I don't like that Rivers is being unclear that Perkins is his starting center. I've to think that Perkins' tendency to injure his shoulder might be a concern. But Perkins is such an ideal match for Garnett. Conversely, Garnett and Wallace starting together are two finesse players. That could mean that Pierce and Rondo will need to rebound more. Someone is going to have to play on the box, go inside for offense. Both Garnett and Wallace are capable of going inside, but tend not to. They like that turn around mid-range shot, or in Wallace case, to stray further outside for a three.
I think Perkins is entrenched in the starting lineup, he has earned it. But I've a feeling that Rivers will try to appease Wallace. I wouldn't have thought that starting would matter to him at this stage in his career. He simply wants to be a part of a team. He'll get that situation with Boston. He needs to tell Rivers that he doesn't want to start. But Rivers could say to him differently.
Wallace is not expected to be in the starting lineup, which includes Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins, but Rivers said no determination has been made.
“He gives us a dimension we didn’t have,’’ Rivers said. “The extra shooter is the biggest part, and the extra shooter that can guard a [center] makes it even [better]. His impact is huge because it really helps other guys. I think it will help Kevin, it will help Perk, and I think it will really, really help Rondo. Because in the playoffs, when teams decide to help off of Rondo, they use Perk as the other guy they can zone up with. When we go at times with Kevin and Rasheed on the floor, if you’re going to help off of Rondo, you’re going to leave Ray, Paul, Kevin, or Rasheed - and that’s difficult. And if you don’t, now Rondo becomes more effective, which I think is going to be the case.
“Like I’ve always said, we’ll get to camp and work it out. I envision - I don’t know if we’ll change our starting five or not - but we’re going to put our best starting five on the floor. I’m going to wait and see how his body looks. It is a long season, but we know our guys. I don’t know Rasheed, yet, in that way, so that will be something I’ll have to find out as the year goes on. We’ve done a pretty good job of pacing, but if you have injuries, all of that stuff goes out of the window.’’
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