starting center?

[Clevelander]

just curious who is going to be starting at center for the thunder this year? I hope to see adams step in and have a solid rookie campaign.

[HornetJail]

I hope the Thunder just move Perkins out of the rotation altogether, starting Ibaka at the 5 and Collison at the 4, and then bringing in Adams and PJ3 as the backup bigs so that nobody has to watch Perkins or Thabeet for much time at all. Knowing Scott Brooks, there's no chance Adams is seeing much floor time this year.

[wizkid27]

I don't think there is any doubt that perk will start. Most fans don't want him to and I don't think he'll play even half of the minutes at the position, but he'll almost definitely be the starter.

[Podirk]

I don't think there is any doubt that perk will start. Most fans don't want him to and I don't think he'll play even half of the minutes at the position, but he'll almost definitely be the starter.

This is my expectation too...

Hoping he doesn't play half of the C minutes but you never know with Brooks. He did a lil better limiting Perks mins a little in the playoffs.

[sonictecture]

I hope the Thunder just move Perkins out of the rotation altogether, starting Ibaka at the 5 and Collison at the 4, and then bringing in Adams and PJ3 as the backup bigs so that nobody has to watch Perkins or Thabeet for much time at all. Knowing Scott Brooks, there's no chance Adams is seeing much floor time this year.

How did Brooks go from the coach who developed young players in Durant, Green, Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden, and Jackson to the coach who doesn't play rookies? I'd have to say you don't know Brooks. Rookies who can contribute will be given a chance at minutes and rookies or young players who are not ready to contribute will be developed outside the playing rotation.

Perkins deserves a chance to show he can be more effective and the younger players deserve a chance to see if they can be more effective. If none of the younger players can step up and challenge Perkins, then Perkins probably wins the starting job by default.

[HornetJail]

I hope the Thunder just move Perkins out of the rotation altogether, starting Ibaka at the 5 and Collison at the 4, and then bringing in Adams and PJ3 as the backup bigs so that nobody has to watch Perkins or Thabeet for much time at all. Knowing Scott Brooks, there's no chance Adams is seeing much floor time this year.

How did Brooks go from the coach who developed young players in Durant, Green, Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden, and Jackson to the coach who doesn't play rookies? I'd have to say you don't know Brooks. Rookies who can contribute will be given a chance at minutes and rookies or young players who are not ready to contribute will be developed outside the playing rotation.

Perkins deserves a chance to show he can be more effective and the younger players deserve a chance to see if they can be more effective. If none of the younger players can step up and challenge Perkins, then Perkins probably wins the starting job by default.

When did Brooks ever give Jackson, Aldrich, Mullens, Lamb, or Jones any playing time as rookies? Up to 2009-10, Brooks gave his rookies playing time because the team didn't have any other choice. Since the first playoff run, not a single rookie has played ANY meaningful minutes for the Thunder. You can't step up and challenge Perkins if you never play. I hope Brooks gives Adams PT because I think he might be something special, but unfortunately we won't be seeing him outside of the D-League or during 40-point blowouts.

[Bravenewworld]

Perkins deserves a chance to show he can be more effective and the younger players deserve a chance to see if they can be more effective. If none of the younger players can step up and challenge Perkins, then Perkins probably wins the starting job by default.

I think Perkins has been given that chance numerous times.
He is a good center to have on the bench when the Thunder have to play a team like the Grizzlies or Rockets. He is a situation center only needed for going against teams with big true centers, which 80% of NBA teams do not have.

[Devilanche]

At this point, so long as we're not facing the western conference teams that have a true center, might as well play small with Ibaka/Durant as C/PF rotation or give Adams some minutes to play.

Come playoff, Perkins would be as healthy as can be.

[Balkman32]

The rooks did not play because they were not good enough.

Perk will start. Adams has some potential to play since he is strong. But, Thabeet and Orton both now have a year under their belt in the System. Can they rise up? Remember, Orton is only 23, he played pretty well in the Summer league.

[Marcus50]

Dont expect to see Adams in the first half of the season unless it is in the D League. Brooks will not play any of the rookies and will load up Durant, Westbrooke and Ibaka. Perk will start and get more minutes than we all want to see. Simply Brooks style is to play it safe

[sonictecture]

Adams showed however briefly in summer league that he might be in a better position to play sooner than prospects that came before him.

The biggest part of this was showing an ability to defend the paint without fouling every play. Aldrich typically would have 8-9 fouls per game in summer league play and continued to have issues in the d league and NBA. Thabeet's showed an ability to play physical last year but also fouled too often.

Secondly Adams is bigger and stronger than Aldrich or Mullens. Adams doesn't look like a huge bruiser, he's still pretty wiry for his height, but the play in summer league where the 6'-7" 225 lb SF ran directly into Adams and crumpled to the floor while Adams didn't even put his hands on his knees showed an innate strength. Holding position is the first thing the team asks from the center position.

Adams' doesn't have the best hands on the team of the centers, those belong to Orton, but his hands are better than Perkins and Thabett. Adams looks to make simple plays and so his turnovers should be limited.

Adams' has better feet than Aldrich, Perkins or Thabeet and understands positioning better than Orton. This means that in pick and roll defense Adams showed the ability to follow the guard from the foul line and disrupt the shot. He has the athleticism to allow the team to increase pace if desired in transition and has the ability to track and find his man.

The truth is with Perkins physical limitations, we have asked less and less out of the position. Adams isn't that far away despite his lack of experience.

[Devilanche]

The truth is with Perkins physical limitations, we have asked less and less out of the position. Adams isn't that far away despite his lack of experience.

I couldn't agree more and i like how this is going.

[bondom34]

The truth is with Perkins physical limitations, we have asked less and less out of the position. Adams isn't that far away despite his lack of experience.

I couldn't agree more and i like how this is going.

A mannequin on wheels with arms is only a slight downgrade.

[Devilanche]

The truth is with Perkins physical limitations, we have asked less and less out of the position. Adams isn't that far away despite his lack of experience.

I couldn't agree more and i like how this is going.

A mannequin on wheels with arms is only a slight downgrade.

to be fair, i fully expect Perkins to make more Jumpers and jump higher than the mannequin with wheels.
I don't think the mannequin with wheels will cost 9m though.

[Joel Embust]

Adams showed however briefly in summer league that he might be in a better position to play sooner than prospects that came before him.

The biggest part of this was showing an ability to defend the paint without fouling every play. Aldrich typically would have 8-9 fouls per game in summer league play and continued to have issues in the d league and NBA. Thabeet's showed an ability to play physical last year but also fouled too often.

Secondly Adams is bigger and stronger than Aldrich or Mullens. Adams doesn't look like a huge bruiser, he's still pretty wiry for his height, but the play in summer league where the 6'-7" 225 lb SF ran directly into Adams and crumpled to the floor while Adams didn't even put his hands on his knees showed an innate strength. Holding position is the first thing the team asks from the center position.

Adams' doesn't have the best hands on the team of the centers, those belong to Orton, but his hands are better than Perkins and Thabett. Adams looks to make simple plays and so his turnovers should be limited.

Adams' has better feet than Aldrich, Perkins or Thabeet and understands positioning better than Orton. This means that in pick and roll defense Adams showed the ability to follow the guard from the foul line and disrupt the shot. He has the athleticism to allow the team to increase pace if desired in transition and has the ability to track and find his man.

The truth is with Perkins physical limitations, we have asked less and less out of the position. Adams isn't that far away despite his lack of experience.

Agreed, also the game where Jackson scored 35 it was Adams who was setting hard picks, freeing Jackson to pull-up or drive. Those two would be awesome together in the 2nd unit.