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Post by DERRENMATTS on Dec 23, 2005 22:20:20 GMT -5
We've all been disgusted with the amount of playing time (or lack thereof) Perkins receives, even though he clearly improves our weak rebounding and anemic interior defense. But the reason may be very simple:
Perkins' offense--primarily his lack of a midrange shot.
Rivers seems to like Blount and plays him a lot of undue minutes because Blount can knock down midrange jumpers and score in the post. Raef used to get a lot of minutes when he was knocking down the three's and hitting open jumpers, but now that he's struggling to hit his shots, his playing time has been dwindling. Using big men who can pull defenders away from the inside seems to be Doc's strategy to open up the floor for Ricky and Pierce.
Perkins has no midrange jumper and his offense in the post is less than serviceable. Perk may be a solid offensive rebounder, but he has trouble scoring on putbacks. He tries to dunk the ball after getting an offensive rebound, but his lack of explosiveness prevents him from doing that (but lucky for him he gets to the free throw line and has done a good enough job of making his FT's).
I don't agree with Doc for not using Perk because he doesn't have an offensive game. Perk hekps us out with his rebounding and I think we lose more games than we should because we don't secure enough possessions or get enough second chances.
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Post by Roadrunner on Dec 24, 2005 0:34:08 GMT -5
I think if we had a third scorer consistently, Perks would play for rebounding/defensive efforts. Our third scorer is like the play of West/Blount/AJ combined.
Though, I would agree that we lose more games due to Blount not rebounding than Perks not scoring.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Dec 24, 2005 1:01:42 GMT -5
A consistent third scorer would help. But as we can see, we are too perimeter oriented. Blount and Raef are big men who score away from the post (though Blount has been able to score inside well) and Delonte being a PG is going to be on the perimeter for the most part.
Jefferson coming through as our third scorer may open up a lot more playing time for Perk.
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Post by esco33 on Dec 24, 2005 8:17:40 GMT -5
I agree with all of you. Perk should not have to focus on scoring. Ben Wallace is one of the best rebounder/shotblockers in the league and he can't shoot a lick, but he doesn't need to on his team with Billups, Rip, Tayshaun, Rasheed, etc.
Actually, I also think that Perk still has a chance to improve his offensive game. Once he gets into the paint, there are not that many people in the league that can stop him physically. He is a bull down there. He does have a decent hook shot, and SLOW spin move, but if he can patent those two moves, that should be plenty for him. The rest he can focus on rebounding/shotblocking.
But I agree, a consistent third scorer would definitely help this cause.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 24, 2005 9:41:09 GMT -5
You make a good point about Perk's offense and that may be why Doc is holding back his playing time. But he keeps saying that players who play defense will get the playing time and Perk's defense has improved immensely. The more he has played, the more his offense is improving. I think if he could get his confidence up he would develop a short jumper. I think he tries to force it too much because of his limited time. On the other side of it, Perk is one of our better passing big men and can get it out usually to an open man once he secures the rebound.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2005 15:44:46 GMT -5
Even though Perk's minutes have been shakey from time to time. Al's minutes have steadly increase for the past 5 games or so. Maybe, Al's consistent plays has taking it's toll on Perk's minutes? I know Blount's is getting a crap load of minutes but you have to consider what type of numbes he is putting up. 15pts 5rebs for the past 5 games.
Not bad numbers especially for the money he's making. It could be worst like Delambert, Chandler, or Foyle type contract we're they arent' even scoring 10 pts per game and they'll give the occasional 10 reb games.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Dec 24, 2005 23:08:46 GMT -5
Doc mentioned in the papers today that he doesn't like playing Perk and Jefferson too many minutes together because they clog up the middle too much, and that messes up Pierce and Ricky's offense.
By all accounts, Doc puts more emphasis on offense and not nearly enough on defense. If he did, there's no way he'd play Blount as many minutes as he does, and he'd play Perk a lot more as well.
When he first became head coach, I was very optimistic that he was going to make us a better defensive team. He had been the tv analyst for the playoffs and he vocally expressed his adoration for the defensive output the Pistons displayed on their way to winning the title. But so far, it hasn't happened yet.
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Post by Roadrunner on Dec 25, 2005 1:23:23 GMT -5
As for third options, AJ would be optimal though we are running out of options literally. West, even though he can score, I want him to set-up the offense, not be the offense.
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Post by esco33 on Dec 25, 2005 8:59:03 GMT -5
On a side note, has anyone else noticed Perkins stats/48 minutes:
Offensive rebounds per game - NUMBER 1
Total rebounds per game - NUMBER 2
Blocks per game - NUMBER 8
Just another indication he needs more minutes...
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Dec 25, 2005 19:08:02 GMT -5
Esco, are those stats comparative to our team's stats? or for the entire NBA?
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Post by esco33 on Dec 26, 2005 10:01:53 GMT -5
Those stats are for the NBA!
Play Perkins now! Play Perkins now!
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Dec 27, 2005 21:30:04 GMT -5
Doc mentioned in the papers today that he doesn't like playing Perk and Jefferson too many minutes together because they clog up the middle too much, and that messes up Pierce and Ricky's offense. By all accounts, Doc puts more emphasis on offense and not nearly enough on defense. If he did, there's no way he'd play Blount as many minutes as he does, and he'd play Perk a lot more as well. When he first became head coach, I was very optimistic that he was going to make us a better defensive team. He had been the tv analyst for the playoffs and he vocally expressed his adoration for the defensive output the Pistons displayed on their way to winning the title. But so far, it hasn't happened yet. That does it!!!!!! Fire Doc Rivers and hire me as coach. Learn to feature Al Jeff on the blocks, let the ball come back around on double teams so D-West gets uncontested open looks and RD and Pierce can play a two man game off Perkins screens and unleash Perkins and Jeff to the offensive glass. Then bring in Banks, Reed, and Gomes to turn up the Defensive heat. Then followup with Blonut and try to get him a his quick 10 and then get him outta there. Reaf and Scal, I'm sorry, there is no room for you in my rotation. Please do not whine to the media, Scal and Raef.
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Dec 28, 2005 23:54:04 GMT -5
Then I saw Perkins out there against GSW and he seemed way to slow for these guys.
Boy that was ugly. 2 quick fouls and then 2 missed FT's.......... His confidence maybe shot right now.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Dec 29, 2005 0:06:47 GMT -5
Well, that's the thing I tried to emphasize with many of you. Perkins is not explosive enough or mobile enough to be a big impact Center. He does have the ability to be better than maybe half of the Centers in the league (hopefully more), but I question if he's going to be enough to be our Center on our dynasty team, or even a championship team.
This is not saying that he sucks, or is a disappointment. But possibly not enough.
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Post by mev17 on Dec 29, 2005 2:35:25 GMT -5
For a late first round pick, I would be fine with Perk being better than half the centers in the league. The Bulls won with Longley at center and the Spurs won with Mohamed and Nesterovic at center. We won't have all-stars in every position, but if Perkins can get around 10 rebounds, about 3 blocks per game and set good screens, he can contribute to a title run. Of course, we will need all-star calliber offensive players around him.
I would like to see him get steadier minutes because at times he seems to move well to me, but he may hesitate because there seems to be a quick hook with him.
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