Everyone accept Perk as a great starter?

[billfromBoston]

Remember this argument from the past 5 seasons?

Even up to last year we've constantly heard "he is what he is at this point." or "He's a backup at best." Then there is the always aggravating, "Perk is a complete offensive liability and always will be."

Yet, Perkins has steadily improved in each of his 6 seasons in the league and now can be considered not only one of THE best low-post defenders, but a burgeoning low post offensive threat as well.

With all the talk surrounding the "Big 3" and what this team's future holds after the "window" is closed, we are watching our two young book-end players turn into the players that will help lead the future of this team.

Perk is combining outstanding rebounding and timely blocks with a very-reliable offensive repertoire. He is hitting his hook, fade-away, reverse-pivot with regularity and beginning to show a turn-around and face-up 15 footer that have the promise of consistency in them. As a starting center he is drawing double-coverage on many possessions and looks like he can handle even more offensive responsibility in time....dare we say there may be an All Star game in his future some day? At this rate and at his position, I wouldn't doubt it - He is no 13/9/3 in the playoffs thus far.

A silver lining in all the turmoil of this post-season is that we all should now clearly see just how integral both Rondo and Perkins will be over the next decade plus. As GPA age and the team begins to transition, we don't have to hope for the Bill Walker's of the world to become stars - this team has two outstanding two-way players at the two most difficult positions to fill.

We'll see how PF/SF/SG plays out via free agency, trade, and player development, but the rebuilding of this team has become a much clearer and easier proposition thanks to the established fact that this team has two star youngsters to build around.

Time will tell what roles Glen Davis, Leon Powe, and Bill Walker play on this team - each looks like they can contribute to a playoff team - but Perk and Rondo have played COMPLETE games on both ends of the court and given this team great hope for the short and long-term future.

I can't wait to see what this squad looks like next season after the growth they've experienced throughout this one....

[DorfonCeltics]

Yes yes and yes! Perk is a beast. IMO, last night was his best game as a pro. He is definitely a top 10 starting center in the league. He has gotten better every year. It's crazy that him and Rondo have been our two best players in this series. I still don't think he has reached his ceiling which is crazy to say. Really? No fouls last night? Just awesome performance from our big man.

[UGA Hayes]

I would add the caveat that from a scoring standpoint he couldn't have a better matchup and I suspect his offensive numbers would go down quite a bit if he were to face Howard in the next round. That doesn't take away from the fact that he has made so much improvement in the post which is quite unusual; usually bigs without Jefferson or Duncan level talent develop a jumpshot or one semi-reliable move.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Absolutely, Perk is a legit starter and a damn good one at that!!

[billfromBoston]

I would add the caveat that from a scoring standpoint he couldn't have a better matchup and I suspect his offensive numbers would go down quite a bit if he were to face Howard in the next round. That doesn't take away from the fact that he has made so much improvement in the post which is quite unusual; usually bigs without Jefferson or Duncan level talent develop a jumpshot or one semi-reliable move.

Really going out on a limb saying Perk may not find as much success against Howard, (DPOY.)

Just foolin, man...seriously though, there are few big men that can match Perks strength now, so Perk is getting to his spot on the floor for that hook shot. Against the bigger bigs he does face, he has added that fall-away and is developing that turn-around and face-up - just total dedication to improvement from a player that is fast becoming a quality two-way option...

[Kefa461]

Perk is doing a great job......13.4/11.0/3.2 blocks without KG......He's still learning on the job and still 24 years old. He's a guy who gets picked on and WILL get better.

[sully00]

I love Perk I don't know that he is as good offensively as he looks against Miller and Noah but he has improved so much and he is still so young and works so hard. He may always be a little bit less offensively than you would want out of a starting center but he is a real center not posing PF and will be an All Defensive team one at that which is a hell of a lot more important than an All Star.

I think Mark Jackson paid Perk the ultimate compliment he said he is Boston's Charles Oakley, he gives you what he need.

[Celts17Pride]

I have always been a huge Perk fan. Credit goes to the Celtics and to Perk for taking the time and effort to develop him through the years. Perkins has always been underrated IMO. By the way, he is only 24 years old.

[Banks2Pierce]

Perk is possibly the best non-rookie contract in the entire league for how much he does. I bet his agent wishes this was the NFL. I think he is making like $4 mil a year. Look at Dampier and Dalembert's contracts and realize the bargain we are getting with Perk. He is an eraser to anyone that has come in the lane, has gotten light years better with his foul trouble, and is a phenomenal low post defender.

I like the young guys we have. I think Rondo is enough be to part of "the next big 3." I don't see Perk as being in that class. We will have to parlay Ray, Paul and Ticket into 1 or 2 more big names to be able to win a title again after their window has closed. Perk has the center position locked down for us, though. Teams struggle to find that center for decades and we have found our guy. Perk is a huge, huge steal at 27th in the draft.

[BeanTownBrawler]

I've been on the Perk bandwagon since we drafted him. At that point all we needed was a beast rebounder and I thought he could've played that role right away and just used all his fouls up, meanwhile learning in the process. Now he is just a legitimate beast who is learning how to use his body offensively as well.

[sully00]

I think the only bargain better in the NBA than Kendrick Perkins might be Clifford Ray.

[Rocky5000]

Perk is great, his defense has been HUGE in this series. My only complaint with him is that he's really prone to turning the ball over. If the other team traps him in a double team, he's very likely to lose the ball. But there's a lot of things that he's improved upon like that, so I don't see it being a problem once Ray works with him on it. He used to always be bringing the ball down, before going up with it, but now he's running the break and slicing around defenders. Perk has shown that he's able to improve upon his weaknesses, which is something that 90% of NBA players never do.

[elrod enchilada]

great bullseye post, BfB.

Perk has always been a favorite of mine; what he provides is very difficult to find. He will be a quality starting center for the next 8-10 years, health permitting, and he may even sneak on to an all-star team or two. He is the second best defensive center in the league, or awfully close to that status.

Compare Perk's blocks to Josh Smith or Tyrus Thomas. Those guys fly over from the weakside and smash the ball 19 rows into the stands. They gamble off their man to make the dramatic block. And their teams do not get possession of the ball.

Perk makes his blocks playing straight up post defense. He is underneath the basket playing true nterior defense. And, like Russ, his blocks more often than not end up as Cs possessions.

[BillessuR6]

I said 3 season ago that he was going to be a starter on a championship team and last year it happened. I am not surprised by his development, I have always believed in him. But he still a lot of room for improvement, especially on the offensive end...

[Kids Are Alright]

He oughta get that ball up in the air some on his shots.....I think watching the earlier version of Rondo has taught him to wind the ball at the hoop.

Great D, really great D against the Bulls, limited offense, still a whole lot better than Blount or "The French Mullet" LaFrentz, was for the money.

[stretch]

Just imagine if Al Jefferson was still here. Perk and Jefferson (if healthy) would dominate the league. Remember 05-06, those string of games in which Perk/Al just dominated (until Al went down).

I'd like to see an older, 28-32 year old Big Al, 5-7 years from now, come back to Boston.


That would be like a Moses Malone/Charles Oakley front court or something.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Perk and Al would not dominate the league...Al = KG minus the D and jumpshot...I really liked Al when he was here but Al and Perk would be a porous interior...and not 'cos of Perk!

[BillessuR6]

Don`t worry. A beast is coming...

[BRUNiNHO91]

Yes yes and yes! Perk is a beast. IMO, last night was his best game as a pro. He is definitely a top 10 starting center in the league. He has gotten better every year. It's crazy that him and Rondo have been our two best players in this series. I still don't think he has reached his ceiling which is crazy to say. Really? No fouls last night? Just awesome performance from our big man.

Really... Top 10? I say top 5...you take away Howard and I don't see anybody better than him defensively...offensively I guess you could put Yao and a couple more ahead of him...but overall Perk is top 5 in this league at the C position IMO...

[Bad-Thoma]

Perk has been my favorite player on this team since Delonte West was here, and Delonte and he were tied then. He just works hard every night and... here we go.... plays with intensity. I started being impressed in Perk's second season when Jermaine O'neal tangled him up and Perk just kind of dismissed him... right onto the floor. Whistle blew, Perk never changed his expression. It's great watching him and Rondo blossom (can't forget about BBD either) this series, they've heard the call and responded.