Shaq v. Perk

[wdleehi]

I wanted to see them together sharing that spot.



Think of all the poor big men out there thinking about of 7 game series with the only break from Perk leaning on them being Shaq leaning on them.  (or vice verse)

[BudweiserCeltic]

Looks like Perk hopes to play tonight...

...But coach said no.

[clover]

The most important guy on the C's and for their D was and is KG. 

KG's going to have Stitch in time to save their rotational nine--or something like that.  Shaq will take half the time at the center spot and the other O'Neal has a good chance to be in there too.

But KG is the defensive captain and he's going to have his new front-court mate ready to go.

[Roy H.]

The most important guy on the C's and for their D was and is KG.  

KG's going to have Stitch in time to save their rotational nine--or something like that.  Shaq will take half the time at the center spot and the other O'Neal has a good chance to be in there too.

But KG is the defensive captain and he's going to have his new front-court mate ready to go.

It's absolutely true that KG is the most important defender on the court.  However, he can't give a guy a defensive skill set that he doesn't have.  For instance, he can't improve Shaq's lateral movement and ability to properly cover the pick and roll.  Similarly, it's doubtful that he can either turn Krstic into a shot blocker or into a tough, intimidating, and/or athletic defender.

There should be incremental improvements playing beside KG, but in assessing defense I think you have to look at the individual defensive units and compare them.  Here, Perk + KG > Shaq + KG > Krstic + KG.

I don't think we're doomed by any stretch.  I think Shaq will be able to to contain the other team's center for around 20 - 25 minutes, and hopefully JO can chip in, too.  Those contributions will put less emphasis on Krstic's D, which can hopefully be used primarily against backups.  We can still win a championship with our center rotation, I just think it downgraded a bit.

[blake]

Similarly, it's doubtful that he can either turn Krstic into a shot blocker or into a tough, intimidating, and/or athletic defender.

How dare thee!

[Kane3387]

The most important guy on the C's and for their D was and is KG.  

KG's going to have Stitch in time to save their rotational nine--or something like that.  Shaq will take half the time at the center spot and the other O'Neal has a good chance to be in there too.

But KG is the defensive captain and he's going to have his new front-court mate ready to go.

It's absolutely true that KG is the most important defender on the court.  However, he can't give a guy a defensive skill set that he doesn't have.  For instance, he can't improve Shaq's lateral movement and ability to properly cover the pick and roll.  Similarly, it's doubtful that he can either turn Krstic into a shot blocker or into a tough, intimidating, and/or athletic defender.

There should be incremental improvements playing beside KG, but in assessing defense I think you have to look at the individual defensive units and compare them.  Here, Perk + KG > Shaq + KG > Krstic + KG.

I don't think we're doomed by any stretch.  I think Shaq will be able to to contain the other team's center for around 20 - 25 minutes, and hopefully JO can chip in, too.  Those contributions will put less emphasis on Krstic's D, which can hopefully be used primarily against backups.  We can still win a championship with our center rotation, I just think it downgraded a bit.

We really have to wait and see how Perk comes back with OKC. He went from day to day to three weeks with that sprain on his good knee. Now it might be an extra week before he comes back. The Perk that returns might honestly equate to KG + Shaq > KG + Krstic > + KG + Perk when you take into account both offense and defense. Time will tell, but the longer Perk stays out the more I wonder how bad his injuries could become. Definitely hope he isn't like Gilbert Arenas for his sake with these knees and the big money.

[clover]

The most important guy on the C's and for their D was and is KG.  

KG's going to have Stitch in time to save their rotational nine--or something like that.  Shaq will take half the time at the center spot and the other O'Neal has a good chance to be in there too.

But KG is the defensive captain and he's going to have his new front-court mate ready to go.

It's absolutely true that KG is the most important defender on the court.  However, he can't give a guy a defensive skill set that he doesn't have.  For instance, he can't improve Shaq's lateral movement and ability to properly cover the pick and roll.  Similarly, it's doubtful that he can either turn Krstic into a shot blocker or into a tough, intimidating, and/or athletic defender.

There should be incremental improvements playing beside KG, but in assessing defense I think you have to look at the individual defensive units and compare them.  Here, Perk + KG > Shaq + KG > Krstic + KG.

I don't think we're doomed by any stretch.  I think Shaq will be able to to contain the other team's center for around 20 - 25 minutes, and hopefully JO can chip in, too.  Those contributions will put less emphasis on Krstic's D, which can hopefully be used primarily against backups.  We can still win a championship with our center rotation, I just think it downgraded a bit.

You're assuming a healthy Perk and that we'll see, as he should have at least a series in the playoffs as well. Also, health permitting, we've of course got Baby too, and there are some big centers that he plays surprisingly well against.

But if Krstic can get to understand their system and help on the help defense over the next two months, that'll be worth something.  That's my point.  D is obviously Stitch's weakness, but he's got bulk, is committed to it, and doesn't seem to take plays off.  He's getting good experience with KG and some with JG now as well.  Should have time to work with Baby too. 

But I think KG's tutelage is the secret weapon that will make Krstic yes, tougher, and also serviceable on D come the deep playoffs.  The offensive advantage is a given.


 

[Marcus13]

I wanted to see them together sharing that spot.



Think of all the poor big men out there thinking about of 7 game series with the only break from Perk leaning on them being Shaq leaning on them.  (or vice verse)

That would have been TOUGH to deal with.  Chris Bosh would have been driven to retirement

[Roy H.]

You're assuming a healthy Perk and that we'll see, as he should have at least a series in the playoffs as well. 

No, I'm not.  I'm assuming a Perk that was as healthy as he showed in his 12 games back.  That player is a better defender than Shaq, and a much better defender than Krstic.

But I think KG's tutelage is the secret weapon that will make Krstic yes, tougher, and also serviceable on D come the deep playoffs.  The offensive advantage is a given.

Let's hope so.

[gar]

With the running of the green and spring just around the corner "hope springs eternal".

[Celtics4ever]

What exactly is this based on?

That player is a better defender than Shaq, and a much better defender than Krstic.

The record certainly doesn't reflect that statment as true  this year. Nor do defensive win shares.  Defensive win shares are .06 for Perk this year and 1.6 for Shaq.  Shaq wins this category.

Perk  blocks% since you guys like the advanced stats this year  is 2.5.  Shaq is 4.4% blocked shots this year.  Per game Perk has .8 BPG this year to Shaq's 2.0 BPG.  Shaq wins this category.

Perk is a better defensive rebounder though definitely.   Perk had 6.2 Def RPG to Shaq's 3.6.  Perk is hands down superior in this area.

KP played 26 MPG on average to Shaq's 20 MPG BTW. Also, Shaq held Dwight to 6 points in the game he D him up and Dwight went off on Perk for 28.   

[Roy H.]

What exactly is this based on?

That player is a better defender than Shaq, and a much better defender than Krstic.

The record certainly doesn't reflect that statment as true  this year. Nor do defensive win shares.  Defensive win shares are .06 for Perk this year and 1.6 for Shaq.  Shaq wins this category.

With respect, do you know what a defensive win share is?  If you did, you wouldn't be using it as a stat for somebody who has played 12 games as contrasted to somebody who has played 36.

Perk  blocks% since you guys like the advanced stats this year  is 2.5.  Shaq is 4.4% blocked shots this year.  Per game Perk has .8 BPG this year to Shaq's 2.0 BPG.  Shaq wins this category.

I don't think anybody ever said "more blocks = better defense".  In fact, I think the argument has been that despite the fact that Perk is a better shot blocker than KG, KG is still the better defender.

I mean, I don't know how to argue with you, so I think I'm just going to move on.  If you haven't seen that Shaq is slower than Perk in rotating, cutting off penetration, etc., I don't know what to say other than that you're missing a lot of what happens on the defensive end.  I guess I could point you to their personal foul rate (Shaq fouls much more than Perk does), but I just don't think you're going to accept anything that doesn't fit your preconceived notions.   

[mgent]

Originally everyone was ecstatic that we were gonna have Perk back with the starters and we were finally gonna have someone that could create their own shot off the bench (Shaq).

That was before we found out Shaq really really sucks at creating his own shot these days.  With that in mind I think we would have had no problem keeping Shaq with the starters and bringing Perk off the bench.  The bench has been severely lacking rebounding, interior defense, and toughness since Powe left (this year with Baby+Semih and last year with Baby+Sheed although at least Sheed brought some D).  I would have loved being able to pair Baby with Perk and having either one finish the game depending on match-ups.

In conclusion Shaq+Perk is way > than Shaq+Krstic.

[OsirusCeltics]

The guy with the Paul Pierce photo is right!
People keep thinking with their heart instead of their eyes.

Shaq is way better defensively than Perk. We were like 37-11 without Perk in the lineup this year. Shaq clogs the lane, and is not bad at pick and roll defense. He is a BIGGER body to defend any bigs on the opposing team. Not to mention our offense runs smoothly when he's on the floor. Its not a coincidence that everyone's field goal raises when he's on the floor also.

So with a better defender in Shaq, whats the use of Perk when he's a liability on offense? Yes it would have been good to have two in there. But the amount of talent we got back in the trade can not be denied. Just get over him already

[Roy H.]

People keep thinking with their heart instead of their eyes.

Shaq is way better defensively than Perk.

Shaq ... is not bad at pick and roll defense.

The statements above are the ones I think are false (with the first one probably true for some people, but not the majority).

Let me ask you a question:  if Shaq is better than Perk on both offense and defense, why did Perk just get a $9 million per year contract, while Shaq is making the league's minimum salary?  If Shaq was that good, wouldn't at least one contender have offered him the MLE for a year or two?