Kendrick Perkins is making a difference for OKC because of Ibaka??

[CelticG1]

I love Perk and I understand that he could help this OKC team in the future and could be a decent building block for them but this article is a joke. It basically says how bad Perk has been in the Nuggets series but because the trade allowed Ibaka to start, Ibaka has been flourishing. Does this really have to do with Perk or is it because Ibaka is starting and playing more minutes. They are talking about how terrible a series Perk is having but Ibaka is having a phenomonal series and it is because or Perk. Huh?

Can't I just turn around and say Jeff Green is having a terrible series but him being able to back up Pierce and Allen allowed those 2 to go off against the Knicks?

When Perk steps up his game for them this playoffs I will recognize it but I'm sorry you can't make me believe that when he is playing terrible he makes other guys around him stars

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4683393/insider-cs-are-in-trouble

[Donoghus]

I'm much more inclined to say that Ibaka is making a difference because of Perk.

[CelticG1]

I'm much more inclined to say that Ibaka is making a difference because of Perk.

What is Perk doing in this series to help Ibaka? I think you have to give %100 credit to Ibaka here.

[Roy H.]

I'm much more inclined to say that Ibaka is making a difference because of Perk.

Agreed.

I don't think this is a stretch of an argument at all, and it's one that I've made myself.

The Perk trade freed Ibaka up.  Rather than having to defend the best opposing big man, he is now free to "roam" and gamble more, knowing that Perk has his back.  Perk's boxing out also leaves more available rebounds, which Ibaka has benefited from.  However, the biggest factor has been giving him more defensive freedom.

I don't know who said this -- maybe it was Perk -- but to have a great defense, your big men need to work in tandem to cover for one another.  The Perk / KG combination worked very well, because Perk could defend the lane, while KG could roam and help and harass, and could feel free to disrupt on the perimeter.  Right now, Ibaka is like a mini-KG, playing the same role.

[Donoghus]

I'm much more inclined to say that Ibaka is making a difference because of Perk.

What is Perk doing in this series to help Ibaka? I think you have to give %100 credit to Ibaka here.

Whose presence do you think is helping free up Ibaka to almost literally do whatever the heck he wants?  Its not a coincidence.

[CelticG1]

I'm much more inclined to say that Ibaka is making a difference because of Perk.

What is Perk doing in this series to help Ibaka? I think you have to give %100 credit to Ibaka here.

Whose presence do you think is helping free up Ibaka to almost literally do whatever the heck he wants?  Its not a coincidence.

And the offensive side of the ball?

[BudweiserCeltic]

This is just a bad argument considering that Perk really hasn't been good at all in the series. By the arguments being made above just about any real center could've made Ibaka perform the way he's doing.

[CelticG1]

Not to mention it's not like he was terrible before Perk came. He was having a pretty fine season before him across the board

[dtrader]

I dont think either players playing has anything substancial to do with the other player. Ibaka is getting more time and an increased role on the team, and he is capitalizing.  Perk is in a new system, with new teammates, and he is struggling. 

The only thing I will say, is that OKCs defense is improved by having them both play as they are. It's NOT simply because of Perks addition like many on here have said, but the combination of Perkins clogging the lane and Ibaka getting extended time to bring his defensive capabilities to play.

[Roy H.]

The only thing I will say, is that OKCs defense is improved by having them both play as they are. It's NOT simply because of Perks addition like many on here have said, but the combination of Perkins clogging the lane and Ibaka getting extended time to bring his defensive capabilities to play.

I agree with this, or at least mostly.

Perk's presence alone didn't improve OKC's defense.  Rather, Perk's presence, coupled with more time for Ibaka, combined with more freedom for Ibaka on defense, combined with the loss of two poor defenders in Krstic and Green improved OKC's defense.

Defenses are constructed to work as a system, and Perk's presence allows that system to function more efficiently.  A strong defender at center allows more gambling on the perimeter, both on steals and blocked shots.  A more aggressive defense leads to more turnovers, and in turn more transition offense.

[Celticsfan336]

I love Perk and I understand that he could help this OKC team in the future and could be a decent building block for them but this article is a joke. It basically says how bad Perk has been in the Nuggets series but because the trade allowed Ibaka to start, Ibaka has been flourishing. Does this really have to do with Perk or is it because Ibaka is starting and playing more minutes. They are talking about how terrible a series Perk is having but Ibaka is having a phenomonal series and it is because or Perk. Huh?

Can't I just turn around and say Jeff Green is having a terrible series but him being able to back up Pierce and Allen allowed those 2 to go off against the Knicks?

When Perk steps up his game for them this playoffs I will recognize it but I'm sorry you can't make me believe that when he is playing terrible he makes other guys around him stars

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4683393/insider-cs-are-in-trouble

I'm confused about what the OP is trying to say, but i'll give my opinion on Perks effect on Thunder and Ibaka. On the team, Perk provides a tough, physical presence that they have never had. Also, it provides them with expierience and intangibles. Most imporantly, he has upped their team defense, and basically Perkins and the trade has made Ibaka MUCH better. Ibaka's team defense has gotten better, and he is no longer just a shotblocker, but actually a great overall defender.

But like someone else said, Perk wears number 5 for a reason....KG. And in my opinion Perk wants to have a similar effect defensively to the Thunder like KG had on him and the Celtics.

[CelticG1]

I love Perk and I understand that he could help this OKC team in the future and could be a decent building block for them but this article is a joke. It basically says how bad Perk has been in the Nuggets series but because the trade allowed Ibaka to start, Ibaka has been flourishing. Does this really have to do with Perk or is it because Ibaka is starting and playing more minutes. They are talking about how terrible a series Perk is having but Ibaka is having a phenomonal series and it is because or Perk. Huh?

Can't I just turn around and say Jeff Green is having a terrible series but him being able to back up Pierce and Allen allowed those 2 to go off against the Knicks?

When Perk steps up his game for them this playoffs I will recognize it but I'm sorry you can't make me believe that when he is playing terrible he makes other guys around him stars

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4683393/insider-cs-are-in-trouble

I'm confused about what the OP is trying to say, but i'll give my opinion on Perks effect on Thunder and Ibaka. On the team, Perk provides a tough, physical presence that they have never had. Also, it provides them with expierience and intangibles. Most imporantly, he has upped their team defense, and basically Perkins and the trade has made Ibaka MUCH better. Ibaka's team defense has gotten better, and he is no longer just a shotblocker, but actually a great overall defender.

But like someone else said, Perk wears number 5 for a reason....KG. And in my opinion Perk wants to have a similar effect defensively to the Thunder like KG had on him and the Celtics.

I'm just saying that Ibaka playing great has more to do with Ibaka than Perk.

Ibaka is more valuable than Perk. He is going to get paid more than Perk, 10 out of 10 people would take Ibaka over Perk.

Perk's 24 minutes a game (which apparently Ibaka must be playing every second Perk is on the floor) is really the cause of Ibaka and the Thunder playing well?

Also the article is talking about how even though Perk has ben ungodly awful in this first round series that he is the reason that Ibaka is doing well. I just don't buy that. At least come at me with this argument when Perk is, you know actually doing well

[jdz101]

I'm much more inclined to say that Ibaka is making a difference because of Perk.

Agreed.

I don't think this is a stretch of an argument at all, and it's one that I've made myself.

The Perk trade freed Ibaka up.  Rather than having to defend the best opposing big man, he is now free to "roam" and gamble more, knowing that Perk has his back.  Perk's boxing out also leaves more
available rebounds, which Ibaka has benefited from.  However, the biggest factor has been giving him more defensive freedom.

I don't know who said this -- maybe it was Perk -- but to have a great defense, your big men need to work in tandem to cover for one another.  The Perk / KG combination worked very well, because Perk
 could defend the lane, while KG could roam and help and harass, and could feel free to disrupt on the perimeter.  Right now, Ibaka is like a mini-KG, playing the same role.

So your attributing ibaka's high rebound tally to perk boxing out for him and letting ibaka get all the stats? That is a stretch.

Presti paid 35 mill for a slow space clogger whose numbers are on a steady decline since he peaked years ago. Ibaka is an athletic young kid whose numbers are indicating he's heading towards his peak. To say those numbers are due to a horribly performing underdone centre next to him is A HUGE STRETCH.

[Roy H.]

Presti paid 35 mill for a slow space clogger whose numbers are on a steady decline since he peaked years ago.

Yes, Presti is commonly known around the NBA as an idiot.

Ibaka is an athletic young kid whose numbers are indicating he's heading towards his peak. To say those numbers are due to a horribly performing underdone centre next to him is A HUGE STRETCH.

The majority of Ibaka's production is due to his talent.  However, as the article cited, the Thunder are dominating on the boards right now.  A lot of that is Perk putting a body on his man and freeing up Ibaka to go after rebounds 1-on-1.

[barefacedmonk]

I'm much more inclined to say that Ibaka is making a difference because of Perk.

Agreed.

I don't think this is a stretch of an argument at all, and it's one that I've made myself.

The Perk trade freed Ibaka up.  Rather than having to defend the best opposing big man, he is now free to "roam" and gamble more, knowing that Perk has his back.  Perk's boxing out also leaves more
available rebounds, which Ibaka has benefited from.  However, the biggest factor has been giving him more defensive freedom.

I don't know who said this -- maybe it was Perk -- but to have a great defense, your big men need to work in tandem to cover for one another.  The Perk / KG combination worked very well, because Perk
 could defend the lane, while KG could roam and help and harass, and could feel free to disrupt on the perimeter.  Right now, Ibaka is like a mini-KG, playing the same role.

So your attributing ibaka's high rebound tally to perk boxing out for him and letting ibaka get all the stats? That is a stretch.

Presti paid 35 mill for a slow space clogger whose numbers are on a steady decline since he peaked years ago. Ibaka is an athletic young kid whose numbers are indicating he's heading towards his peak. To say those numbers are due to a horribly performing underdone centre next to him is A HUGE STRETCH.

Perkins peaked years ago? and is on a decline? Talk about A HUGE STRETCH.