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http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... t_of_camp/


Hopefully this isn't an issue throughout the season. Having Powe and O'Bryant as centers doesn't exactly get me all warm and fuzzy. However, Ainge doesn't appear to be worried.

"He'll be trying to get through September," said Ainge, who added that the rest of the players on the roster are healthy. "I'm confident he will be in the starting lineup opening night."

"I'm comfortable at the center position," Ainge said.

Who knows how comfortable Danny really is with it, but this is a great opportunity for POB. It should put him on the court for scrimmages against Powe all through camp--and if that won't toughen him up nothing will!--and give him a good opportunity in the pre-season games as well.

I wanted to see POB get a lot of early minutes, but certainly not this way. Hopefully we don't go through the pre-season watching Davis and Scal platoon at Center. This is a great opportunity to see what POB is made of.

Perk - get well man, we need you big time.

Uh-oh. Perkins was a huge part of what we did last year throughout the season. This brings some validation to the Powe and Pruitt for another average Center rumours that have been out there.

I don't want to see an injured Perk. Dammit that shoulder injury must of been completely re-done during the Finals. Sucks.

edit: re-reading that thread it looks like it was Sully00 who pointed out the only way those rumours makes sense is if Perk isn't 100%. Props to him/her (but most likely him who are we kidding here, this board is a sasuage fest)

Me and my friend were talking about this last year, and I am just wondering your thoughts. I have a strong, strong feeling that this will be a career long injury. I think when healthy Perkins is one of the better starting centers in the league, key being WHEN HEALTHY! I feel this will always hold him back and stunt his full maturation in the league.

Perk is a bum, I've hated this guy since he joined the team, we need a RELIABLE center. This guy is never gonna be healthy.

LucerneStDoggz wrote:Perk is a bum, I've hated this guy since he joined the team, we need a RELIABLE center. This guy is never gonna be healthy.

Try and find a better center at the same price tag who would fit with us. That's how you have to look at it. That's how I look at it.

I take no pleasure in being right about this it sucks.

I also don't care how "comfortable" Danny may feel about it be at it he can't play center.

I think there are various ways to look at this.

First, it sets up battles between POB and Glen Davis, Leon Powe and maybe Brian Scalabrine at center in training camp.

Sort of like Shane Battier conveniently getting an injury that will heal in 4 weeks time, avoiding butting heads with Ron Artest in training camp while lesser player get pounded by True Warrior.

Second, it avoids getting Perk an unnecessary injury, he can still do cardio, while the Celts find out what they have with Davis and POB (and if they have to get on their hands and knees for Mourning or Mutombo, which I suspect Doc and Danny already have, although Danny officially says that he's not chasing anyone).

So, I don't think that's it's a big deal.

sully00 wrote:I take no pleasure in being right about this it sucks.

I also don't care how "comfortable" Danny may feel about it be at it he can't play center.

agree 200%

I think Perkins should be fine when the season starts. But it's sad to see. It seems that every off season Perkins is hurt. This is the best time of the year for him to get a lot of work in with Clifford Ray.

Perkins is not a bum. He gives this team what it needs. That's toughness, rebounding, and post defense. He is a very good complement player next to KG and is one of the best post defenders in the league.

The good news is this should give POB a big chance to show people want he brings to this team. Big baby can the 5 also. Davis did a good job against taller players like Big Z and the limited time against Gasol in the finals. I'm not worried either.

Perkins played hurt in the finals and contributed to the title. Now he's taking proper time to recover. It's not a disaster.

The team's fine. It's about the playoffs, not the preseason.

While it isn't about the preseason it is about preparation and conditioning, both big issues with Perk. He has struggled to get back in the flow after injury layoffs. I Iike that O'Bryant and Baby are with this team but I am not excited at all about the prospects of that being this team's Center rotation for more than a handful of games. It is going to put more of a physical beating on KG as well.

Gant wrote:The team's fine. It's about the playoffs, not the preseason.

Home court advantage certainly does help. It's not something you'd worry about if he's healthy by the time regular season starts, but it could hurt the team a lot if it's still a problem come November. I still don't feel they should make a trade though.