Danny: "Jeff Green could be a better defender than Perk Right Now and in future"

[ForexPirate]

Green just came from an offensively oriented team to a defensively oriented team.  Give him a chance to live, eat and breathe defense and with his athletic abilities he will be a beast on defense.  The team he was on since being in the nba has not focused on D as their cornerstone. 

[Marcus13]

Well sure, Ray Allen is a better defender than Perkins too...in the sense that he can stay in front of a SG better than Perk.

Ridiculous

[droponov]

If the trade had not happened and Sam Presti said something like this, everybody would laugh at it and call him crazy. And rightly so, it's a laughable statement.

I thought Perkins looked fairly decent in the games he played. Not at his top level, that would be impossible, but better than one would expect for a player coming off surgery at the middle of the season.

[Kane3387]

I've been very impressed with Green's defense since he's been here.  He seems to be even a bit taller than listed height.  Has very good foot speed and a quick jumper and reads passing lanes well.  I think the perk thing might be a bit easier to figure.  Finally (finally) Dwight Howard has improved his offensive game.  He is no longer a great athlete in a megatron body with a basketball.  Howard is showing that he is probably on his way to an mvp award in the coming years.  So basically Perk and all the starting centers in the nba will not be able to keep him in control.  The rest of orlando isn't that good, so let dwight score and dare someone else to beat you ala bulls early on.  Danny got a center that is nowhere near as good on low post defense against howard BUT howard will have to move away from the hoop or our sharp shooting serb will kill him.  
See where this is going, howard is looking like a 25 pt 10 rb guy, pull him away from the hoop out of rebounding area and either we get offensive rebounds OR lanes open and he isn't around to block shots.  The phoenix game, I don't know if it was their bad defense, but the lanes and passing was great.
I think our team makes tough matchups for other teams, we are that good we don't really have to change our setups to adjust to other teams good players.  Five starters have to be covered (think shaq), our 2nd unit has krstic, davis, green and dwest that have to be covered.  Danny has given the celts LOTS of weapons.

Green is a big SF... He's only a little smaller then Amare.

Watched them guard each other last year and greens frame is just a little smaller than STATs is.

[birdwatcher]

Perk is  bit overrated as a one on one defender. He's a great help defender because he understands where he and all his teammates need to be on the floor, and knows the rotations as much as KG. To says he's one of the best defenders at his position is just kind of a farce because there's just not that many great players in the league at his position. As far as true centers go, you can pretty much count on 1 hand who they are, and he won't hold his man to single digit point and rebound games very often, if at all. He is not the second coming of Ben Wallace. Having a good game against Robin Lopez or Joel Pryzbylla or Ronnie Turiaf does not impress me at all. He has had good games against good centers, but it's obvious that he gets lots of help in instances like the Orlando game when Howard has a very productive first half, but is a non factor in the second half. Not because Perk is a immovable force, but because Doc steps up the perimeter defense. When you have guys like Rondo, Pierce and Ray bothering the ballhandler on the perimeter it really helps Perk deny the ball. Perk can body up all day, but if you have one of those three, and even KG who flashes out and "shows" a lot, it's really hard for whoever has the ball to even get a pass into the post. The help defense isn't just in the post, it starts on the perimeter. As far as Perk goes, we will see in a few weeks just how good of a one-on-one defender he is when he's playing outside of the Celtics defensive system. Serge Ibaka will help him, but is he KG? Perk is no Ben Wallace--another very limited offensive player who was a shut down center and won three or four defensive player of the year awards. Perk has 0, and there's a good chance he will never win one.

Green has the tools, the IQ, the youth and soon, the opportunity. But the jury is still out on whether he will be an elite defensive player on our team--that too we will find out in the coming weeks.

[droponov]

He has had good games against good centers, but it's obvious that he gets lots of help in instances like the Orlando game when Howard has a very productive first half, but is a non factor in the second half. Not because Perk is a immovable force, but because Doc steps up the perimeter defense. When you have guys like Rondo, Pierce and Ray bothering the ballhandler on the perimeter it really helps Perk deny the ball.

What?

The reason Perkins defense is so valuable against the likes of Howard is because he's able to slow him down without the need for doubles.

By not sending doubles to stop Howard in the low post, Boston was able to stay at home with Orlando's perimeter players/shooters, severely limiting their production.

The value Perkins adds to a team like the Thunder is easy to understand: in their last game vs. the Lakers, Gasol and Bynum scored 34 points in 20 shots. It was easier for them to establish position deep, almost under the basket, seal their man and get an high percentage shot over a smaller defender. With Perkins there, this wouldn't and won't happen.

[BudweiserCeltic]

He has had good games against good centers, but it's obvious that he gets lots of help in instances like the Orlando game when Howard has a very productive first half, but is a non factor in the second half. Not because Perk is a immovable force, but because Doc steps up the perimeter defense. When you have guys like Rondo, Pierce and Ray bothering the ballhandler on the perimeter it really helps Perk deny the ball.

What?

The reason Perkins defense is so valuable against the likes of Howard is because he's able to slow him down without the need for doubles.

By not sending doubles to stop Howard in the low post, Boston was able to stay at home with Orlando's perimeter players/shooters, severely limiting their production.

The value Perkins adds to a team like the Thunder is easy to understand: in their last game vs. the Lakers, Gasol and Bynum scored 34 points in 20 shots. It was easier for them to establish position deep, almost under the basket, seal their man and get an high percentage shot over a smaller defender. With Perkins there, this wouldn't and won't happen.

You got short term memory? How about 33 points in 20 shots? And 46 in 20 shots?

Because yes, under a year ago, that happened to us with Perkins playing. And no, it wasn't game 7.

[vinnie]

Awful spin. These are the things Danny says that make me not totally embrace him. What a joke.

I also echo what mgent posted -- has Danny ever been wrong? Not saying he will be wrong with this trade and I do think he has done a solid Job.  However, his skills as a president/GM are only overshadowed by his arrogance.  But, sometimes you have to be arrogant to be good.

[birdwatcher]

What?

The reason Perkins defense is so valuable against the likes of Howard is because he's able to slow him down without the need for doubles.

[/quote]

I didn't say they double teamed him. That was my point. The Ball pressure on the ball handlers when trying to make entry passes helps Perk. He's not out there fronting Howard in the post and denying the basketball--the perimeter defenders do the denying for him.

Yes having size and girth will help OKC, but if they don't have the same type of help defense in the post that we have, Perk will be in foul trouble a lot, which he typically is anyway.

[GreenBlood23]

He has had good games against good centers, but it's obvious that he gets lots of help in instances like the Orlando game when Howard has a very productive first half, but is a non factor in the second half. Not because Perk is a immovable force, but because Doc steps up the perimeter defense. When you have guys like Rondo, Pierce and Ray bothering the ballhandler on the perimeter it really helps Perk deny the ball.

What?

The reason Perkins defense is so valuable against the likes of Howard is because he's able to slow him down without the need for doubles.

By not sending doubles to stop Howard in the low post, Boston was able to stay at home with Orlando's perimeter players/shooters, severely limiting their production.

The value Perkins adds to a team like the Thunder is easy to understand: in their last game vs. the Lakers, Gasol and Bynum scored 34 points in 20 shots. It was easier for them to establish position deep, almost under the basket, seal their man and get an high percentage shot over a smaller defender. With Perkins there, this wouldn't and won't happen.

You got short term memory? How about 33 points in 20 shots? And 46 in 20 shots?

Because yes, under a year ago, that happened to us with Perkins playing. And no, it wasn't game 7.

Lol I agree, and its really more of DOC picking his poisons.

[BballTim]

He has had good games against good centers, but it's obvious that he gets lots of help in instances like the Orlando game when Howard has a very productive first half, but is a non factor in the second half. Not because Perk is a immovable force, but because Doc steps up the perimeter defense. When you have guys like Rondo, Pierce and Ray bothering the ballhandler on the perimeter it really helps Perk deny the ball.

What?

The reason Perkins defense is so valuable against the likes of Howard is because he's able to slow him down without the need for doubles.

By not sending doubles to stop Howard in the low post, Boston was able to stay at home with Orlando's perimeter players/shooters, severely limiting their production.

The value Perkins adds to a team like the Thunder is easy to understand: in their last game vs. the Lakers, Gasol and Bynum scored 34 points in 20 shots. It was easier for them to establish position deep, almost under the basket, seal their man and get an high percentage shot over a smaller defender. With Perkins there, this wouldn't and won't happen.

You got short term memory? How about 33 points in 20 shots? And 46 in 20 shots?

Because yes, under a year ago, that happened to us with Perkins playing. And no, it wasn't game 7.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/columns/story?columnist=lundblad_jeremy&id=6156817

  "In that span, Perkins established himself as an elite post defender. He ranked third in both 2007-08 and 2008-09 in points allowed per play in post-up situations. Last season, he was sixth."

  "Perkins was the Celtics' best answer for Howard, winning the battle in the post. Since 2007-08, Howard is averaging 0.89 points per play when posting up and shooting 48.9 percent. But against Perkins, those numbers plummet to 0.62 PPP and 34.8 field goal percentage. Already one of the best post defenders in the game, Perkins only gets better against Howard."

[Jon]

He has had good games against good centers, but it's obvious that he gets lots of help in instances like the Orlando game when Howard has a very productive first half, but is a non factor in the second half. Not because Perk is a immovable force, but because Doc steps up the perimeter defense. When you have guys like Rondo, Pierce and Ray bothering the ballhandler on the perimeter it really helps Perk deny the ball.

What?

The reason Perkins defense is so valuable against the likes of Howard is because he's able to slow him down without the need for doubles.

By not sending doubles to stop Howard in the low post, Boston was able to stay at home with Orlando's perimeter players/shooters, severely limiting their production.

The value Perkins adds to a team like the Thunder is easy to understand: in their last game vs. the Lakers, Gasol and Bynum scored 34 points in 20 shots. It was easier for them to establish position deep, almost under the basket, seal their man and get an high percentage shot over a smaller defender. With Perkins there, this wouldn't and won't happen.

You got short term memory? How about 33 points in 20 shots? And 46 in 20 shots?

Because yes, under a year ago, that happened to us with Perkins playing. And no, it wasn't game 7.

Lol I agree, and its really more of DOC picking his poisons.

Let's also keep in mind that we still stayed home on Dwight Howard and didn't double when Shaq and BBD guarded him.  They're both still here.  

[birdwatcher]

Also, with Perk's new lack of mobility, lift and knee strength, he isn't going to be able to defend any C that has range, or contest shots against bigger players like Chandler, Bynum or even Nene.In fact, if his knee(s) are still healing, he may not be able to keep guys from getting position, especially if other teams work the paint and go at him directly. He's gonna have a tough go in the playoffs. From what I recall, Perk goes after the ball on rebounds instead of boxing his man out and getting good position. He will lose 90% of those battles due to his lack of athleticism.

[droponov]

He has had good games against good centers, but it's obvious that he gets lots of help in instances like the Orlando game when Howard has a very productive first half, but is a non factor in the second half. Not because Perk is a immovable force, but because Doc steps up the perimeter defense. When you have guys like Rondo, Pierce and Ray bothering the ballhandler on the perimeter it really helps Perk deny the ball.

What?

The reason Perkins defense is so valuable against the likes of Howard is because he's able to slow him down without the need for doubles.

By not sending doubles to stop Howard in the low post, Boston was able to stay at home with Orlando's perimeter players/shooters, severely limiting their production.

The value Perkins adds to a team like the Thunder is easy to understand: in their last game vs. the Lakers, Gasol and Bynum scored 34 points in 20 shots. It was easier for them to establish position deep, almost under the basket, seal their man and get an high percentage shot over a smaller defender. With Perkins there, this wouldn't and won't happen.

You got short term memory? How about 33 points in 20 shots? And 46 in 20 shots?

Because yes, under a year ago, that happened to us with Perkins playing. And no, it wasn't game 7.

You have troubles with reading comprehension or something?
I wrote it won't happen to OKC, not that it didn't happen to Boston. I mean, isn't it written in a clear enough way? How is it possible to miss that?

[greenpride32]

Perk always gets a lot of credit for his defense, but I'm wondering, is there any statistical evidence that shows he better than any other player?  

Has he been known to shutdown ever start center he matches up with?  For shot blocks he's second tier, for rebounds he's closer to the bottom of the pack.  I don't believe he's made any All NBA Defensive teams.  

I would certainly call him better than average at defending.  But I'm not quite sure if he's at elite level or close to it.