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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 7:48:06 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1145726&format=textBill Walker no Flash in the pan Rookie ready to work By Mark Murphy | Friday, January 16, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by AP Most players assigned to the NBDL come back with tales of long bus rides and bad food, but Bill Walker didn’t have a problem with either during his stint with the Utah Flash. The Celtics [team stats] rookie forward has something to show instead of tell - a prominent tattoo on the left side of his neck that reads 1023. It refers to 1023 Minton St. in Huntington, W.Va., the house where he grew up. “It reminds me of where I come from,” said Walker, who moved to Cincinnati during his high school years. It’s a reminder to stay hungry, and to take realities like the Development League for what they are - opportunities for self-improvement. Though Walker and fellow rookie J.R. Giddens were recalled from Utah last week - as much for work with the Celtics medical staff as for anything they were going to contribute to the team - both are still adjusting to the rhythms of the big leagues. And they could be sent back west on a whim. “Just go with the flow,” said Walker. “Just try to stay poised and ready. You’re a basketball player, so you’re going to figure it out.” Though he played the last 12 minutes of the Celtics’ 118-86 win over the Nets on Wednesday - Giddens was inactive for the game - Walker has no delusions. While he played well - he has played well and sometimes astoundingly so since training camp - it’s unlikely to have any impact on Doc Rivers’ plans and needs. “You get up and down a bit, and then it starts to work for you,” he said of getting back into the NBA flow. “The thing is that I didn’t even know if I was going to play. Afterward (Rivers) just told me good game. You only do what you can do.” And right now it appears that Walker and Giddens - clearly the best players on the Utah roster - have a better chance of playing in the NBDL All-Star Game than of making further contributions here. Rivers, asked if either player had a chance of helping plug holes in the Celtics’ current manpower shortage - especially where the injured Tony Allen is concerned - impatiently waved off the suggestion. “We haven’t even had time to practice,” he said. “I haven’t had a look at them.” That can be maddening for a young player attempting to grab some attention. But as Rivers readily admits, he has plenty to worry about with the main Celtics roster without having to keep track of his D-League youngsters. That’s left to the scouting department, where Austin Ainge, son of personnel chief Danny Ainge, has spent a considerable amount of time checking in with Walker and Giddens. The elder Ainge has flown out to make his own assessments. “Oh, we have frequent contact with those guys,” said Walker. “We get graded on our performances.” Though Celtics management has little or no impact on the system run by the Utah coaching staff - or how Walker and Giddens are used - the process seems to work itself out. “It’s still basketball,” said Walker. “The biggest thing they have wanted us to do is to really commit to the defensive end. That’s where we’re going to get our success. “I just learn to pick my spots and learn where I can. It’s trial and error on offense, but I’ve focused on my 3-point percentage and on my offense. But Mr. Ainge has told us that it’s not a demotion. We’re there to get better.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 7:55:36 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/01/16/walker_was_up_for_some_playing_time?mode=PFWalker was up for some playing time By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | January 16, 2009 In November, the Celtics sent draft choices J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker to Utah of the Development League. It was becoming apparent there would be limited opportunities for them with the Celtics. And while the Celtics started the season 27-2, the team was not breezing to many victories, and there was not much mop-up time available. Injury rehabilitation was the main reason Giddens (wrist) and Walker (right knee) returned to Boston last week. But injuries to Tony Allen (ankle) and Kendrick Perkins (shoulder) opened the way for Walker to play in the final quarter of the Celtics' 118-86 win over the New Jersey Nets Wednesday night. The Celtics (32-9), who won their third straight, face the Nets in East Rutherford, N.J., tomorrow. "It was fun," Walker said. "This is where I want to be. I want to be out there helping this team in any way possible. Coach [Doc Rivers] just gave me a chance to go out there and play. Hopefully, I did most of everything he asked me to do." The Celtics had a 28-point lead after three quarters, and Walker and the Celtic reserves protected the advantage; in fact, they maintained the intensity and extended the lead. Walker was sporting evidence of that intensity after the game, the swelling over his right eye the result of teammate Patrick O'Bryant's elbow. "I went to block a Chris Douglas-Roberts shot and Patrick went to block it, too," Walker said. Asked about priorities for remaining with the Celtics, Walker replied, "Keep getting better defensively. We have enough offensive power to win games. Just being strong defensively, knowing all the defensive terminology and stuff. Just having to learn that is how I will be most successful. "Only the strong survive. This is a man's game. You want something, you have to go out there and take it. That's my mentality. [Defense] is the only way you're going to stay out there on the court. [Rivers] could have easily just let me sit there. That was a way of just saying I'm thankful to be out there. I'm going to keep on working, stay humble, and try to help out. I didn't know all the inbounding plays. But it was still fun. "I'm 90 percent, still aching from those games down there [in the D League]. But I'm out here working out with [strength and conditioning coach Bryan Doo] and getting that back. I came back in better shape. I had an IT [iliotibial] band tighten up on me. It got real stiff. I had to get some treatment - they didn't have everything I needed in Utah for it. I just came out here and handled that and now I'm pretty much good." Walker maintained his apartment and returned to his mother's cooking (Nancy Sloan moved to the Boston area from Topeka, Kan.), but also to some overdue bills. "I still knew how to get back to my apartment," Walker said. "I had utility bills. That was nothing fun. I'm now learning how to operate like a regular American citizen. I'm paying bills now. That's probably the biggest adjustment for me. I was delinquent, but they understood." Walker could remain on the active list through next week, since Allen is not expected to return until after the Celtics' trip to Miami (Wednesday) and Orlando (Jan. 22). "I definitely don't want it that way," Walker said of the opportunity provided by injuries. "I want my team to be as strong as possible. But injuries are a part of the game. That's why we all have to be professionals and do a job when we are called on."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 8:02:46 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2009/01/16/cavaliers_suffer_a_double_whammy?mode=PFCavaliers suffer a double whammy By Associated Press | January 16, 2009 Luol Deng scored 22 points and Derrick Rose finished with 16 after a slow start to lead the Bulls to a surprising 102-93 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers last night in Chicago after LeBron James missed a jumper at the end of regulation. Tied at 87 through regulation after James's 18-footer banged off the rim, the Bulls scored 12 of the first 13 points in OT to avoid a four-game sweep by the Cavaliers. Rose's 3-point play 52 seconds into the extra period broke the tie and Kirk Hinrich's 3-pointer with 3:34 left made it 93-87. James (28 points) then hit 1 of 2 free throws, but Deng put the Cavaliers away with back-to-back 3-pointers from the left corner - the second bouncing straight up off the rim before dropping through the net to make it 99-88. Mo Williams scored 26 points for the Cavaliers, hitting 5 of 10 3-pointers. But it was a rough night for James, who shot 8 for 28 and hit 1 of 6 3-pointers. Besides losing the game, the Cavaliers suffered a big loss in the process. Guard Delonte West could be out for a while after he broke his right wrist in a nasty collision with Rose late in the first quarter. It happened when West - off to a strong start with 11 points - tried to block Rose's layup from behind with 1:36 left. Both players crashed to the court, but while Rose quickly popped up, West stayed down, clutching his wrist with a non-displaced fracture. He also had a cut above his left eye that required two stitches. The Cavaliers, who began the night with the league's best record, were already missing forward Ben Wallace (intestinal flu) and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Now they'll have to make do without West, who was fourth on the team at 12.3 points per game. Nuggets 119, Suns 113 - Chauncey Billups scored 5 of his game-high 26 points in overtime and host Denver beat Phoenix. Nene had 17 points and 14 rebounds and Kenyon Martin had 24 points, including a clinching 3-pointer with 29.6 seconds left in overtime. Martin also had eight rebounds and a career-high seven steals for Denver, which has won seven of eight. Grant Hill scored a season-high 25 points and Steve Nash had 20 points and 14 assists for the Suns, who played without center Shaquille O'Neal, who was inactive for the game. Phoenix coach Terry Porter said it was a "routine" night off for O'Neal. Trail Blazers 105, Nets 99 - Brandon Roy scored 29 points and rookie Jerryd Bayless added a career-high 23 as Portland snapped New Jersey's season-high four-game home winning streak.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 8:05:21 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/01/16/playing_some_midwinter_mind_games?mode=PFPlaying some midwinter mind games By Bob Ryan, Globe Columnist | January 16, 2009 Emptying Out The Desk Drawer Of The Sports Mind: So what will fill our great Jim Rice Outrage Void now? Oh, that's right: Luis Tiant is still waiting. Am I being too "back-in-my-day" and fuddy-duddyish when I object to this fuss being made of Jodie Meeks setting a Kentucky scoring record with 54 points on a night when he makes 10 threes while Dan Issel had his record 53 with all twos? I hope not. Never mind Pete Maravich. I'd like to see what Austin Carr (34.5-point-per-game career average at Notre Dame) would have done with the 3-point shot. I've been scratching the ol' noggin to come up with an NFL QB career arc as bizarre as Kurt Warner's. Wasn't he on the trash heap after leaving the New York Giants four years ago? Even if the Bruins game stinks (not much chance of that, actually), the pregame Cam Neely highlights are worth the trip to the Garden. It'll never, ever happen, of course, but if Dante Scarnecchia (every Patriots regime since Ron Meyer in 1982 and there for all six Super Bowls) decides to write the complete Patriots insider memoirs, I'm buying. Unfortunately for us, Dante's a guy to whom you can safely entrust your secrets. Item: Starting next year, the Pro Bowl will no longer involve a free trip to Hawaii. They'll be lucky to have enough players for a game of six-man tag. What Brett Favre needs to do is pull a reverse Roger Clemens. You know, only play the first six weeks. Speaking of people who've worn out their welcome, the Yankees should tell Andy Pettitte to either take the $10 million for one year by noon today or stay home. They've indulged him enough. Check out his August and September and get back to me. I can't think of anything the sports world needs less than a new Giants Stadium, which remains a superb place for an actual football fan to watch a game. Bleep the swells and their damnable luxury boxes. Count me among the many who have been continually charmed by the great wit and candor of Charles Barkley. Count me, as well, among the many who fear we'll be soon writing his obit if he doesn't mend his wild-and-woolly, I-do-whatever-I-want ways. DH-phobes among the Hall of Fame voting body will next have to explain how they can reject the first-time candidacy of Edgar Martinez, he of the two batting titles, the seven All-Star appearances, the .312 and .515 (slugging) career averages, and, most of all, the staggering .418 career on-base percentage. This Luke Harangody kid for Notre Dame is not only a very nice college basketball player, but he also possesses a face right out of some 1930s James Cagney movie. I see this edition of the Boston Celtics morphing into San Antonio; i.e., they will be telling us during the months of February and March they'll be ready when the time comes. It has become quite clear to me in the past few days that I am the only white male in America between the age 30 and 70 who has never seen a full episode of "24." Everyone loves Big Papi, but if he does not come to training camp looking more fit than he ever has, let there be no enablers. He will deserve full censure. Time for Pedro to take his 214-99 career record (.684 winning percentage) back under the mango tree and await the call from the Hall. No one needs to see him labor with another of those 5-6, 5.61, 127 hits in 109 IP, career-worst K/BB split of 87-44 seasons. There's one Theo got 100 percent correct. Bob Knight working an ESPN game: Uh-uh. Bob Knight sitting in front of the big screen analyzing a player (i.e. Blake Griffith) or a team (i.e. Duke)? Give me more, lots more. Eighty-three (83) days until Tiger Woods tees it up at the Masters. My man Jim McCabe's probably got it down to the seconds. Now that the Giants are dead and buried for this season as one-time champs, don't you despise Asante Samuel even more for not catching that pass in the Super Bowl before he skipped off for Philadelphia's riches? Scott Boras vs. The Recession: So far, it's a standoff (Teixeira and Lowe, yea. Manny and Varitek, nay). Donovan McNabb's historical niche is: A. good; B. very good; C. great. Discuss among yourselves. Guess we don't have to ask which hat Jim Rice is going to be wearing on his plaque, do we? There should be a special place in purgatory for anthem singers who turn the word "wave" into a 15-note extravaganza. Same with those who mess around with the word "free." When exactly did putting it in the basket become "scoring the ball"? In the most basketball-centric presidential administration ever, isn't it strange the name of Bill Bradley is never heard? Oh, if I could only listen to John Kiley rouse the crowd with "The Mexican Hat Dance" one more time. What's the over/under in words before Rickey Henderson starts complaining in his Hall of Fame induction speech that he was always underpaid? What's the over/under in words for Jim Rice's speech, period? Apropos of Phil Kessel's mono: Better now than in April. Attention, Mr. Gil Santos: Have you ever considered selling that voice? Or at least loaning it out? Memo to Yankee fans: If your team wins it all, people on the outside will shrug and say, "So what?" And if they don't win, people everywhere in the baseball universe will laugh their you-know-whats off. But do enjoy your season.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 8:35:02 GMT -5
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x89968006/Fan-favorite-Scalabrine-steps-in-and-gives-the-Celtics-a-liftFan favorite Scalabrine steps in and gives the Celtics a lift Fan favorite off bench Brian Scalabrine gets to strut his stuff as starter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loading multimedia... Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AP Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine has been having a ball this season, both off the bench and in the starting lineup. By Jim Fenton ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Posted Jan 16, 2009 @ 01:34 AM Last update Jan 16, 2009 @ 01:46 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — His first connection to basketball in Boston came during the NCAA tournament in 2001. Brian Scalabrine was on the other side then, playing for the University of Southern California when it eliminated Boston College in the second round of the East Regional. These days, Scalabrine is a fan favorite in Boston, the player who draws extra attention from capacity crowds at the TD Banknorth Garden whenever he enters games and touches the ball. When Scalabrine was making rare appearances for the Boston Celtics earlier this season, the noise grew louder whenever he did step on the floor. Lately, though, Scalabrine has been getting plenty of minutes, replacing the injured Kendrick Perkins in the starting lineup the past three games. The fan favorite has stepped in and contributed to three straight Celtics’ victories, averaging nine points and 2.7 rebounds in 26.7 minutes. Scalabrine had played double figures in minutes just 13 times in the opening 38 games. Scalabrine is still drawing plenty of cheers, but he has learned to focus on the job at hand. “It was a little bit of a distraction at first because the crowd would cheer,’’ said Scalabrine, who should start his fourth straight game in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon, “but I can mentally push through that now.’’ Perkins is sidelined at least until Monday with a shoulder strain, and Coach Doc Rivers has been able to slide Scalabrine into the center spot against the Toronto Raptors and the Nets this week. Those teams don’t pose bruising physical presences inside, and Scalabrine has been able to be a factor on defense while giving the Celtics another outside scoring threat. “He’s done a great job,’’ said Perkins. “Scal’ goes out there and plays physical. He gives us his body. He’s all for the team. He plays hard every night. “Every minute he’s on the court, he’s playing as hard as he can. Scal is he type of player I would like to fill my shoes because I know he’s going to do a great job and try to do the best he can.’’ Scalabrine, whose five-year, $15 million contract expires after next season, is a player who knows his role. He is enjoying the opportunity to start games along side Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo and getting 25, 28 and 27 minutes the past three games. “I would say, more so than anything, it’s easier playing with those guys,’’ said Scalabrine. “If you ever watch the flow of the game, track how long the game gets played with the starters and track when the second team is in there. “There’s a good flow (with the starters) and those guys pass the ball extremely well. They’re great players. There’s three Hall of Fame players. “I think it’s all about flow. The starting five is remarkable, the four guys who are out there. Rondo, Kevin, Paul and Ray, the way they draw so much attention and pass out. It’s a great opportunity to slide in there and play with guys like that.’’ Scalabrine will start at least one more game this weekend, then wait to see what next week brings. “We’re doing something here that’s so much bigger than individuals,’’ said Scalabrine. “I honestly feel if Doc told me I wasn’t going to play today or I was in street clothes today, I have to trust what decisions my head coach and organization makes. “As soon as you don’t do that, that’s when things start creeping into your mind. You have to accept what your head coach tells you that your role is going to be. “My mindset is not any different. I go into every game mentally ready to go. We’re playing for so much. Every possession, every quarter, everything is so big here. We’re trying to get home court advantage throughout the playoffs, so I can’t get caught up in anything different than that.’’
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 8:38:45 GMT -5
www.patriotledger.com/sports/x89968000/Brian-Scalabrine-remains-team-first-playerBrian Scalabrine remains team-first player -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loading multimedia... Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press Teammates say Boston Celtics' Brian Scalabrine is always prepared. By Mike Fine The Patriot Ledger Posted Jan 16, 2009 @ 01:12 AM Last update Jan 16, 2009 @ 03:29 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — Enumclaw, Wash., about 45 miles southeast of Seattle in the foothills of Mt. Rainier, is known for its beauty and calming way of life, but nearly every day down at Montgomery Park, a young Brian Scalabrine was banging heads with a talented group of rivals, many of whom went on to play college basketball. “I remember playing with Brian up until his sophomore year (of high school) as I graduated and entered the Army,” said Jonathan Parr, now of Bellingham. “Brian had no God-given ability. You could drive by and the rain would be pouring down and Brian would be out there working on his post game or practicing his free throws. While he was awkward and not very athletic, he worked at it like no other. “Many kids in Enumclaw had 100 times the talent, but not a one-tenth of the effort. Brian eventually grew seven or eight inches and obtained some athletic ability. I still don’t think he is what one would call a natural athlete.” Parr has watched the Celtics forward from afar and remains a fan, and not only because Scalabrine is now a champion. He’s an underdog. “Bottom line is he worked every day, rain or shine, when no one else did, and he did it year round. He made it to the NBA through blood, sweat and tears.” Now an account manager with an electronics firm, Parr says that if Scalabrine had the talent of many other players in the NBA, “he would be the MVP every year. You can’t put a price on the effort and how much better he makes his teammates because I guarantee he demands the same from them.” Which is exactly how his Celtics teammates feel about him. Scalabrine has been a much-maligned substitute who often hasn’t even come off the bench, but it’s gotten to the point where his intellect, his preparation and his hard work have forced coach Doc Rivers to go with him regularly. As the Celtics have broken the seven-of-nine losing streak with three straight wins, Scalabrine has started in place of injured center Kendrick Perkins each time. “He plays hard every night,” Perkins said. “Every minute he’s playing as hard as he can. Scal is the type of player that I would like filling my shoes because I know he’s going to do a great job and do the best he can.” When GM Danny Ainge signed the free agent to a five-year, $15 million contract, few could understand, but Ainge saw how much Scalabrine had contributed to the Nets in a similar role. He’s always ready, always prepared, never a burden. He’s been the perfect teammate, ready to accept and embrace any role. Scalabrine insists he’s not frustrated at occasional DNPs or three-minute appearances, and he’s sincere about it. “We’re doing something here that’s so much bigger than an individual,” he said. “Honestly, if Doc told me today that I wasn’t going to play or if I was in street clothes, I have to trust my head coach or the organization when he makes the decisions that he makes. As soon as you don’t do that, that’s when things start creeping into your mind. You have to accept what your head coach tells you your role is going to be.” Scalabrine has come through big-time in four games as a starter (once at forward for Kevin Garnett) this season, averaging 8.8 points. He scored 11 against Toronto Monday, regaining his 3-point touch with three. Against the Nets Wednesday he came out flying, scoring a fast-break dunk three minutes in to help the Celts set the tone. Yet, being with the starters or the bench, he said, makes little difference. “I go into every game mentally ready to go. We’re playing for every possession, every quarter, everything is so big here. But we’re trying to get homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, so I can’t be caught up into anything different from that, whether I come in at the beginning of the game, or I don’t play a minute or I start or I play 40, it doesn’t matter. We have to be ready as a team and be ready to go.” At the same time, there is one major difference in starting: he can get into the flow much easier. “I would say more so than anything it’s a lot easier to play with those guys,” he said. “If you ever watched the flow of the game, track how long the game gets played with the starters, whether its two-and-a-half minutes, three minutes or four minutes and then track when the second team’s in there. It’ll be like 30, 35 seconds before there’s a dead ball or a break. “So there’s a good flow and those guys really pass the ball extremely well. They’re great players. Look at what we have. There’s three Hall of Fame guys on the team, so of course they’re going to pass the ball extremely well.” Doesn’t matter. Scalabrine conducts his pre-game one-on-ones with Sam Cassell whether he’s starting or not, just to get his legs ready, just to be prepared, just to hone his craft to the greatest extent possible – just as he did in Montgomery Park.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 9:08:22 GMT -5
www.projo.com/celtics/content/sp_bkn_boston_celtics16_01-16-09_NOCVN86_v18.41a141c.htmlCeltics’ Perkins got grip on life, hoops amid adversity 08:58 AM EST on Friday, January 16, 2009 By ROBERT LEE Journal Sports Writer The Celtics’ Kendrick Perkins, left, has a handle on basketball and in life. Perkins, a key contributor to Boston’s defense, has steadily improved his game since his rookie season. The Providence Journal / Kris Craig BOSTON — No child should have to go through what Kendrick Perkins had to go through when he was a kid. When he was 5, right about the time he first started playing basketball, his mother was murdered at her beauty salon. His father was not in the picture, so his grandparents, Raymond and Mary Lewis, took him in, nurtured and raised him. It’s only natural for him to think about how his life would be different if he was raised by his parents. Or to think about what he was missing in his life. How important is a healthy Kendrick Perkins to the Celtics' success? Submit/Vote | View Results But he was raised by two loving people, and his high school coach Andre Boutte later became a father figure in his life and helped him make the right basketball decisions. Despite the obstacles that life harshly gave to him, Perkins has overcome it all. Last season he helped the Celtics win the NBA title by averaging 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, but more important, his defensive tenacity helped Boston produce the best defense in the NBA. This season he is playing better despite having shoulder surgery in the offseason. Perkins is averaging 8.8 points and 8.1 rebounds this season, both are the highest of his career. But Perkins is once again battling through an unexpected twist. He has missed Boston’s last three games after separating his left shoulder last week against Cleveland and he won’t be back until Monday at the earliest. Boston coach Doc Rivers said that the injury could affect him his entire career, but he said that he knows Perkins will overcome the injury, like he has overcome so many other obstacles in his life. Perkins’ game took off in high school. Rated as the top high school big man in the country in 2003 after leading Clifton J. Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas, to four consecutive district championships and one state championship during his career, in which he averaged 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, and 7.8 blocks per game as senior, Perkins passed up a full scholarship at the University of Memphis and entered the NBA Draft. He knew that it was important to get a college education, and was an honors student at Ozen, but the dream of playing in the NBA was in front of him, and with the money he was going to receive by signing an NBA contract, he knew that he would be able to give back to his family. It was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. The Memphis Grizzlies drafted Perkins 27th overall in 2003, but he was immediately traded along with Marcus Banks to the Celtics for Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones. Perkins struggled in his first three seasons in the NBA, but he has improved every year which has been his goal. He has focused on defense and rebounding since becoming an NBA player, but this year Perkins has become dependable on the offensive end of the floor as well. His points, rebounds, and blocks per game have steadily improved since his rookie season, when he averaged only three minutes per game and he recorded 72 “did not play” games. But statistics are not what drives Perkins, winning is. “I don’t really worry about the points,” Perkins said. “I know they’ll come. I really only worry about going out there and helping Kevin [Garnett] on the boards.” “It’s really rare when you have a role player who understands his role so well he plays better than a role player,” said Rivers. Perkins gives a lot of credit to his improved play in the post on both ends of the court to Rivers. “Doc has played a major part in it,” Perkins said. “He’s taught me so much in the years that we’ve been together. He always tells me, ‘Perk, just play your role and concentrate on defense and rebounding and the rest will take care of itself.’ It really does. I give a lot of credit to Doc for putting me in the right position. He still wants me to work on my game and improve year by year and that’s cool.” “I think Perk has understood totally, 100 percent, his role,” Garnett said. “We look for him now. He’s actually working on his offensive game and trying to be more of a threat. He takes a lot of pride when people are sagging off him. He doesn’t like that, and he’s doing something about it. “He’s in the gym working on his post game, and when he has matchups he’s being patient. He’s going out and being more of a force in the offensive end. But he still hasn’t forgotten his role, which is getting Paul [Pierce] open, getting Ray [Allen] open, getting Rondo open, being a defensive stopper and going in and clogging up the paint, things of that nature.” Perkins has found just as much success off the court as he has on it. He has a fiancée, Vanity, who he says he can’t live without, and son, Kendrick Perkins II, who was born on Sept. 10, 2007. Perkins is further proof that through hard work and dedication, a person can be successful in life despite having a lot of obstacles stacked against them.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jan 16, 2009 11:13:34 GMT -5
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