Anyone else think Perks starting job is in jeopardy?

[JMillott]

As for his physical conditioning I think the Celtics are trying to get him in better shape without having him lose to much bulk, his future in this league is as a under-height center where his strong base and bulk allows him to physically hold his ground and his athletic ability, jumper and niftyness allows him to pull them out on pick/roll/pop plays.

Not really buying it - just looks like a guy that has trouble losing weight. BBD weighs 300lbs or so right now. He could lose 25 - 30 pounds without any real loss of muscle. He just chooses not too.

I agree...so the C's want him to stay fat, be slow, unable to jump, and have poor stamina? How does that make sense? I'm with Pete, here. It's amazing how the people who railed about how "fat" Antoine was when he was here (and he then did something about it) give Davis a pass....man-love alert!!

Glen Davis is 6'7 1/2 and he the reason he can't jump isn't just because he is too fat he simply isn't that kind of athlete. His bulk allows him to hold his ground in the post against nearly every center in the league but his footwork, low center of gravity and that he can pull them away from the basket with his jumper or go by them when they try and challenge.

Without that extra 25-30 lbs he couldn't play center and he'd no longer be at such a strength advantage or be able to use his large booty to clear space for himself in the paint.

This is a guy who can be a rotation player as is for a contending team as he has already proven, the key to his future isn't trying to lose weight and find out if he can play without the size but to keep him from getting any further out of shape.

He isn't ever going to be a starter in this league, he is going to be able to give teams 10-25 minutes a game of solid basketball at the center position and like most players of his ilk will have a shorter career because once he loses a step or begins to have injury problems its a quick ride downhill.

[FNQ]

POB @ best should be a rotational backup C this season... he was never in good shape to begin with, but with 2 years of being a practice cone and no gameplay, it probably got worse... it's a pretty common problem with really young players, as a chunk of their exercise (and motivation) come from playing in games... POB's the poster boy of that right now.

Perk's a solid player and he's not in any danger this season, as he seems to understand his limitations and plays well within the system. A solid season by Cakes as the backup and this might be a credible fear going into next season... but even that's pretty slim.

[avi623]

Dear God. Perk is probably the most underrated player in the NBA.

WOW! If this isn't a little bit of hyperbole. Perk gets the credit he deserves. Let's not make him out to be Moses Malone here.

Although I do agree, Perk is the starter and will be unless he is injured and in street clothes.

[GuyClinch]

Glen Davis is 6'7 1/2 and he the reason he can't jump isn't just because he is too fat he simply isn't that kind of athlete.

He jumps pretty well for a fat guy. Any bball fan should know that excess weight robs you of your explosiveness. It's not exactly rocket science - extra muscle might make you jump higher or move faster but extra fat will slow you down.

His bulk allows him to hold his ground in the post against nearly every center in the league but his footwork, low center of gravity and that he can pull them away from the basket with his jumper or go by them when they try and challenge.

Uh huh. I assume that you play basketball right? So those fat guys give you hell? <g> Davis succeeds inspite of his excess girth. It's not an advantage at the NBA level. Being strong is an advantage but extra fat doesn't really help a player. That's NBA players tend to be in much better shape then average joes. Observers have noted Davis huffing and puffing after a few trips down the court. Do you REALLY disagree or are you just telling yourself this to make yourself feel better?

But what do I know maybe you think that we could bring in Eddie Curry, Jerome James and Antione Walker at let their 'excess bulk" bring us another title. LMAO. Excess bulk robs you of explosiveness, and stamina which it turns out are far more useful to NBA players then the "bulk."

No the truth is BBD would be better then ever if he lost his baby fat..

Without that extra 25-30 lbs he couldn't play center and he'd no longer be at such a strength advantage or be able to use his large booty to clear space for himself in the paint.

Yeah those 25 pounds of fat make all the difference. if he was ripped at 270 he would be a weakling I guess and everyone would just shove him out of the paint.

Personally, I think BBD is impressive for a guy with his bodyfat level. I think he has talent. But it will never realize his full potential carrying around that spare tire. Even worse his excess weight will in my view shorten his career as its very hard on your joints to handle that excess weight.

Oliver Miller was a talented player too - and like BBD he could jump for a fat guy. But he ate himself out of the league. So was Tractor Traylor - he ate himself out of the league. BBD isn't that bad off but doesnt really seem to be streamrolling in the right direction.

Perkins is a guy who managed to lose that baby fat and maximize his (in my view limited) physical talent (apart from his colossal size). That's the kind of guy I like to root for.

I am not an anti BBD guy. His lack of commitment to conditioning/good eating habits ticks me off. But even so I'd rather see him in the mix over Cassell or Scalabrine right now..

Pete

[humblebum]

I just truly don't get the criticisms of BBD's conditioning. When he's on the court he plays with energy, he sprints both ends of the court and he plays solidly in the pick and pop/roll game. If there was this tremendous lack of energy on the court from Glen, or if he was dogging it there would be a problem. The guy has a big frame and it's clearly difficult for him to lose weight. But, unlike Eddie Curry or Tractor Traylor he's not dogging it in games. He's not getting beat up the court on defense. The only thing that could be said is that he could be an even better player if he had the weight off. Well, if he had the weight off he'd be a starter rather than a role player. In that sense I understand the frustration, but IMO, Davis is still an effective role player.

[Celtsfan1980]

The problem I have is I do have expectations that Davis could be a starter. He's been compared to Anthony Mason a lot and I could see him becoming as good as he was at some point. He has to get in better shape if he's going to be playing 25-30 minutes per game, and it doesn't look like that has happened. He lost weight for several years in a row coming into his rookie season, so it's a shame that it hasn't happened.

[MyInsatiableOne]

The problem I have is I do have expectations that Davis could be a starter. He's been compared to Anthony Mason a lot and I could see him becoming as good as he was at some point. He has to get in better shape if he's going to be playing 25-30 minutes per game, and it doesn't look like that has happened. He lost weight for several years in a row coming into his rookie season, so it's a shame that it hasn't happened.

Well said. If anything he looks a little bigger than last year...didn't he come in to his rookie season DOWN 30 from college? YIKES!

[JMillott]

I think people are out of their minds if they are actually thinking its in the realm of what might reasonably happen that Glen Davis is going to get and shape but retain the ability to play center.

I also do believe that the man does use his body type as part of his game in fact his girth and ability to take up space is how he gets almost all his points in the paint. He has in fact made use of his considerable girth as part of his game and its quite clear to anybody who spends any serious time watching him play.

This isn't an Anthony Mason clone, he isn't even as talented (not even close) as Oliver Miller or nearly as athletic either. Enjoy Big Baby for what he is a shorterm low cost rotation calibur bigman not what you hope he could one day become if he were to get in shape and all of a sudden add 10" to his vertical.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Well I guess his college nickname of baby-Shaq was accurate as far as his dedication to conditioning goes! if not his skills...

[Twinkie defense]

Didn't you guys read Vescey's piece? Patrick is the next Robert Parish.

BTW, what's the over/under on Patrick's DNP-CDs this season?

[MyInsatiableOne]

Didn't you guys read Vescey's piece? Patrick is the next Robert Parish.

BTW, what's the over/under on Patrick's DNP-CDs this season?

GREAT avatar, too!

[GuyClinch]

I just truly don't get the criticisms of BBD's conditioning. When he's on the court he plays with energy, he sprints both ends of the court and he plays solidly in the pick and pop/roll game. If there was this tremendous lack of energy on the court from Glen, or if he was dogging it there would be a problem.

You can't be serious. You don't get how people could be upset with a player who doesn't take care of his body or watch his diet. Yes he plays hard on the court (as stamina allows) but why not wish for a player to be all he can be. <g>

The guy is playing at a fraction of his potential right now. This kind of thing happens all the time to these kids with bad eating habits. Memphis coach John Calapari is dealing with a very similiar problem (link from weight watch thread in CBlog)

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... d=10319793

In the real world we know that players can lose weight and they will play better. BBD is being lax - and it's a shame because its going to cost him in the long run.

[celtsfan0254]

Starting job in jeopardy? This is a man who locked up some of the BEST post players in the game. Shut them down. Now we see some flashes in preseason and some pretty plays from others and we throw him off the bus? Stats don't mean everything. Perkins means too much too much to the team and helps keep KG fresh on defense and able to ''roam''.

[SeizeCoup]

Sort of OT:

Today I spent some time at BSC in Waltham which is also where the Celtics' training facility is located. I'm in the weight/machine area when down the stairs from the upper level walks Perkins. Seriously. He went in to the pool area and spent some time in the hot-tub therapy thing. Then, as I was leaving, going up the stairs to the exit, Perk walks right by me! I couldn't bring myself to bother him but I did give a head nod, I'm pretty sure he didn't even notice me. lol. One other thing, the person I was working out with told me that Baby did a step class the other evening, sort of random but somewhat topical considering all this conversation.

[Bigmiketruth]

I don't get how one can say Baby is lax about conditioning or getting in shape. Guess you didn't see him in the final four. He looks like a completely different person. more than likely this is his ideal weight. I'd find out what his bf % is now.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I don't get how one can say Baby is lax about conditioning or getting in shape. Guess you didn't see him in the final four. He looks like a completely different person. more than likely this is his ideal weight. I'd find out what his bf % is now.

Dude that's not a testament to his dedication, it's a testament to how much MORE grossly overweight he was in college. He dropped 30 lbs coming in to last year and is STILL overweight...and after winning a ring and playing in the NBA, you'd think he'd come back in even BETTER shape raring to go this year...but no. He's the anti-Powe. Powe is driven and is going to be in the league a long time and very successful...BBD could take a page or two out of his book (and not eat them!)

[sully00]

You all must be a bunch of salad eaters. Look Baby doesn't have a basketball body, he is not James Posey trapped in a fat man. Richard Seymour is 6'6" and goes 300lbs and there isn't an inch to pinch on the guy. Big Baby is 6'8", I don't feel like researching another man's body all that much but my guess is that he is as big a guy shoulder to shoulder as you will find in the league. Never mind Leon who is rocked up version Pierce, that isn't who Baby physically. At 18 years old Baby was 6'8" 345lbs ran 5 second 40 and was a top recruit in basketball and football, now he is in the 280-290lbs range. Could he get 275lbs maybe but he is never going to be 240lbs. If the team bitches about his weight and conditioning then sure it is an issue but if it isn't coming from them I would leave it alone and focus on his play.

The one thing I really want to see Davis improve on this season is his defensive rebounding. I have been somewhat critical of what PJ really gave this team but that was really the key that he did a solid job owning those defensive rebounds so that we could at least attack the retreating defense if not fast break because we didn't have to have the wings crashing the glass on defense.

In the end O'Bryant gives this team the length and shot blocking and Baby a little bang and a little more offense. Through camp they are dead even in rebounding but it seems that OBryant has fallen off quite a bit since going to the bench. That will be the key who brings the consistent energy level and effort on the glass and the defensive end.