is kendrick perkins a top 10 center?

[Texstyles]

Here is a question to ask.  Who is the better Center on OKC ?
Perkins or Mohammed ?

Perkins
2010-11 Statistics 
PPG 7.3 
RPG 8.1 
APG 0.8 
SPG 0.2 
BPG 0.8 
FG% 0.542 
FT% 0.575 
3P% 0.000 
MPG 26.1

 
Mohammed
2010-11 Statistics 
PPG 7.3 
RPG 4.9 
APG 0.3 
SPG 0.3 
BPG 0.9 
FG% 0.502 
FT% 0.591 
3P% 0.000 
MPG 16.7 

[droponov]

Here is a question to ask.  Who is the better Center on OKC ?
Perkins or Mohammed ?

Perkins
2010-11 Statistics 
PPG 7.3 
RPG 8.1 
APG 0.8 
SPG 0.2 
BPG 0.8 
FG% 0.542 
FT% 0.575 
3P% 0.000 
MPG 26.1

 
Mohammed
2010-11 Statistics 
PPG 7.3 
RPG 4.9 
APG 0.3 
SPG 0.3 
BPG 0.9 
FG% 0.502 
FT% 0.591 
3P% 0.000 
MPG 16.7 

Perkins by a mile. Mohammed is a very good, excellent, backup though. Perkins is a much better defender (especially next to a bumpy and quick Ibaka).

Perkins is not that inept offensively. His turnover rate is problematic, but he's a very efficient garbage man who'll play within his limits, set awesome picks and make good passes. We're not talking about Joel Anthony, Dan Gadzuric, DeSagana Dipo or Eric Dampier here.

[droponov]

Better than Perkins:
Dwight Howard
Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bynum
Pau Gasol
Tim Duncan
Tyson Chandler
Nene
Al Horford
Joakim Noah
Anderson Varejao
Marc Gasol?
Marcin Gortat?

Similar to Perkins (players who are better in some situations, for some teams, worse in others - for the Celtics, Perkins' contributions are more valuable):
Roy Hibbert
Chris Kamman
Brook Lopez
Al Jefferson

Similar in value:
Gortat, Gasol, Emeka Okafor, Marcus Camby?

Role-players like Perkins and most of these guys are so much about fit and having the right skill-set for the situation that these rankings are a bit useless, but I'd say he's around the 15th best center in the league.

solid assessment. Although, I think that you're under rating Roy Hibbert, who after as many years exp as Perk will be waaay better. Also, Brook Lopez is a very, very good offensive center. It's hard to say if Perk's defense trumps Lopez's overall game.

I agree about Hibbert. He's improved his defense and rebounding quite a bit this season. But he's still so inconsistent offensively that in my view he still isn't at Perkins level. Hurts his team more than helps too often. And I was comparing current production only; there are other guys who'll be better than Perkins in the future.

Lopez, I think he has an undeserved reputation. Same situation with Hibbert, he'll probably be better... but so far, he hasn't been. Awful rebounding, black hole, inconsistent defense, inefficient scoring, too many jumpers. Once he plays like the player he's supposed to be, I'll move him up in the list.

[BballTim]

Here is a question to ask.  Who is the better Center on OKC ?
Perkins or Mohammed ?

Perkins
2010-11 Statistics 
PPG 7.3 
RPG 8.1 
APG 0.8 
SPG 0.2 
BPG 0.8 
FG% 0.542 
FT% 0.575 
3P% 0.000 
MPG 26.1

 
Mohammed
2010-11 Statistics 
PPG 7.3 
RPG 4.9 
APG 0.3 
SPG 0.3 
BPG 0.9 
FG% 0.502 
FT% 0.591 
3P% 0.000 
MPG 16.7 

  Perk is a much better defender. That's mainly what they were looking for (besides rebounding).

[ManUp]

No, probably not, atleast not from a talent and skills perspective. With Perk it's not about talent it's about fit and style of play. Out of all those centers listed almost none of them are a true physical defensive presence. Perk can man handle and shutdown almost all of those guys on that list. By basically punking them and pushing them around. His physicality is what sets him a part.

 With this team the pieces just fit together so very nicely. Everyone in our starting lineup brought something different and unique to the floor. In my opinion, our starting lineup was equipped to play any style of basketball and win because of the balance.  When we lost Perk we lost a bit of that balance. Shaq brings a similar type of balance, but he can't always be counted on, defensively or health wise. 

[Eja117]

No, of course not. He's more like top 4 or 5.  Ask D Howard.

[CelticG1]

No, of course not. He's more like top 4 or 5.  Ask D Howard.

Dwight Howard isn't a good offensive player. Everybody on this board makes fun of his non-existent post moves. Perk always has trouble against any skilled big man.

And Dwight Howard averaged 20 and 10 in last years ECF. Not exactly being shut down. And on Christmas day without Perk Howard had what 2 points?

[dpaps]

No, of course not. He's more like top 4 or 5.  Ask D Howard.

I mean first of all, if you think he's top 4 or 5, you're answer should be yes, not no.

People overrate Perk's D on Dwight. Yes, Perk does an excellent job on him, but so does Big Baby. So did Sheed. So does Shaq most of the time. As long as Dwight can't simply overpower you, he's not gonna beat you with post moves. Baby uses his lower body strength to keep Dwight away from the hoop and then Dwight will hit his little hook shot like a quarter of the time.

[BballTim]

No, of course not. He's more like top 4 or 5.  Ask D Howard.

Dwight Howard isn't a good offensive player. Everybody on this board makes fun of his non-existent post moves. Perk always has trouble against any skilled big man.

And Dwight Howard averaged 20 and 10 in last years ECF. Not exactly being shut down. And on Christmas day without Perk Howard had what 2 points?

  Howard is a career 58% shooter who shoots 52% against the celts in games Perk plays. That's pretty significant, the difference between being among the league leaders and middle of the pack.

[Jay G]

Howard, Bogut, Horford, Noah, Nene, Duncan, Camby, Chandler, P.Gasol, B.Lopez, Okafor, Gortat, Dalembert, Cousins, M.Gasol, Darko, Kwame, Biedrins, Kaman, Sideshow Bob...

gortat? dalembert? marc gasol? darko? kwame? biedrins? kaman?

hell no! people underrate defense so much in the nba. perk's (the way he was playing last year) defense is much more important to a championship contender than what any of those centers could bring to the table. i wouldnt take any of those 7 players on the celts over perk. dalembert maybe, i havent seen him play inna while. same with marc gasol.

[dpaps]

Howard, Bogut, Horford, Noah, Nene, Duncan, Camby, Chandler, P.Gasol, B.Lopez, Okafor, Gortat, Dalembert, Cousins, M.Gasol, Darko, Kwame, Biedrins, Kaman, Sideshow Bob...

gortat? dalembert? marc gasol? darko? kwame? biedrins? kaman?

hell no! people underrate defense so much in the nba. perk's (the way he was playing last year) defense is much more important to a championship contender than what any of those centers could bring to the table. i wouldnt take any of those 7 players on the celts over perk. dalembert maybe, i havent seen him play inna while. same with marc gasol.

I think Marc Gasol definitely is. He's really good offensively and a big body who can also clog the lane. Perk is definitely better than him defensively, but I think Marc is better overall.

[CelticG1]

No, of course not. He's more like top 4 or 5.  Ask D Howard.

Dwight Howard isn't a good offensive player. Everybody on this board makes fun of his non-existent post moves. Perk always has trouble against any skilled big man.

And Dwight Howard averaged 20 and 10 in last years ECF. Not exactly being shut down. And on Christmas day without Perk Howard had what 2 points?

  Howard is a career 58% shooter who shoots 52% against the celts in games Perk plays. That's pretty significant, the difference between being among the league leaders and middle of the pack.

52% middle of the pack?

Anyway our defense has always been about team defense. It's not about 1 on 1. Perk is a piece of the puzzle when guarding Dwight. Last year Rasheed, Baby, and KG were also a part of that equation. it's about throwing bodies at Dwight and wearing him down, not one guy defending him

I'm not scared of Dwight Howard at all in a series. If you really think we can't beat the Magic without Perk I think thats a little ridiculous. And if you do think we can win than it's not that big a deal losing  him.

Who else does Perk guard so well anyway? Tony Allen guarded Kobe well,why weren't more people a fan of his? They both get bone headed turnovers all the time and both are a liability on offense.

[homericepisode]

No, of course not. He's more like top 4 or 5.  Ask D Howard.

Dwight Howard isn't a good offensive player. Everybody on this board makes fun of his non-existent post moves. Perk always has trouble against any skilled big man.

And Dwight Howard averaged 20 and 10 in last years ECF. Not exactly being shut down. And on Christmas day without Perk Howard had what 2 points?

  Howard is a career 58% shooter who shoots 52% against the celts in games Perk plays. That's pretty significant, the difference between being among the league leaders and middle of the pack.

52% middle of the pack?

Anyway our defense has always been about team defense. It's not about 1 on 1. Perk is a piece of the puzzle when guarding Dwight. Last year Rasheed, Baby, and KG were also a part of that equation. it's about throwing bodies at Dwight and wearing him down, not one guy defending him

I'm not scared of Dwight Howard at all in a series. If you really think we can't beat the Magic without Perk I think thats a little ridiculous. And if you do think we can win than it's not that big a deal losing  him.

Who else does Perk guard so well anyway? Tony Allen guarded Kobe well,why weren't more people a fan of his? They both get bone headed turnovers all the time and both are a liability on offense.

Totally agree. The other problem is, no matter how good they are defensively, they usually can't stay on the floor because of foul trouble. To be honest, I can't believe Perk was playing 30 min a game--I was more surprised he wasn't in foul trouble than I was amazed at his fast recovery.