Boston Celtics: 10 Reasons Kendrick Perkins Is Necessary to Celtics Title Hopes
Boston Celtics' starting center, Kendrick Perkins, is yet to play a game this season. Last season, Perkins tore two ligaments in his right knee in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Perkins was a vital part in the Celtics' run at the title as their starting center in his ability to control the paint. Losing Games 6 and 7 after losing Perk came at no surprise, getting beat on the rebounds by 13 in each game.
The extensive absence of Perkins has resulted in a plethora of off-season acquisitions by the C's in the front court. Adding depth to the rotation in Shaquille and Jermaine O'Neal and Semih Erden from Turkey, the C's have managed to currently sit atop the Eastern conference through the first 38 games at a record of 29-9.
Expected to return mid-February, Perkins will serve as a key contributor in the Celtics' hopes to raise an 18th banner in the TD Garden. Here are the 10 reasons why Perkins' return will be key in another run at the title for Boston.
10)With the Magic, Comes Dwight Howard
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If there’s one thing head coach Doc Rivers knows for certain, it’s that the Celtics will more than likely cross roads with the likes of the Orlando Magic this postseason. Having Perkins is essential, for it provides an extra body for the team to match-up one-on-one with all-star center Dwight Howard.
This year Howard has been on a tear, averaging 21.3 points per game and posting 13.3 boards a game. Howard ranks in the top five in the league in rebounds (2nd), blocks (3rd), and field goal percentage (4th). The leader in the East’s all star-voting thus far has been playing his best ball as of late, and will be a force to reckon with this postseason.
This season, not having Perkins has been hurtful in this regard. In their last meeting Christmas day, Shaq played him as well as he could have, until fouls kept him out most of the second half. It was that second half that Orlando took over the game late.
Since the acquisition of the Allen and Garnett, Perkins has had the assignment of Howard in each series with the Magic. The addition of Shaq will make Perkins life especially easier, but the former superman can’t do it on his own.
9) The Three-Headed Monster in Miami
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Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh on one team might be a team newly formed, but as of late they have shown glimpses of greatness. After starting 9-8, including two losses to the Cs, the Heat are now 30-10 and have won 21 of their last 23.
Perkins becomes key here. Despite boasting the number one defense in the NBA, the Cs will need Perk’s presence against this Heat team that seems to have figured things out. Having the O’Neal’s and Big Baby would make for a tough task to close the lane up inside.
With Miami and Boston matching up in a month, if Perk is back, it will be interesting to see how his aggressive play on the glass on both ends of the court. Miami is plays a lot of isolation, as they are 26th in the league in assists. With Perkins in the middle, they may have to resort to more fast break and outside jumpers, favoring the Cs.
8) Taking Care of the Glass
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Perkins is a player known for his aggression inside. His rebounding and shot blocking ability is unmatched by many at his position, despite not always a league leader in numbers.
Last year, as the Celtics' starting center, Perkins posted 10.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks a game.
Despite not being eye-opening numbers, these were done on an average of just over 27 minutes a game. Not to mention these numbers also led the team in both rebounds and blocks last season.
Perkins’ minutes are anything but wasted, which is exactly what the Celtics' 30th ranked rebounding team needs.
7) The O’Neal’s Foul Troubles
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Since KG suffered a muscle injury in his calf in a loss at Detroit, this problem has been made even more apparent.
Shaquille O’Neal has proven to arguably be a more positive acquisition that Jermaine, yet the big bodies create contact easily and often, putting them in foul trouble in most of the team’s games this season.
This leaves players like Glen Davis playing 43 minutes in a game, where Davis and company lost and were out-rebounded by 21 at Chicago last week.
With a healthy Garnett and Perkins on the squad, these fouls are not so much an issue. Having Perkins ready to go in February will allow more rest for the O’Neal’s and Davis.
Photo by Associated Press
6) Defense, Defense, and More Defense
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Since the revival of a franchise going downhill, acquiring Allen and Garnett four seasons ago, the Celtics have been spot on defensively.
This year, the team leads the league defensively, despite the absence of Perk. Yet the team has been suffering injuries left and right in the process, given that more minutes are allotted to the O’Neal’s, Davis, and the Turkish acquisition Semih Erden in his absence.
More importantly, unlike any of the other front court players for the Cs with the exception of Shaq, he can match up with the biggest in the league down low.
Perk and Shaq will be vital in the postseason, given Shaq’s experience and Perk’s efficiency with his minutes. Players like Howard, Gasol, and Bynum will be matchups that Rivers will look to Perk to carry more of the load one-on-one.
5) The Perfect Compliment
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When it comes to the defensive end, Perk is arguably one of the more important pieces to the puzzle for the Cs in their title run.
Yet what many people seem to overlook, is his importance in the offense.
Perkins averaged 10.1 points per game last year in 27 minutes a game, nothing too flashy but got the job done for Rivers. More so than the numbers, what makes him more valuable is his ability to get offensive rebounds and give the Celtics second chance buckets.
With the Big Three taking the majority of their scoring load into their own hands, along with shots coming from Big Baby and Rondo, there is little need for much more offense.
The little offense he brings makes for the perfect compliment, cleaning up missed shots and directing attention in the post. In turn, this opens up more opportunity for Allen, Pierce, and Garnett.
As you can see, Garnett couldn't be any more pleased with big Perk.
4) End Of Season Stretch: Adds Depth
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One of the problems that every team in all major sports goes through is how to manage minutes when postseason play is a guarantee. There is always the lingering question of whether to leave players in and keep them in rhythm, or risk their rhythm and give them the rest before hand.
Perkins will make Rivers’ life a whole lot easier if his probable return in February stays intact.
With the countless injuries that have wounded the Celtics throughout this first half of the season, having another player to spread the minutes too would be a luxury.
Although he won’t want to risk re-injuring Perkins, expect him to earn a good 25 minutes a game, giving the banged up front court some rest before the postseason.
3) Block Party in The Middle
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Known for his shot blocking ability, Perkins brings an element to Boston’s defense that lacks efficiency in the first half of the year.
Last season, Perk averaged 1.7 blocks in his mere 27 minutes a contest, which led the team.
As a result, the Celtics were 15th in the league in blocked shots a game with 4.9 a game last season. This season, they are down to 22nd with 4.3 a contest.
With teams like Orlando and LA who feature big men who have Bynum, Gasol, and Howard in the paint, the Cs have to be ready. If they hope to win a title, these are two teams they would more than likely have to go through.
2) Fix the Celtics’ Biggest Problem: Injuries
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A team with plenty of veterans, as have the Cs, is a team that boasts experience, intelligence, and more so than not, an edge mentally in the postseason. However, with age, more than likely the inevitable happens.
This season, the Celtics have suffered countless injuries.
Perkins and Delonte West have been out all season, Garnett has sat the last couple of weeks, and the O’Neal’s have been healthy on and off, especially Jermaine. Not to mention Rajon Rondo was out several games as well in December with a sprained ankle.
Having a healthy body back in the rotation can’t hurt. With this likely being the last run at a title with the big three, Perkins’ minutes will be valuable, allowing more rest for players like Davis and Shaq and in turn lessening the chance of injury issues for the team.
1) A Lakers and Celtics Finals Yet Again? : Kendrick Perkins Is a Must
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Two of the last three seasons, the Celtics and Lakers have renewed their legendary rivalry. The two teams that know winning best have split the series, and could possibly meet once again in this year's final.
If they are to meet for the third time in four years, Perkins will undoubtedly be a factor.
There's no mystery as to why Games 6 and 7 were that much more difficult for a Celtics team that led 3-2 going into LA. With Perkins out the Celtics looked flat inside on defense, out-rebounded by 13 boards in each of the last two games. Lakers' players like Ron Artest and Lamar Odom, along with Bynum and Gasol, had more room to work the paint and crash the glass.
One-on-one, Rivers will need Perkins to take on the likes of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, match-ups where Perkins has gotten the job done.
Offensively, his presence give Bynum and Gasol a harder time crashing the glass and keeping out of foul trouble.
With a healthy Shaq to add to the mix along with the big ticket, the Celtics should see a much easier time dictating the tempo in the series as well, for the Celtics' defense has always been the key ingredient in their recipe for success.
In an LA and Boston match-up, expect Perk to get big minutes, squaring up against two of the league's best in Bynum and Gasol one-on-one on the defensive end.
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