Kendrick Perkins Appreciation Thread

[CelticsGuy34]

glad we didnt sign him to 9 mil per year

[OsirusCeltics]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk8VSAcSUIg

My best video

[barefacedmonk]

...

[wdleehi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk8VSAcSUIg

My best video

Because most C in the NBA can defend a SF on the outside. 

[greenpride32]

Perk has really elevated that team down in Oklahoma.  Presti is the best GM in the league

First off I loved Perk when he was a C; but that doesn't mean I thought he was a good player; and he's just average at best.  But how do you possibly credit Perk for elevating OKC???  OKC gave the LAL (you know the eventual championship team) a good run last year all without Perk.  They have a top 3 player in the league and another young stud.  They were pretty much a top 4 seed in the WC all year, pre and post Perk.  Yet somehow Perk is the man behind the rise of OKC?

[barefacedmonk]

I thought this was an "appreciation thread"....there are many threads where you can discuss the trade and criticise the players involved....kind of like the "optimism" thread we have on the blog....you don't see people making "the sky is falling" type of posts in there.

[mgent]

Perk has really elevated that team down in Oklahoma.  Presti is the best GM in the league

First off I loved Perk when he was a C; but that doesn't mean I thought he was a good player; and he's just average at best.  But how do you possibly credit Perk for elevating OKC???  OKC gave the LAL (you know the eventual championship team) a good run last year all without Perk.  They have a top 3 player in the league and another young stud.  They were pretty much a top 4 seed in the WC all year, pre and post Perk.  Yet somehow Perk is the man behind the rise of OKC?

How do you not credit Perk?  OKC had one of the worst frontlines in the league.  He's everything they were missing.  There are plenty of teams in the league that Perk would make a good deal better. 

[GreenFaith1819]

Slightly off-topic, but I was thinking about how much Perk signed for with OKC.

He signed for what? 4 years for 8-9 mil? And he will be 27 in Nov. By the time this contract with OKC is over, he'll be 31.

Yes - on paper - he may not warrant the skills to have that contract from OKC. But if this is probably Perk's last shot at getting anywhere near a Max contract, then he's well worth it, IMO.

I think the Kendrick Perkins we are seeing with OKC may in fact be the one that is on a slight decline right now - even at age 26. He's been in the league for almost 8 years, now - with no college.

Enjoy that contract, Big Fella - you earned it. I think Danny did him a favor by sending him to OKC - IMO, it may not have been prudent going forward for Boston to sign him to that amount of money, but for someone like Perk I'm thankful that it is working out for him.

IMO, his best years were in Green, and I thank him once again for that.

[greenpride32]

Perk has really elevated that team down in Oklahoma.  Presti is the best GM in the league

First off I loved Perk when he was a C; but that doesn't mean I thought he was a good player; and he's just average at best.  But how do you possibly credit Perk for elevating OKC???  OKC gave the LAL (you know the eventual championship team) a good run last year all without Perk.  They have a top 3 player in the league and another young stud.  They were pretty much a top 4 seed in the WC all year, pre and post Perk.  Yet somehow Perk is the man behind the rise of OKC?

How do you not credit Perk?  OKC had one of the worst frontlines in the league.  He's everything they were missing.  There are plenty of teams in the league that Perk would make a good deal better. 

Perk is a team worst -34 in the playoffs.  That means OKC is losing games by a healthy margin when he is on the floor.

[17wasEZ]

Perk has really elevated that team down in Oklahoma.  Presti is the best GM in the league

First off I loved Perk when he was a C; but that doesn't mean I thought he was a good player; and he's just average at best.  But how do you possibly credit Perk for elevating OKC???  OKC gave the LAL (you know the eventual championship team) a good run last year all without Perk.  They have a top 3 player in the league and another young stud.  They were pretty much a top 4 seed in the WC all year, pre and post Perk.  Yet somehow Perk is the man behind the rise of OKC?

You don't think Perk is the man?  After 14 playoff games he is a team worst -34 in the +/- category.  I know that doesn't tell the whole story, but as a Celtic, I loved him no matter what his numbers were. However, like you, I realize that his legend has seemed to grow since game 6 of the NBA finals last year.

Funny thing is, if Perk had never been a Celtic, would anyone even be talking about him (around NBA circles) right now? He is well known because he was a guy who played with the Big 3 and performed efficiently. Right now, after his knee injuries, is he even the 5th or 6th player best player on his own team?

[FLCeltsFan]

Since this is a Perk appreciation thread, I'll express my appreciation.  And please don't attack me for my opinion or thoughts.  It has nothing to do with the trade, good or bad.  It's how I feel about Perk.  

I have been one of Perk's biggest fans since day 1.  Anyone who has read anything I have written over the last 8 years knows that Perk has been my favorite player.  In over 40 years of cheering for the Celtics, I never attached to a player like I have to Perk.  I can't explain it.  Maybe it was because he was so young and raw and I watched him grow up as a Celtic.  But I loved Perk as a player and I loved his work ethic and I loved his attitude.  

Truth is, I still love Perk.  He was my favorite Celtic for 8 years and he is still my favorite player in the league.  I've become a Celtics/Thunder fan since his trade.  I'll always love the Celtics, but when Perk was traded I started following him on the Thunder and really have come to appreciate that team.  Danny did Perk a favor trading him to OKC.  The organization is first class, the players are young and have great character, and they are on their way up, especially now that Perk has added some toughness and leadership to them.  Their fans are awesome and really appreciate having a team in OKC.  

Those who point to Perk's stats in the box score just don't see all that he does for a team.  The things he does to help his team don't always show up in the box score.  The defense at the rim that makes opponents change their shots, the boxing out that allows teammates to get rebounds, the screens that help teammates get open.  The leadership and support for teammates. His toughness and swagger in games.   The fact that he always has his teammates backs.  

I appreciate all that Perk did as a Celtic to help this team win Banner 17.  I appreciate all that he has done as a Celtic over the last 8 years, improving every season.  Playing hard each and every game - never taking a game off.  No, he's not the most athletic center in the league.  He's not a great offensive threat.  But you won't find a player with a bigger heart or harder work ethic in the league. 

I now appreciate what Perk is doing for the Thunder.  He has brought them leadership, swagger, and toughness.  He has helped them to lower their points allowed by 10 ppg.  And he is helping them go farther in the playoffs than they ever expected to this season.   

I love Perk.  I miss him as a Celtic.  And I'll always root for him.

[thirstyboots18]

TP, FL.  Thanks for putting my feelings into words.  People always talked about Larry Bird's work ethic, and now about Ray Allen's, and I agree on those two.  But no one worked harder than Perk in order to make the most of his talents, IMHO.

[paulcowens]

glad we didnt sign him to 9 mil per year

Fine.  So trade him  AFTER THE SEASON IS OVER.  Going into the playoffs with no real starting center and a bench that was completely revamped was nothing short of insane.

[paulcowens]

Perk has really elevated that team down in Oklahoma.  Presti is the best GM in the league

First off I loved Perk when he was a C; but that doesn't mean I thought he was a good player; and he's just average at best.  But how do you possibly credit Perk for elevating OKC???  OKC gave the LAL (you know the eventual championship team) a good run last year all without Perk.  They have a top 3 player in the league and another young stud.  They were pretty much a top 4 seed in the WC all year, pre and post Perk.  Yet somehow Perk is the man behind the rise of OKC?

You don't think Perk is the man?  After 14 playoff games he is a team worst -34 in the +/- category.  I know that doesn't tell the whole story, but as a Celtic, I loved him no matter what his numbers were. However, like you, I realize that his legend has seemed to grow since game 6 of the NBA finals last year.

Funny thing is, if Perk had never been a Celtic, would anyone even be talking about him (around NBA circles) right now? He is well known because he was a guy who played with the Big 3 and performed efficiently. Right now, after his knee injuries, is he even the 5th or 6th player best player on his own team?

How has his legend grown?  No one is saying he is an alltime great center!   So far as I know, all anyone is saying is that he clearly solidified OKC's front line, and brought a bunch of needed intangibles.  No one is pretending for a moment that he outshines Durant, or Westbrook, or even Harden, or probably even Ibaka ... I'm not sure anyone would even rate him over Collison at this point, EXCEPT  that he gives OKC something it needs.

And we needed it too.   

[mc34]

Slightly off-topic, but I was thinking about how much Perk signed for with OKC.

He signed for what? 4 years for 8-9 mil? And he will be 27 in Nov. By the time this contract with OKC is over, he'll be 31.

Yes - on paper - he may not warrant the skills to have that contract from OKC. But if this is probably Perk's last shot at getting anywhere near a Max contract, then he's well worth it, IMO.

I think the Kendrick Perkins we are seeing with OKC may in fact be the one that is on a slight decline right now - even at age 26. He's been in the league for almost 8 years, now - with no college.

Enjoy that contract, Big Fella - you earned it. I think Danny did him a favor by sending him to OKC - IMO, it may not have been prudent going forward for Boston to sign him to that amount of money, but for someone like Perk I'm thankful that it is working out for him.

IMO, his best years were in Green, and I thank him once again for that.

Its possible, but I disagree. I'm thinking that Perk's decline in production this year is a result of being less than a year removed from some really major knee surgeries. Back in the 2010 season his offensive game was noticeably improving, and he was always a top-notch defender. I think in a year or two we'll see Perk back at his pre-injury levels