Kendrick Perkins Overrated?

Yilun · Post #1 » by **Yilun** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:30 am

This guy gets touted as a defensive anchor and is valued as a highly-prized defensive center in this league. Yet when I have watched him play so far with OKC, I am still waiting to see what people are raving so much about.

He is lumbering and slow which makes his transition defense poor since he usually can't get back in time to challenge any shots or protect the paint. KD and Ibaka are usually the ones attempting the chase-down blocks.

He is a poor rebounder for his position. A center that only averages 5-6 rebounds per game seems very mediocre to me. He's so slow in his lateral movement that he's an inefficient area rebounder.

People argue that he sets great screens but he's also the one center who gets called for moving screens more than anyone I've ever seen. I know everyone practically does it in the league, but he seems to be the only one who makes it so obvious that the officials have no choice but to call him on it.

He is able to body up bigger PF and C's in the league and guard them man-to-man simply because he can throw his weight around. But he is extremely poor at weak-side help and his weak-side shot-blocking is practically non-existent.

He has extremely poor hands on the offensive end. He constantly drops and fumbles shovel passes from penetrators. When he finally does catch a pass, he takes so long to gather before going up that he inevitably gets stripped on his way up. And on the off-chance that none of these occur, he usually is pretty good about missing his layups as well.

All in all, I seriously think that Perkins got his reputation as a "defender" playing alongside the big 3 in Boston. Playing alongside KG benefited Perkins because the refs gave the big 3 the benefit of the doubt considering how ferocious and tenacious they were playing on the defensive end. I think Perkins was the biggest benefactor in garnering the illusion that he was a "defensive anchor". But now that he's playing on an island in OKC, his inefficiency and deficiencies are that much more apparent.

In my honest opinion, I think Perkins is over-rated as a player, especially as a defender. He has a big body that he throws around which may give people the impression that he is a "tough defender" but outside of that, he hasn't really shown me much else. I think that OKC plays a much better brand of basketball when they have Collison and Ibaka on the front lines.

mmart69 · Post #2 » by **mmart69** » Wed May 30, 2012 2:28 pm

Yilun,

I am a Celtics fan and have been trying to convince people on the Celtics board that he is overrated and that the trade was a good one. I agree with what you said. Would not be at all surprised if OKC amnesties him (if they have not used that option yet)

Good luck v. SAS. Rooting for you guys to beat them and the Heat.

Balkman32 · Post #3 » by **Balkman32** » Wed May 30, 2012 4:41 pm

Stop it! It is not a good matchup for him. Timmy is playing like he is 28 right now. Lets see how the Spurs reserves react when its GO time in OKC!

Post #4 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Wed May 30, 2012 8:00 pm

Balkman32 wrote:Stop it! It is not a good matchup for him. Timmy is playing like he is 28 right now. Lets see how the Spurs reserves react when its GO time in OKC!

agree with this, plus I would add that SA is purposely playing on Perks weakness. all players have weaknesses, that doesn't take away from their strengths. Is he overrated? not in my opinion.

Durant 35 · Post #5 » by **Durant 35** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:34 am

Spurs just aren't a good matchup for it that's all.

Devilanche · Post #6 » by **Devilanche** » Thu May 31, 2012 3:52 pm

Something i found off the trade board. Salary of center. Excluding rookie contracts/vet min/pekovic etc. Yes with him people always talks abt the intangible because he doesnt really give much in scoring/rebouding well maybe turnovers. but it's not like he's the single cause we're not winning....

Dwight - 19
Bynum - 15
Gasol - 14
Chandler - 14
Bogut - 13

Okafor - 13
Jefferson - 13
Nene - 13
Horford - 12
Noah - 12

Jordan - 11
Bragnani - 10
Haywood - 9
Biedrins - 9
Perkins - 8
Varejao - 8
Gortat 7

knowler · Post #7 » by **knowler** » Fri Jun 1, 2012 1:25 am

Kendrick Perkins is a good man-to-man defender and he could be use for gurding strong players like howard. Anyway, his pick'n'roll defense sucks, becuse he's too slow to rotate and that's why he shoud sit on the beach all-series long. Thunder need to go small, if they want to win at least one game with SA.

Post #8 » by **wizkid27** » Fri Jun 1, 2012 2:10 am

Although I agree that we need to go small against SA, it is very interesting how he has stepped up tonight not only 1on1 in the post and doing a little better on pick and roll... But even on two key possessions playing 1on1 D on Parker and then Ginobili.

I guess overrated depends upon where you see him rated

I wouldn't say that he's overpaid by much if anything (see above post about centers' salaries).

Devilanche · Post #9 » by **Devilanche** » Fri Jun 1, 2012 2:22 am

I didnt know he could switch 1 on 1 to Parker/ Ginobili. Probably that weight loss helps.

fallacy · Post #10 » by **fallacy** » Fri Jun 1, 2012 4:18 am

Perk was dominating tonight.

dream_catcher_9 · Post #11 » by **dream_catcher_9** » Fri Jun 1, 2012 4:27 am

Perk read this thread....please make another.

Post #12 » by **slick_watts** » Sun Jun 3, 2012 4:25 pm

He's not overrated, everyone knows what he is and what he can and can't do. He had a nice game four. My main issue with him these days is that he has one good game for every three, it seems.

king chauncey · Post #13 » by **king chauncey** » Tue Jun 5, 2012 2:55 am

hes such an overrated player that he gets paid as biedrins.
go tell bynum and duncan that hes overrated. perks made bynum a non factor in the series 2 halfs. thats 2 players that ibaka cant and couldnt guard 1 on 1 and perkins make them misareble. i dont think okc would have past the lakers if perks was gettin injured before.

jfs1000d · Post #14 » by **jfs1000d** » Tue Jun 5, 2012 2:27 pm

Perkins is a terrific on ball defender, a physical presence, and his size shutsdown the lane. He's also a low usage player who can function getting little offensive looks.

That's a very important complementary player. As a Celtics fan, if he doesn't get hurt in 2008, we probably beat the Lakers in Game 7. Gasol/Bynum destroyed the Celtics on the offensive glass in Game 7 in 2008. That's not overrated.

Also, look at Perkins' D on D12 and Bynum to see why he is a necessary player on a title team. He is a 25 mpg player, and has never advertised to be something different. Celtics used to play D12 straight up in the post, perhaps the only team in the NBA to do so.

RDMC22 · Post #15 » by **RDMC22** » Wed Jun 6, 2012 11:43 pm

jfs1000d wrote:Perkins is a terrific on ball defender, a physical presence, and his size shutsdown the lane. He's also a low usage player who can function getting little offensive looks.

That's a very important complementary player. As a Celtics fan, if he doesn't get hurt in 2008, we probably beat the Lakers in Game 7. Gasol/Bynum destroyed the Celtics on the offensive glass in Game 7 in 2008. That's not overrated.

Also, look at Perkins' D on D12 and Bynum to see why he is a necessary player on a title team. He is a 25 mpg player, and has never advertised to be something different. Celtics used to play D12 straight up in the post, perhaps the only team in the NBA to do so.

C's won in 2008.

You mean 2010.

RTG HD · Post #16 » by **RTG HD** » Thu Jun 7, 2012 5:15 am

Is it really a good time to question the starting center on a team that just won the WCF and may very well win the championship? From my view he is a part of a system that works and works well.