Ball or Nuthin' » Kendrick Perkins

Blake Griffin’s Monster Dunk

T Lamont — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:38:06 +0000

Straight from the Clippers’ beatdown of the Thunder was this epic moment:

This is clearly the frontrunner for the NBA’s poster of the year.

It’s not very often that Kendrick Perkins gets bullied like that…so enjoy it.

On another note, it’ll be interesting to see how the Thunder rebound from their defeat at the hands of an opponent who they were up for. This matchup could very well be some sort of postseason preview, and Los Angeles certainly upstaged them this time around.

Stick a Fork in the Celtics…They’re Done

T Lamont — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:52:32 +0000

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Sure, Miami did what it was supposed to do.

It held serve by winning its first two home games of its series with the Boston Celtics. But, if you watched those games, you’d realize that the Heat did much, much more than that.

It goes against conventional wisdom to count out an accomplished, vetrean team like the Celtics. However, Miami is far from conventional.

Jumping out to a 2-0 series lead, the Heat have looked as good as video game makers expected them to look. The Heat’s highlight reel has been flooded with crossovers, ball fakes, blocked shots, slam dunk and alley-oops. And unfortunately for Boston, Miami has to win to more games before it’s highlight reel video is complete.

Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have declared an all-out assault on any basket being defended by the Celtics. If basketball hoops had any feelings, they would feel about as old and beat up as the guys in green.

Although they are responding in a very professional manner by properly acknowledging that the series is “far, far from over,” the vindication of the first two wins must feel very sweet for the dynamic duo. Last season, the Celtics dispatched the teams of both superstars in the trek to the NBA Finals. Boston ousted Miami (led by Wade) in the opening round, 4-1, and followed that by halting the Cleveland Cavaliers (led by James), 4-2.

Clearly, Wade and James were each the superior individual talents in those series, but Boston’s had their deck stacked with stars (Pierce, Allen and Garnett), and role players (Tony Allen, Glen Davis and Eddie House). And, of course, they had the player whom I believe is now leaving Boston with a huge void, Kendrick Perkins. But this time around, the Heat are exposing the Celtics’ lack of interior defensive presence…and they are doing it in a big way. The trading of Perkins should have been a red flag to all who felt that Boston would meet Miami in the postseason.

In their previous playoff runs, Boston was strong enough to withstand the efforts of one of these superstars – when teamed with other of sub-superstar quality. But having them both on the same team? With no one to match them athletically? And no one to clog the middle?

This is the view that Celtic defenders have had of the Miami Heat's Big Three in their conference semifinal series.

I recall the stat which is often cited during the NBA playoffs – the team winning Game 1 of a postseason series goes on to win that series roughly 70% of the time. I’m sure that percentage increases dramatically when that team is also victorious in Game 2. But there is a bit more behind that statistic than fans normally realize. In the traditional playoff formatting, the team hosting the opening game of the series is the home team. By the numbers, they are the team that accumulated the better regular season record (of the two teams), and have therefore played the best and most consistent basketball all season long.

While that descripiton may not be one that’s fitting to the Heat, many have rightfully realized that they have been a work in progress. And judging from the opening two games of the series, Boston – the older, slower and unhealthier team – may have too much to contend with.

I’m not saying that the Celtics won make things a little more interesting, but they are not going to win four out of five games against Miami. Certainly not based on the way that either of these teams is playing at the moment.

Well done.

That’s a term that can describe Miami’s aggresson, internsity and sense of urgency thus far in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

It’s also a term that fits the Celtics, since the new kids on the block have all but stuck a fork in them.

Bon apetit.

Perkins Trade Even Baffling to Teammates

T Lamont — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:49:13 +0000

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Let’s start with the good news for Boston – they have about a month and a half to recover from what happened yesterday.

And now to the bad news – what happened yesterday was that the Celtics traded away Kendrick Perkins.

Boston, a clear front runner in the race for the NBA title, sent its defensive anchor packing. We’ll get to what they got in return in a minute. But for now, let’s focus on the fact that Perkins is missing from Boston’s lineup.

Perkins is obviously a big man, so he leaves a big hole. But although his stature isn’t as grand as, say, Shaquille O’Neal, his defensive presence had long eclipsed that of the Big Aristotle. Perkins knows how to play perfectly within the Celtics’ system, positioning himself for everything from rebounds to blocked shots to charges. He’s been the ultimate team player.

One only had to look as far as his ex-teammates’ faces during their game last night at Denver. There was a general sense of bewilderment that could be seen in the players as they took the floor. Even (Boston head coach) Doc Rivers appeared to be unusually distracted. Although Perkins is not a consistent offensive contributor, Boston stumbled its way to a meager 75 points against an up-and-down, high tempo Nuggets team who had just traded away its franchise star. Predictably, the Celtics wound up losing by 14 in a game that they would have otherwise won by 20.

Perkins presence has been so significant that many analysts project that the Celtics would have won the NBA Finals over the Lakers last year had it not been for Perkins’ Game 7 suspension. As the season has progressed, Boston has been playing great defensive basketball – particularly since Perkins’ return to the lineup. But the Celtics have lost a big part of their team’s identity, and must figure out how to pick up the pieces before its too late.

Perkins ignited his Boston teammates with his fire and intensity.

Welcome to a team with Finals aspirations, Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. Krstic is simply the typical European big man. He has no back-to-the-basket game, he has a nice stroke from about 15-17 feet, and provides no interior presence defensively. That’s about it. The real interesting player (other than Perk) in this deal is Green.

J-Green is one of the guys who comes off as an all-world player in video games. In fact, a couple of months ago, me and my boys (Tony, R.T., J-Penn) were trying to house the computer on 2K11. We tried several teams (including the Heat and Spurs), but found ourselves coming up on the short end of the stick as we tried to team up and beat (eh-hem) the Pistons. We finally gave it a crack with the Thunder before calling it a night (although, it was techincally well into the following morning by now). My established position was power forward, or the “4 spot,” so I began my 2K11 courtship with Green. To my surprise, I was actually controlling a player that was able to can a couple of triples, execute a pump fake and drive-by for a dunk, block shots and control the boards on the defensive end.

Maybe that’s what Danny Ainge and executive management thinks they’ll get from Green. There’s no doubt that Ainge was a fan of Green, having initially drafted him – and immediately sent him to Seattle as part of a package for Ray Allen. Boston has acquired a talented player, but at what cost?

Was a shot at the NBA title worth a guy who comes across well on video games?

I didn’t even acknowledge Nate Robinson. Good bench player. Great athlete. But either he’s moving somewhere else or he’s riding the pine because OKC doesn’t have any more backcourt minutes to hand out.

Other NBA Trades:

Portland Snags Gerald Wallace From Charlotte:

The Bobcats get two 1st round draft picks (2011 conditional, 2013 unconditional), and Portland gets a rugged perimeter guy to mesh with Nicolas Batun for the playoff run. Both teams seem to get what they need most, so what more can you ask for? Well, if you’re Portland, you can ask for Brandon Roy to stop coming back when everybody knows he’s not ready yet.

Baron Davis is on the move yet again.

Welcome to the Q, B-Diddy:

Somehow, the Cavs won and lost this trade at the same time (I guess that means the Clippers won and lost it, too). But, hey, perhaps Cleveland will just have to digest Baron Davis’ penchant to play selfishly for underachieving teams, and be satisfied with the 2011 1st round pick that’s coming their way. Two young, talented players are just what the doctor ordered for a franchise trying to regroup. As for the Clippers, they need a conventional point guard and I’m not sure Mo Williams fits. So then again, maybe they outright lost this one after all.

Houston Realizes it’s Still Rebuilding:

The Rockets get rid of Aaron Brooks, and get back Goran Dragic and a future first-rounder from the Suns. Then they deal Shane Battier to Memphis for a package including Hasheem Thabeet and another future first-rounder. So, Houston gets rid of its best “now” players for some picks. They basically aided the Grizzlies chances of getting into the postseason by taking Thabeet off their hands. That’s what you call “addition by subtraction.”

Knicks Gets ‘Melo:

This trade has been beaten to death, so I won’t harp on it. But let’s agree not to overlook Chauncey Billups’ value to NY. He, ‘Melo and Amar’e may not truly classify as a “Big Three,” but get Billups in a playoff series and opponents will see how big he really is.

Nets Steal Deron Williams:

The Jazz did their best to jump ahead of a potential fiasco – which seem to be common these days – with Williams dictating his next destination. They got a good point guard, an athletic, raw power forward, and 2 1st round draft choices. It’s not like they were going anywhere with D-Will anyway, so they did great. On the flip side, it’s a gamble for New Jersey, but I have a feeling that the Nets have told Williams their plans and will come through with another major player before the All-Star can bolt.

Carl Landry to Hornets; Marcus Thornton to Kings:

Poor Marcus Thornton…

With Loss to Magic, Pressure Falls Back on the Celtics

T Lamont — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:10:41 +0000

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What a difference a couple of days can make.

After Orlando eeked out an overtime victory in Game 4 to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics, surely the veteran-laden squad was going to come out an take care of business tonight.

But the Magic rode their hot-shooting start to an impressive 113-92 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With this win, there are some new developments in the series:

- With two consecutive wins, the Magic have now become the team with the momentum. Most of their players have begun to play with the confidence that they displayed throughout the regular season, and in their first two playoff series.

- The Magic played their game, and they played it well. Orlando was able to get some good three-point looks and they knocked them down – hitting 13-25 (52%) from downtown. They were able to spread the wealth, with Jameer Nelson, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick converting multiple treys.

- Dwight Howard controlled the paint on both ends of the floor. With 21 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots, Howard put together his first set of good back-to-back performances in this series.

- Yes, there was a Rashard Lewis sighting. He showed some aggression late in tonight’s game. Lewis started swishing mid range jumpers in the fourth quarter, and ended with 14 points.

- While Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard controlled the game’s tempo, the Magic received big contributions from J.J. Redick (14 points), Matt Barnes (three triples), Rashard Lewis (14 points). Getting their teammates involved was critical, and was what they needed to do to stand a chance at winning the next game in the TD Garden.

Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard have stood tall in the face of possible playoff elimination.

The Celtics lost some key players in the midst of their loss. Glen “Big Baby” Davis got caught by an inadvertent Dwight Howard elbow, and suffered a concussion. Davis staying on the floor for a while – and when he attempted to get up and run up the court, he was stumbling and had to be held by referee Joe Crawford (to prevent him from falling). If Crawford wouldn’t have executed his timely save, Florida would have probably experienced its first earthquake ever.

Reserve guard/forward Marquis Daniels entered the game briefly. On a drive to the basket, he banged into a defender and also suffered a concussion. He exited the game immediately after the play. He plays so infrequently that he got hurt the first time he had the ball in his hands. Just plain sad.

Rasheed Wallace, who played great for Boston with 21 points, looked to tweak his back late in the contest.

But Boston’s biggest loss was that of center Kendrick Perkins. Perkins, the Celtics’ best defender of Dwight Howard, was hit with two questionable technical fouls – which caused him to be ejected from the game. The first technical was called when play continued after a stoppage, and Perkins gave an unintentional elbow to Marcin Gortat. The second, and most talked-about, technical foul was given as Perkins expressed disapproval of a foul called against him – and was walking away from the official. Also, since Perkins has accumulated seven technicals in the postseason, the league has the option of suspending him for a game. The nature of the fouls almost assuredly ensures that they will be reviewed and may be rescinded. If not, his loss will place Boston at a huge disadvantage in Game 6.

So, given the newfound effectiveness of Orlando’s offense, Doc Rivers and his staff have some work to do.

Most importantly, Boston’s trainers will have to earn their paychecks if the Celtics expect to appear in their second NBA Finals in three years.

That, or have everyone in the TD Garden complaining of the neverending smell of Ben Gay.

Celtics Favorites Due to Ugly Frontcourt

T Lamont — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:14:50 +0000

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In the 2009 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics were probably one injury away from competing for the NBA championship.

The lack of depth in the Green Guys’ frontcourt ultimately led to their demise. The biggest loss being the super-versatile Kevin Garnett. But the C’s also missed out on significant production when Leon Powe went down (he was recently signed by the Cavs).

In the past few weeks, Boston has taken some steps to keep them from coming up short on big guys. I now present to you…the ugliest frontcourt in the NBA:

Rasheed Wallace – Now, Wallace is not truly an ugly guy. But he’s not easy to look at either. And that patch in his head…what’s the story on that? Nobody really seems to know. I think ‘Sheed should have a press conference just to let the world know.

OK...I'll admit...I'm scared...

Kendrick Perkins – Big. Black. Tough. And ugly. He picks up fouls simply because his face looks foul.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis – The only reason – that I can think of – for him having a nickname of “Big Baby” is this incident. He’s probably the best lookin’ one in this group – that is if you don’t count his “cryin’ face”.

Shelden Williams – In an attempt to keep women and children away from their games, the 2007-2008 NBA champs signed him on. I don’t know how a guy so aesthetically challenged gets so many breaks. (In case you hadn’t heard, he’s married to Candace Parker – a mismatch of epic proportions)

Brian Scalabrine- What he lacks in face ugliness, he makes up for with his unathletic build. He looks like a mix between the Pillsbury Dough Boy and Carrot Top.

Well, there you have it. With a healthy squad on the floor, the Celtics are once again right up at the top of the list of contenders. But even if this team is unsuccessful in its quest this year, we all have to agree on one thing – - it can’t possibly get any uglier than this.