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Post by esco33 on Jan 18, 2006 22:49:02 GMT -5
Tonight, I finally felt a glimpse of hope, more so then I have felt since the beginning of the season. And all because Doc did one simple thing…he played the kids. I have been saying this for a LONG time. We can play the kids…and still win now! Perk and Big Al are BETTER than Blunt and Raef. They bring more to the table. They give us what the team needs and lacks…toughness, rebounding, blocked shots, and post scoring. Hopefully Doc wakes up and sees that he must start Perk and Big Al every game. I loved what they were doing out there. Perk was scoring down low at will. Big Al was as well, even hitting jumpers. They both rebounded well, and Perk played tough defense on Garnett down the stretch. Garnett was held to 2 points in the third quarter! Delonte was Delonte. I didn’t see it but heard he took a nasty spill in the first, but stayed in the game. What I saw from him was rebounding his own misses, rebounding over taller defenders, just getting his nose dirty as usual. The kid is unbelievable. He plays with as much passion, effort and tenacity as anyone else in the league. Hopefully, this will give the team confidence, give Doc some trust in his young guys, and give us fans some hope for the present and most definitely for the future. I loved Big Al raising his arms to the crowd for them to make more noise. Oh yeah…and the Garden was as loud as ever as well. Celtics Pride!
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Post by Roadrunner on Jan 18, 2006 23:25:01 GMT -5
Couldn't agree more. Perks, AJ, what a tag-team. Hopefully, Doc will remember this game.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 18, 2006 23:38:03 GMT -5
Hmmm... Doc playing the kids? Something must be up. A trade is brewing.
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Post by freshnthehouse on Jan 19, 2006 1:44:29 GMT -5
Man oh man do I hope so. If we pull off a decent trade and start playing the kids on a regular basis, check this season up as a win, regardless of record.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 19, 2006 2:43:26 GMT -5
That was supposed to be the gameplan for this season. Unfortunately, Doc didn't get that memo.
Its not too late though. Its vitally important for Perk, Jefferson, and Tony Allen to get a ton of playing time so that they can develop like Delonte has. That's the only way we'll improve next season.
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Post by goceltics34 on Jan 19, 2006 21:28:53 GMT -5
Good post esco, i concur with all of your sentiments. What im most encouraged by is perk's offensive game. If he can be a 15 & 10 guy that's cherry on the pie. You can tell the coaches have been working with him on his footwork, and low post moves. I always felt perk was the key to the season, he needed to develop some kind of offensive game to take the pressure off of the perimeter players. I've seen enough of blount & raef 2 soft center's who afraid to mix it up downlow. Perk and big al give us a presence downlow we've been lacking for years.
I got chills wacthing our 2 bigs last night. Hopefully its a sign of things to come. I loved hearing mike gorman say........." welcome to the future".
go celtics!!!!!
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Post by esco33 on Jan 19, 2006 22:36:10 GMT -5
What im most encouraged by is perk's offensive game. Exactly. This is something that I've always felt he has, which is a low post game. He won't give you 20 points/game of course but he is no slouch in the low post. His rookie year, like Tommy Heinsohn said, he showed flashes of his offensive potential. Last year, they gave him NO touches, and just told him to rebound, block out and not mess up. This year he is getting actual playing time and touches. He can be a double double guy easily. Not to get too overexcited, but we have not had an actual center like him in a LONG time. Someone who can rebound like an animal, is athletic enough to block shots, is tough enough to bang and defend, is not scared, and has a little offensive game all rolled into one. Let's just hope that Doc keeps playing him and he keeps getting better.
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Post by Celtic17 on Jan 19, 2006 22:54:50 GMT -5
Didn't we know this was going to be a roller-coaster ride this season? Time... It will take time to build something more than a 'one year wonder' team. I'm looking for a ten year run, or more...
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Post by freshnthehouse on Jan 20, 2006 16:33:40 GMT -5
One time I was in a cave and got lost. It was pure darkness. All of a sudden i rushed towards it. At the same time it rushed towards me. Turns out it was a flashlight wrapped in a burrito. The tour guide threw it at me! What a weird summer.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 21, 2006 16:42:54 GMT -5
I think Perkins has a good chance to be a 10 - 12 ppg guy, and even that would be terriic for us. But overall, his touch around the basket is not very good, and its most noticeable when he gets opportunities for offensive putbacks. He's not a good tip-in guy. And in the post, most of his shot attempts are rather harsh looking, and usually his shots go on a downward angle in a straight line. No touch at all.
But I think his offensive value will come getting us tough shots, like when he bangs around and gets muscles points for us against big Centers/PF's.
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Post by esco33 on Jan 21, 2006 18:05:09 GMT -5
He has great footwork though for a guy his size though, and he is able to use it at times to get an open look, and get around his man. Also, his long arms give him the ability to finish anywhere around the basket. Did you see that play versus the T-wolves the other night where he went around Kandi for the reverse layup? He looked like plasticman the way his arm stretched all the way around the basket. That play shocked me.
I think potentially he could be a 15ppg, 12brd, 2blk center in his prime.
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Post by eja117 on Jan 21, 2006 18:49:47 GMT -5
I think if he is given the PT then Perk will turn the corner very soon. By the end of next year with Perk and West we could have a top 15 pg and top 15 Center, which are the two toughest positions to get help at. Then we'd just need Al J to become a top 15 pf, and OG to become a top 10 backup and with our wings we could be very dangerous in 3 years
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 21, 2006 19:18:47 GMT -5
Yes, his agility looked miraculously improved in that Minnesota game. And his footwork is improving. But that does not help with his touch. Feel is a very important part of making shots, that's why Jefferson has a big chance to be an offensive force. Perkins does not have the touch (feel). His shots are either swished, or clanked.
When Perkins has his timing down, he'll look good. But when he is out of his comfort zone and needs to alter his shots in the post, you'll see why he struggles without having touch.
But I'm outlook on Perk is not as gloomy as it seems to be. I like Perk's chances going up against bigger and stronger Centers/PF's. Going up against guys like Shaq, Big Z, Amare, Eddie Curry, Dampier, Magloire, etc, will suit him better because he can actually go full strength and not have to worry about holding back. Against smaller C/PF's, if he pushes to hard, he gets called for offensive fouls.
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Post by esco33 on Jan 22, 2006 11:07:39 GMT -5
Obviously Perk will never be a shooter after 6 feet out from the basket. But he is big enough to get the position where he wants on most defenders. And if he gets deep enough underneath the basket, after that he can just either dunk it or lay it in. If he does that and averages 15 points/game, I'll take that from our center anyday.
He may not have the shooting touch, but he is a bigman. He has the footwork, and brute strength to get position to where he wants to be on the floor. Once he gets close enough to the basket to where he wants to be, he has a good chance that he will put the ball in the basket, much like he did last night, scoring in double digits again.
btw, he is averaging 12-13 points in his last 3 games I believe.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jan 22, 2006 22:23:32 GMT -5
Which is right around where I feel that Perk will average; 10 - 12 ppg.
When I talk about feel, I don't mean from midrange. I actually mean from close up, as in his hook shots and tip ins.
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