Time to praise Perk!!!

[Bruiser]

Hey yo!

It´s obvious that Rondo, Ray, Paul and KG are delivering but I think Perk´s work has been overlooked so far. Beast is giving us career highs in scoring, rebounding, minutes and blocks while playing really really solid. He has 4 double-double nights so far and most important he is providing us a rock down low.

He is not the most talented player on the floor but he gets the work done!!!!!

Any thoughts? Kind regards.

[Athanacropolis]

Bruiser, you are right, and are named well for a threat praising the big man. Perk's rebounding and offense have improved dramatically since even last year: he's more consistent, and I feel like he's slowly but surely learning to control his fouls, and his emotions. His contributions often go underlooked, but he deserves much praise for his recent efforts. A key part of the 15-game win streak.

[Truthiracy]

Perk has picked up his play lately. I just hope he starts to put the ball back up like Al Jefferson does, as oppose to bringing it down to his knees, winding up, and getting his shot blocked.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Perk has picked up his play lately. I just hope he starts to put the ball back up like Al Jefferson does, as oppose to bringing it down to his knees, winding up, and getting his shot blocked.

So someone else agrees with me on this...

He's been better about it lately but he still slips into this bad habit, even a few times last night against Utah...

[ParticleMan]

I'm just amazed he's developed into a guy who you can throw the ball to, clear out, and he can actually get buckets. i never thought that would happen. credit clifford and a lot of hard work from perk. he still looks fugly doing it, but it goes in!

[MVP16]

Yeah, Perk is getting more and more beastly. He's averaging a double double so far in December. The only thing with Perk is he has to get his turnovers down, especially setting illegal picks. But other then that, Perk looks great and he's just 24 so he should keep getting better.

[SuigintouEV]

It´s obvious that Rondo, Ray, Paul and KG are delivering but I think Perk´s work has been overlooked so far. Beast is giving us career highs in scoring, rebounding, minutes and blocks while playing really really solid. He has 4 double-double nights so far and most important he is providing us a rock down low.

eh? i wasn't so sure about that so i dug up the per 36 stats

07/08 vs 08/09
10.2 points on .631 TS vs 10.8 points on .582 TS
8.9 vs 10.6 rebounds
1.6 assists vs 1.6 assists
2.1 vs 2.2
4.6 fouls vs 4.6 fouls
2.4 turnovers vs 3.1 turnovers

maybe he looks better out there, but eh. I wouldn't say that's a huge improvement in stats Just minutes, touches,and rebounds.

[humblebum]

well minutes and rebounds are really important areas for Perkins... I think he's also proving to his teammates that he can score at key moments which is leading to more touches. Also he's playing more at the end of games which is huge because that helps dispel the need of bringing in a frontcourt veteran who can play the last few minutes of games... Perk is stepping into that role.

[return2glory]

Big Props to Perkins. He has improved his offensive game this year. His defense is also better because he doesn't commit that many silly fouls like before. The improvement of Perkins and Rondo are they we are 23-2.

I also like to give props to Clifford Ray. IMO, Clifford has helped Perkins alot. I also look for improvements from POB, if he sticks around long enough.

[Bad-Thoma]

BEAST!!

[Kefa461]

Also when's the last time he's been given a tech......

[Dave_From_NB]

It´s obvious that Rondo, Ray, Paul and KG are delivering but I think Perk´s work has been overlooked so far. Beast is giving us career highs in scoring, rebounding, minutes and blocks while playing really really solid. He has 4 double-double nights so far and most important he is providing us a rock down low.

eh? i wasn't so sure about that so i dug up the per 36 stats

07/08 vs 08/09
10.2 points on .631 TS vs 10.8 points on .582 TS
8.9 vs 10.6 rebounds
1.6 assists vs 1.6 assists
2.1 vs 2.2
4.6 fouls vs 4.6 fouls
2.4 turnovers vs 3.1 turnovers

maybe he looks better out there, but eh. I wouldn't say that's a huge improvement in stats Just minutes, touches,and rebounds.

This is interesting stuff.

I think that the increased minutes for Perk are pretty significant, if Davis is viewed as the backup Center. I know Davis spends minutes elsewhere, which is why I made that comment.

Davis' 36 minute numbers are:

07/08 vs. 08/9
12.0 vs. 8.0 pts
8.0 vs. 6.6 rebounds

I haven't bothered with the other stats, for a Big they aren't really significant.

The extra 4 minutes a game that Perk is playing is important IMO - he has had trouble staying on the floor in the past, and the longer he is on the floor the less the dropoff with Davis in the game. I think Perk increasing (albeit conservatively) his production while increasing his minutes, is a really significant development for the team.

[Collinto]

It´s obvious that Rondo, Ray, Paul and KG are delivering but I think Perk´s work has been overlooked so far. Beast is giving us career highs in scoring, rebounding, minutes and blocks while playing really really solid. He has 4 double-double nights so far and most important he is providing us a rock down low.

eh? i wasn't so sure about that so i dug up the per 36 stats

07/08 vs 08/09
10.2 points on .631 TS vs 10.8 points on .582 TS
8.9 vs 10.6 rebounds
1.6 assists vs 1.6 assists
2.1 vs 2.2
4.6 fouls vs 4.6 fouls
2.4 turnovers vs 3.1 turnovers

maybe he looks better out there, but eh. I wouldn't say that's a huge improvement in stats Just minutes, touches,and rebounds.

There is a reason that this thread was started today and not a month ago.

His per 36 stats for the month of December (9 games) are a big improvement. 14.7 pts, 11.5 rebs.

Which brings me to what is most impressive about Perkins, imo. Every year he makes a huge leap in one aspect of his game. From his body and athleticism, then his rebounding, then defense, to his post offense. And we have seen glimpses of his mid range shooting.

Perkins just steadily improves. And as a 24 year old Center, he is not finished yet. That is what has me impressed. In an age of high school super stars and instant gratification, Perkins has the type of work ethic and grit that long successful careers are built on.

[Pogue Mahone]

I attempted to search for relevant posts I had made in regards to Perkins' development (to no avail.) In lieu of those posts, please direct your attention to PIAB.

To wit:

FWIW, I said over the summer that Perk had already demonstrated at least one breakout in his career that happened approximately around the time of the Szczurvy-Yack trade. It was somewhat obfuscated by injury (shoulder) but I do believe it was real. That it occurred at approximately the 1700 minute mark of his career reaffirmed what my eyes were already telling me; Perkins has/had an advanced understanding of role. By examining trends, I am pretty confident that Perk will have another sizable breakout, assuming regular consistent playing time, sometime around March of this season. It may well be hidden from the casual observer because of his current role in the offense, though.

Perkins upside, in my eyes, is that of an eventual 15 ppg 11 rpg 2 bpg player. That his defense is already pretty advanced, age-wise, I think he is going to develop into one hell of a player that not only anchors his team’s defense but also has the ability to exploit players in the post.

Hoop Geek on PIAB - 18 Nov 07

I agree that Perkins still has work to do but I think it is purely confidence-based. I have watched him hit the jumper (more a set shot) out to 18 feet. I have seen him utilize the drop step, the up-and-under, the turn-around, the baby hook and the fall-away. Of all his moves, I feel least comfortable when he attempts to power-up and dunk. With his pterodactyl wingspan and incredible standing reach, I would much rather him use the basket itself to deter shot-blockers than attempt to power it home in traffic. I think Perk is just scratching the surface and will continue to get better for quite some time. Expect a similar break-out, though more sustained, to the one he had in the beginning of March. It will happen just prior to Christmas next season.

Hoop Geek on PIAB - 12 May 08

----------------------------

This is going to sound crazy to some but I see a lot of Hakeem Olajuwon in Perkins' game. Forget the difference in athleticism and the different body. What I mean is, when you watch Perkins fall-away and drift, in close, and bank it softly off the glass, that is classic Hakeem. When you watch him pass out of the double team on the box, his mannerisms are very similar, as well.

Now clearly, Perkins will never be as good as Hakeem. I am just saying that I see a lot of Hakeem's game in Perkins.

What I do know is that Perkins is just now starting to get the offensive confidence to do what he has always had the capability of doing. He is actually quite deft around the hoop when he is not second-guessing himself. If anyone is able to catch some old footage from Perkules in high school, you will realize that he is a lot more talented than he looks. He has the athleticism to compete at this level and, to me at least, it was always about him finding the confidence.

Viva la Perk!

[MyInsatiableOne]

Perk has all but abandoned his perpetual bad habits the last 2 games and WHATTAYA KNOW??? He's scoring MORE!

[MalReyn]

It´s obvious that Rondo, Ray, Paul and KG are delivering but I think Perk´s work has been overlooked so far. Beast is giving us career highs in scoring, rebounding, minutes and blocks while playing really really solid. He has 4 double-double nights so far and most important he is providing us a rock down low.

eh? i wasn't so sure about that so i dug up the per 36 stats

07/08 vs 08/09
10.2 points on .631 TS vs 10.8 points on .582 TS
8.9 vs 10.6 rebounds
1.6 assists vs 1.6 assists
2.1 vs 2.2
4.6 fouls vs 4.6 fouls
2.4 turnovers vs 3.1 turnovers

maybe he looks better out there, but eh. I wouldn't say that's a huge improvement in stats Just minutes, touches,and rebounds.

Maintaining production while increasing minutes is huge. For many players (like Perk), play tends to dropoff as they are on the court longer and get tired. The fact that Perk's play isn't dropping off at all despite playing more minutes is a great sign in itself.

[jfs1000d]

Of all the moves Danny has made, this is the most impressive IMO.

You do not get 6-11 true centers with the 27th pick in the draft. This guy is playing like a lottery talent.

Think of how many busts are made after the 10th pick on guys over 6-10.

This thing didn't take luck or chance, and it didn't take money. The pick took vision of what this guy could become.

He couldn't play when he came to the NBA. Now, he is an NBA starter who is budding into an above average center. Perk's prime he will be 10 pts, 12 rpg. That is just short of an all-star center when you consider his energy and defensive level.

That they are getting anything out of him is amazing. I think he is a terrific player. Danny gets credit for seeing the diamond in the rough. Perk gets credit for polishing it.

He is a physical,powerful and aggressive player.

[jfs1000d]

BTW,he is signed at $4.4 mill for the next two years. Bargain, he is worth double that.