Perk team meeting sparks OKC Game 2 Win

[Potapenko Boxout]

very interesting story. Good for you, Perk

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/04/kendrick-perkins-gets-some-team-meeting-karma-in-game-2/

[GreenEnvy]

That's good, because from the few games I've seen, it looks like he isn't exactly fitting in.

He looks like a Rottweiler in a cage with a bunch of Pugs. His tenacity and intensity is on a different wavelength than the rest of the Thunder.

[vinnie]

but Perk only had 2 points and 5 rebounds last night. He is useless and worthless at the same time. Come on, this chemistry and team leadership stuff is all a load of bull. 

[pearljammer10]

but Perk only had 2 points and 5 rebounds last night. He is useless and worthless at the same time. Come on, this chemistry and team leadership stuff is all a load of bull. 

That load of bull is the reason we are down 2 - 0.

[vinnie]

but Perk only had 2 points and 5 rebounds last night. He is useless and worthless at the same time. Come on, this chemistry and team leadership stuff is all a load of bull. 

That load of bull is the reason we are down 2 - 0.

Agree 100 percent. I was being heavily sarcastic in my response. Everyone wants to point to numbers all of the time -- Guess what? Heart, soul and toughness don't show up in the boxscore.

[barefacedmonk]

Can we ask Krstic to organise a team meeting too? Maybe we'll go on to win the next two games.

[Thruthelookingglass]

Can we ask Krstic to organise a team meeting too? Maybe we'll go on to win the next two games.

Um . . . I think that's the role envisioned for the lottery protected draft pick.   

[TampaCeltic80]

Perk should be a coach then.

i know there's more to ball than statistics-- i love his grit, heart, hustle-- but his stat line and +/- is weaksausage.

either the guy is a wizard in every intangible, non-statistical category there is, or he's just a tad less good than we give him credit for.

i love the guy, but he'd have 3 fouls in the first quarter of every game this series trying to compete with the speed of the cHeat and the ever-so-balanced officiating of Ed Malloy and Joey Crawford.

[ElChe]

Give me a break with a Perk and that childish talk about team chemistry. This is NBA guys, 90% business and 10% show. There is no love there. And all players knows that, except few C's fans. KG, Ray, PP changed so many teammates in their careers that they even cant remember their names. KG spent 12 years in Minnesota so according to you, he should be emotionally devastated when he changed a team?? Our key players are Rondo, KG, Paul, Alen - in that order.

Telling that they play bad because of trade you just saying that our stars are pu****s, and they are not!

[The Walker Wiggle]

Tommy Point for the good read. Here are some choice quotes for those that don't have the time.

After watching the Memphis Grizzlies batter his Oklahoma City Thunder in the opener of the teams’ second-round series, Kendrick Perkins knew something needed to change. So he encouraged Kevin Durant to gather the team together and watch the game again. “Perk did it," Durant said, “He wanted us to do it, and everybody listens to Perk."

Perkins thought the Thunder were too relaxed in the loss and that there was some confusion over players’ roles. Since coming from Boston, Perkins has commanded a leadership presence in the locker room, yet he also understands the Thunder belong to Durant. That’s why he thought it best for Durant to set up the players-only meeting. It took just one call from Perkins to convince Durant to do so.

i know there's more to ball than statistics-- i love his grit, heart, hustle-- but his stat line and +/- is weaksausage.

either the guy is a wizard in every intangible, non-statistical category there is, or he's just a tad less good than we give him credit for.

Also a wizard in at least a couple of statisical categories:

Perkins allowed just 0.77 points per possession in the post during the 2009-10 season, a truly impressive mark. Opponents on the low block shot just 38.5 percent despite their proximity to the basket, and Perkins, amazingly, fouled opponents on only 6.3 percent of their post-up possessions. Go back to the 2008-09 season and the numbers get even better: 0.73 points per possession allowed and 35.4 percent shooting.

Or

In the previous three seasons, the Celtics' post-up defense ranked either first or second in the NBA in opponent points per possession. This season, with Perkins missing 43 games, Boston has dipped to fourth. 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.

[chambers]

haha you guys honestly think that with Perkins in there we would've beaten Miami in the last 2 games?

The straws that people grasp for.

[Change]

haha you guys honestly think that with Perkins in there we would've beaten Miami in the last 2 games?

The straws that people grasp for.

Are you trying to say, Perkins wouldn't make an impact on the series? Looking at the stat sheet, you come away thinking man this guy sucks. But Perkins impact is far greater than the Stat sheet.

Check your history to understand Perkins Impact. 2008 NBA finals game5 Perkins doesn't play due to a shoulder injury, Celtics LOSE.  2010 NBA finals Perkins goes down in game6, Celtics lose.  2010 NBA finals Perkins doesn't play game7, Celtics lose.  2011 Celtics are without Perkins, Celtics are losing.

Perkins will have the last laugh when the Celtics are eliminated and he is still playing.

By the way here is original story from Marc Spears YAHOO
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-spears_thunder_hold_players_meeting_050411

[Potapenko Boxout]

haha you guys honestly think that with Perkins in there we would've beaten Miami in the last 2 games?

The straws that people grasp for.

Anyone supporting Big Baby at this point is the one grasping for straws IMO

[TampaCeltic80]

haha you guys honestly think that with Perkins in there we would've beaten Miami in the last 2 games?

The straws that people grasp for.

Anyone supporting Big Baby at this point is the one grasping for straws IMO

pointing out the fact [or opinion] that Perk would not be fast enough to keep up with the fast break Miami offense does not in any way imply that Big Baby is somehow a basketball saviour. NEITHER of them would be effective in this series.

seriously, someone please tell me how Perk would have stopped James Jones from draining 6 3s in Game 1.  someone please tell me how Perk would have stopped the refs from calling every tick-tack excuse for a 21st Century NBA Euro-ball "foul" every time LeBron Wade drove to the hoop.

wouldn't happen. Perk would be called for as many fouls as JO, sit the bench, and probably pick up a few techs along the way.

maybe we lose by 4 or 5 instead of 9 and 11

[Roy H.]

pointing out the fact [or opinion] that Perk would not be fast enough to keep up with the fast break Miami offense does not in any way imply that Big Baby is somehow a basketball saviour. NEITHER of them would be effective in this series.

seriously, someone please tell me how Perk would have stopped James Jones from draining 6 3s in Game 1.  someone please tell me how Perk would have stopped the refs from calling every tick-tack excuse for a 21st Century NBA Euro-ball "foul" every time LeBron Wade drove to the hoop.

wouldn't happen. Perk would be called for as many fouls as JO, sit the bench, and probably pick up a few techs along the way.

maybe we lose by 4 or 5 instead of 9 and 11

The thing is, though, we're outscoring the Heat when JO is in the game. If Perk was equally effective, we absolutely could have won either or both games. Perk defends the paint and cuts off penetration. That leads to fewer opposing points, and more points for us in transition.

Anyway, back on topic, Perk is a leader. Hopefully it continues to pay dividends in OKC.