Jermaine right now is better that Perk

[P2]

I think JO needs to continue to start and Shaq should come off the bench for the first few games.

Agreed. If Shaq does actually play in the playoffs, he would give a huge boost to that second unit. His presence in the middle should open things up for Green and Delonte on the offensive end, and if he's paired with Davis, Green gets to play the 3 exclusively. Ten minutes of Shaq with the bench would do wonders, I think.

That is correct. But JO needs to be out there with the first unit and starting to keep his spirit comfortable, and depending on matchups, Shaq would play more in some games (like against the Bulls). I think JO is a perfect fit at Center in the Heat series, and Shaq could get spot minutes and provide mismatches in our favor, besides giving JO some rest.

[Yogi]

JO is sheed from last year if sheed didnt suck

Sheed didn't suck in the playoffs.

Sheed gave us 6 and 3 in the playoffs last year.  JO is giving us 6 and 3 in this years playoffs.  As good as his defense has been, we still need more production if he is going to be the starter.

That almost works, if you ignore the field goal percent, and blocks and charges.

[moiso]

JO is sheed from last year if sheed didnt suck

Sheed didn't suck in the playoffs.

Sheed gave us 6 and 3 in the playoffs last year.  JO is giving us 6 and 3 in this years playoffs.  As good as his defense has been, we still need more production if he is going to be the starter.

That almost works, if you ignore the field goal percent, and blocks and charges.

Oh, I agree.  Jermaine is playing 10x better than Sheed did.  I'm not sure why some people seem to think Sheed was Michael Jordan once the playoffs started.

[mgent]

He better be playing well, he's had the whole year off for an injury he probably could have solved by getting surgery in the off season after going 2 for 80 against us.

The only thing JO does better at this point in his career is shoot and block shots.

[bbd24]

He better be playing well, he's had the whole year off for an injury he probably could have solved by getting surgery in the off season after going 2 for 80 against us.

The only thing JO does better at this point in his career is shoot and block shots.

What about defense ?

[Donoghus]

I'm not ready to say that he's better than Perk but I've been encouraged by what I've seen early on by Jermaine in the playoffs. 

His importance to this team's success is only going to get larger as they progress.  As others have pointed out, we need Jermaine to perform at a high level in a potential MIA series.

[Donoghus]

He better be playing well, he's had the whole year off for an injury he probably could have solved by getting surgery in the off season after going 2 for 80 against us.

The only thing JO does better at this point in his career is shoot and block shots.

What about defense ?

Nope.

[GreenEnvy]

knock on wood, but so far, he's playing pretty well....especially shot blocks.....  I would appreciate a few more rebounds but mostly - I just want him to stay healthy.  I think Doc needs to get Nenad more time and touches because we will need him and he does not look comfortable at all.  In fact, I think when both big men start the game or come in, they need to be fed a couple of passes to get them in the game.  used to do that with Perk........

Let's hope they close it out in four, so Doc will have almost a week of practice to come up with a more successful approach to the bench.  Nenad is certainly capable of doing more, I think he was playing tougher, at least, last night.  I also hope some time off will help DW to heal up and sharpen up some too.

Seriously. The bench isn't scoring against the Knicks. The KNICKS!

Against the elite teams that are accustomed to playing defense with regularity, it will be even tougher.

[PosImpos]

I agree with the title of this thread.

[bbd24]

I agree with the title of this thread.

I don't even think you have to use the words 'right now' in the title. JO was better than Perkins coming out of high school, has had a better career overall since, and he's better now. It's just about staying healthy. That goes for both Perk and JO.

He's better offensively by far, right there with Perk on defense (Perkins a better rebounder, JO a better shot blocker), and a better fit overall with the core 4, mainly because of his offense and def positioning. He's a vet who knows where to be on O or on Def.

[indeedproceed]

I disagree....like...a lot.

Can you explain why?

Yes. Perkins played better interior defense, and emboldened the team with a toughness that Jermaine does not. Perk had better chemistry, and he won a ring. Jermaine O'Neal is playing great, and I'm happy that we have him, but I would still be more confident with Perk's track record.

Remember, Jermaine is doing this against the Knicks, and that's with a hurt Amar'e Stoudemire and no Chauncey Billups (and even WITH those guys they were a .500 team!). I think we'll know more after a few games against Miami.

[Senninsage]

I disagree entirely on Jeff Green not doing anything. He has been hitting timely shots for the Celtics on a consistent basis, when we need them them the most.

Has he missed at times, has he been capable of getting more points? Sure. However, with the way that he's contributing on key possessions for us, at times when his making a shot would really give us a nice and much needed advantage, Jeff Green has been the man.

Now, if he also starts giving us a bit more points on top of those timely shots he has hit for us in game 1, game 2, and now game 3, then the Celtics will be a very, very tough team to deal with. And then when Baby gets going, we are even stronger.

Still, the title of the thread, I agree 100%.

Jermaine's shot blocking ability, I've seen it literally destroy entire possessions for the Knicks. On plays where they had opportunities, Jermaine's shot blocking ability is constantly on their mind, and you see it clear as day.

Yesterday I saw Jermaine, clearly on his way towards an amazing highlight block. There was one problem, however, the Knicks player clearly saw it as well, and tried desperately to alter or pass it off in some way (something he was in the worst possible position to do), and where did the ball end up going? Right in the hands of the Celtics.

[bbd24]

I disagree....like...a lot.

Can you explain why?

Yes. Perkins played better interior defense, and emboldened the team with a toughness that Jermaine does not. Perk had better chemistry, and he won a ring. Jermaine O'Neal is playing great, and I'm happy that we have him, but I would still be more confident with Perk's track record.

Remember, Jermaine is doing this against the Knicks, and that's with a hurt Amar'e Stoudemire and no Chauncey Billups (and even WITH those guys they were a .500 team!). I think we'll know more after a few games against Miami.

When healthy, and throughout his career, Jermaine has done this against any team, not just the Knicks.  This is nothing new.

The only thing new is now he gets to do it playing alonside a core four of Rondo, Ray, Pierce, and KG.   Thats the only thing new about it.  He hasn't ever had a supporting cast that darn good.

[GreenEnvy]

I disagree....like...a lot.

Can you explain why?

Yes. Perkins played better interior defense, and emboldened the team with a toughness that Jermaine does not. Perk had better chemistry, and he won a ring. Jermaine O'Neal is playing great, and I'm happy that we have him, but I would still be more confident with Perk's track record.

Remember, Jermaine is doing this against the Knicks, and that's with a hurt Amar'e Stoudemire and no Chauncey Billups (and even WITH those guys they were a .500 team!). I think we'll know more after a few games against Miami.

In what way?

Just because Perk had a scowl on his face at all times doesn't mean he was necessarily tougher. Yes he was a physical force who will bang and push and shove, but so is Jermaine. JO is more finesse on offense, but also more effective and less turnover-prone.

He's always been known to foul effectively (ask LeBron) and get his teammates backs. He is always in the middle of any scuffle. He will get in anyone's face.

And besides, are the Fakers tough? They are Charmin soft and the two-time defending champs.

I'd be worried if Perk was the only tough guy we had, but we have guys like Jermaine (who will punch out fans if need be), Krstic (who will throw a chair at opposing players), and KG (who will attempt to bite players who steal his awards). Our guys are tough, some would even call them crazy.

Then there are guys like Pierce, Shaq, Rondo, etc. They are no pushovers. Pavlovic doesn't look soft either.

[OsirusCeltics]

I disagree....like...a lot.

Can you explain why?

Yes. Perkins played better interior defense, and emboldened the team with a toughness that Jermaine does not. Perk had better chemistry, and he won a ring. Jermaine O'Neal is playing great, and I'm happy that we have him, but I would still be more confident with Perk's track record.

Remember, Jermaine is doing this against the Knicks, and that's with a hurt Amar'e Stoudemire and no Chauncey Billups (and even WITH those guys they were a .500 team!). I think we'll know more after a few games against Miami.

JO held his own against Javelle Mcgee and Andray Blatche when they played the Wizards. May not be the best team, but both are young, athletic, and long. JO dominated