
Baby
Daniels
Dwest
Nate

Very nice...
   

   

[clover]

I think we'll be fine with either Perk or Shaq starting but I prefer Shaq as a starter for this season.

1. Shaq is ultimately probably happier as a starter. Not that that really matters if you're the coach, but it's good for the team overall if this is the case.

2. Perkins just came off a very serious injury. He is playing very well. But Perkins will be here with the Celts long term. Start Shaq, get as many minutes out of him as we can, let Perkins come along slowly and without "starter pressure".

3. I like Shaq's flow with the first team, I think as someone said, he helps get some early fouls on the other team and benefits greatly from open looks off KG, PP and Ray, as well as Rondo's wizardry.

4. I REALLY like the energy, youth and toughness a "Perkins - Baby" combo brings off the bench to hammer other teams second units. What's better is if Baby does stay around after this year, we are putting Perk and baby together for good minutes now to ehlp them build on court chemistry together.

5. I agree with what someone else said as well - Shaq is probably banged up right now. Play Perkins and Semih for 3-4 games, let him rest. Maybe nbring him back for the Lakers game. Here's the kicker though, I'd start Semih and still bring Perkins off the bench.

I just like Perkins coming off the bench for this year. I think it's pretty intimidating for the other team.

Perkins
Baby
Daniels
Dwest
Nate

Very nice...
   

   

Do you actually believe Perk and Baby are a championship-caliber starting front-court in the future?

[CelticG1]

I'm not sure how I feel about either Perk or Shaq starting. It makes sense to start either of them and there are arguments for both sides.

I think what will end up happening is who plays the most effective with the second unit. I think regardless we can all say that Perk will definitely get the bulk of the minutes. As far as who plays to start the game (which I still don't see why people get hung up on starting when Perk is coming in 3 or 4 minutes into the game anyway) it really doesn't matter because both Perk and Shaq are 5th options and have both proved that they play very well with the starters.

Once we see who plays well with the second unit then that should determine who starts

[Ersatz]

The C's can force the ball to Shaq early and get quick fouls on the opposing big men.

This seems logical, but I don't recall it really happening. The fact that the Cs shoot just about the fewest number of free throws in the league indicates that Shaq's making other teams foul him is not really happening, and neither is it having much of a tangible impact on us getting to the line more.

[wdleehi]

The C's can force the ball to Shaq early and get quick fouls on the opposing big men.

This seems logical, but I don't recall it really happening. The fact that the Cs shoot just about the fewest number of free throws in the league indicates that Shaq's making other teams foul him is not really happening, and neither is it having much of a tangible impact on us getting to the line more.

Because Shaq is the 4th or 5th option with the starters.


Off the bench, he becomes a primary option with the reserves.

[Ersatz]

Have we seen Shaq coming off the bench this year?  

No. The only time I remember him playing much with the bench was that second quarter against Jersey when he and the rest of them blew the game open.

How do we know he isn't going to be productive off the bench?

I understand the concerns about his P&R defense and not having KG to cover for him, but keep in mind that if he comes off the bench, he will be playing largely against second units and much inferior big men. That is, offensively, they are less of a threat, and I can also imagine Shaq talking second-string centers to school.

Just this morning, I was imagining Doc trotting out a bench unit of West, Robinson, Daniels, Baby, and Shaq, giving the starters more rest and more time on the court as a unit. That excites me.

Perk should start.  He is the better player at this point.  

Yup.

[Ersatz]

Because Shaq is the 4th or 5th option with the starters.

Off the bench, he becomes a primary option with the reserves.

Fully agree. He can draw fouls when, e.g., Ryan Anderson or Brandon Bass is trying to guard him while Dwight Howard rests. Shaq's never getting calls against Howard anyway.

[Fafnir]

The C's can force the ball to Shaq early and get quick fouls on the opposing big men.

This seems logical, but I don't recall it really happening. The fact that the Cs shoot just about the fewest number of free throws in the league indicates that Shaq's making other teams foul him is not really happening, and neither is it having much of a tangible impact on us getting to the line more.

Last year the C's were at .248 FTA/FGA, good for 6th in the league.

This year the C's are at .219 FTA/FGA, 23rd in the league.

The main culprits are in fact Rondo and Pierce not Shaq. Shaq is getting 3.6 per game which is a lot given his limited minutes.

Pierce is getting to the line 1.1 less times per game and Rondo is getting to the line 1.8 less times per game. That adds up to a lot, if they were getting to the line an extra three times per game the C's FTA/FGA rate would be around what it was last year.

Rondo's lack of agression is one of the big reasons why the C's numbers are down.

[celts55]

I don't know who first said it, but there's an old saying;

It doesn't matter who starts the game, it's who finishes it.

[BballTim]

The C's can force the ball to Shaq early and get quick fouls on the opposing big men.

This seems logical, but I don't recall it really happening. The fact that the Cs shoot just about the fewest number of free throws in the league indicates that Shaq's making other teams foul him is not really happening, and neither is it having much of a tangible impact on us getting to the line more.

Last year the C's were at .248 FTA/FGA, good for 6th in the league.

This year the C's are at .219 FTA/FGA, 23rd in the league.

The main culprits are in fact Rondo and Pierce not Shaq. Shaq is getting 3.6 per game which is a lot given his limited minutes.

Pierce is getting to the line 1.1 less times per game and Rondo is getting to the line 1.8 less times per game. That adds up to a lot, if they were getting to the line an extra three times per game the C's FTA/FGA rate would be around what it was last year.

Rondo's lack of agression is one of the big reasons why the C's numbers are down.

  Rondo's lack of aggression (passing more and shooting less) is also the biggest reason we have our highest TS% since the big three arrived.

[thirstyboots18]

I don't know who first said it, but there's an old saying;

It doesn't matter who starts the game, it's who finishes it.

I don't know if it originated with him (I kind of think it may have), but Red said it and used it in one of his books (it might have been "On and Off the Court" or "Let Me Tell You a Story"...of course, I cant's find the quote  now  n:-\ .