Posts tagged ‘Kendrick Perkins’

All October and November we heard about the problems the Celtics would have: they don’t have a point guard, they’re thin inside, they don’t have experience playing together, no bench…

All regular season, the Celts proved all those unbelievers wrong. Rondo was learning, improving and becoming one of the best young PG in the East, if not the game. Cassell added some depth and House was there for threes…Perkins was a serviceable Center and rarely dominated…the team played like old friends and rarely had jitters while passing the ball with eyes behind their heads and intensity in every regular season game…the bench ruled many games as Leon Powe, Glen Davis, Posey, House and others contributed every game.

So here we are after game four and let’s look:

Point Guard: Rondo was pretty good, not great…shooting 6-16 with 12 dimes and just two turnovers. On offense no complaints at all but defense lacked a bit as his intensity in guarding Mike Bibby stepped down a notch as did his success. In the first half, Cassell was not only not good but made the team worse. Several times he took the ball up the court, didn’t pass and then threw up a brick or turnover. In fact, Doc didn’t even give him much of a chance in the second half instead going with House who, like Sam, didn’t score.

Center: Perkins had his typical 24 minutes on the floor and also was OK, but didn’t control the inside against Al Horford - this was more of an issue in game three. The C’s had plenty of 2nd chances and just couldn’t finish too many times in game four.

Bench: OK so the C’s bench outscored Atlanta’s 13-4. But it was only 13 points…Where’s Tony Allen? Eddie House only 6 minutes and 0 points…Leon Powe just three and Posey had the other ten. There was no boost when these guys came in. In fact the biggest chances were early in quarter one and quarter three when the starters were in.  It’s actually really surprised me we haven’t seen much of TA (about 12 mins in the series) and the way Doc managed this team for like the last 30 games this different rotation may be tough to adjust to.

Jitters: The Celtics did not look like themselves today, especially in the second quarter. One of the Hawks assistants said they had lost their composure. Wow. I think the home crowd should get them going again but this certainly hasn’t been as easy as first thought (and I still think should have been). Once this was close down the stretch, Joe Johnson took over and in a LeBron type of a way wouldn’t be stopped…the key was keeping the ten point lead and that didn’t happen…One loss is OK, two is a concern.

Hey Guys - well I’ve got nothing to do on a Wednesday evening besides watching the C’s so I guess I’ll do some live thinking and see what you think. Feel free to post a comment at the base of this post or send an email to hosts@celticscast.com and I’ll make a shot to respond in a timely manner.

Our starting lineups no surprises: Celtics: PG Rondo, SG R. Allen, SF Pierce, PF Garnett, C Perkins

       Suns: PG Nash, SG Raja Bell, SF Grant Hill, PF Amare Stoudamire, C Shaq. It’s the same deal as the team’s first meeting which obviously didn’t go well. Leon only played 4+ minutes in that game - I’d expect more tonight despite the tough matchups inside.

7:03: I’ll be sticking with the ESPN broadcast today after Mike & Tommy vs. the Sixers didn’t really work out. We’re reminded that the C’s have lost two straight and two straight at home…I guess it’s a good time to turn that around. Also Steve Nash is shooting 67% from three over the last six games…yes change go change… The studio crew says Chris Webber will be remembered as one of the “best forwards of his time”. Personally, Duncan, Pippen, Kobe, even Pierce are ahead of CWebb - no way Webber’s a hall of famer.

7:10 Apparently Stephon Marbury is to blame for KG being so physical with Stoudamire (which has gone on for more than just that game in PHX)…Ric Bucher strong start from the sidelines.

7:15 6-4 C’s 2 minutes in; C’s first three possessions were all quick shots, pushing the ball ahead to leave Shaq behind - it’s worked. Meanwhile, Stoudamire has “blown by” (Hubie Davis’ words, not mine) Garnett twice for 4 points, 2 from the line after a Perk foul.

17-10, 5:33 left 1st qtr; Well KG’s already out because of two fouls. The Suns are going to Amare and Shaq almost every possession and it’s working somewhat. Shaq’s had killer position twice for easy buckets. Meanwhile, KG was dominant on the offensive end with 8 points in 6 minutes. Alas, he won’t be in for awhile. Leon Powe replaced him…Rondo’s holding his own agains Nash a good sign…Side note: if you had a “sven” as your alarm clock, wouldn’t you end up throwing something at him at least once a week? Also, don’t they already have “svens?” They’re called butlers - have they been replaced?

25-16 C’s, under 3 mins left 1st qtr; Celts are killing on the glass (10-4) as Amare isn’t trying as hard to rebound as Perk, KG and Powe…Amare’s got 10 points - they’re legit…”the first home game after a road trip is another road game” - Hubie Davis said it, Tommy disagreed the other day (not directly, just happened to broach same topic). I’ll weigh in and agree with Davis. When you arrive at 3 or 4 AM home and have a game the next day (or in the NBA even the following day), it’s the road routine. Your sleep schedule is on the road schedule, your practice schedule likely is too and in that respect it is, the people cheering for you is not as big of a deal…Doc had some great sound talking with a ref about a Perk foul “let me hit you in the stomach and we’ll see if your hands go down” - in a smiling joking manner but that argument could sway the refs the rest of the way.

30-16, under 2 mins left 1st qtr; C’s have 12 buckets in the paint! (of 13 FG)…clearly not afraid to go at Shaq (who’s been out of the game) or Amare (who plays little D)

33-20 after 1: LEON! After a Rondo off. rebound, miss, Phx rebound, Leon went to the floor to steal the ball then while still on his knees underhanded the ball toward the bucket and got slapped on the forearm for 2 free throws. Hubie’s got 35 years in basketball and never seen that, especially the foul. Rebounding edge is 15-6 and basically everyone in white is going to the basket on offense - scoring, rebounding and it’s working. Now the intensity needs to stay…all four quarters…

33-26, 9:14 to go in 2nd; That means 6-0 Suns in 2nd qtr. Sam Cassell is not doing well - missed two 10 foot jumpers and has a turnover on a forced pass. Phoenix is playing in zone (they have been most of the game). Usually against the zone, a team shoots over it to beat it. The Celtics have the zone extended (with the longer NBA 3-point line) several feet and have been tearing apart the middle of the zone but Cassell is not doing so. Meanwhile, Phoenix hit a couple of shots but that’ll happen. C’s need to get offense working again…By the way another gem from Ric Bucher: Big Baby once body-slammed Shaq - all 300+ pounds of him. Body-slammed him! I’m never getting Davis mad…

41-38 C’s, under 6 mins 2nd qtr; Amare is killing the Celtics - so much so double teaming him every time he gets the ball seems like the thing to do. Only what’re you gonna do? Leave Nash? Shaq? Grant Hill or Raja Bell are the only options and they’ll kill you from 3…so instead Amare is to the tune of 18 points already. This is a real tough matchup defensively for the Celtics with two big guys that can do so many things.

53-50 Suns, 1:04 to go 1st half; Phoenix just isn’t missing…Giricek, Nash, Raja Bell everybody. 33 points already in the secon quarter. The ball movement has been good so they have open shots most of the time (a rarity for a Celtics defense this year). 18 assists for PHX in the first half…Nash picked up a T just before the break for taking a charge but getting called for a block. The comical part is one ref came to block Nash from going at the ref that called the block and but the original ref T’d him up anyway.

57-57 at the half: Rondo goes right at Nash and wins to tie it before buzzer. One good quarter, one bad - no harm done I guess, Doc’s got to find a solution for Stoudamire or else this one isn’t going for Boston. Some halftime stats: Amare 22 pts, 3 reb., Nash 8 dimes, Phoenix 62% FG, 18 assts on 23 FG…Pierce 15 pts (7-7FT), KG 14 pts, Celts 11 offensive rebounds, shooting 47% FG. I’ll be back for the 2nd half all you hinging on my words…

71-67, 5:45 left in 3rd; Phoenix has gone away from Amare but he had a nice hand off to Nash for an easy bucket…Grant Hill’s got a couple buckets for his first points of the game (3 fouls, 9 mins in first half)…Perk with back to back beautiful defensive trips against Shaq after the big guy had two easy buckets prior…Shaq came right back the next trip and stationed himself at the basket for a layup…the defense is where this game will be decided and likely it’s on Perk/KG/Powe or Davis to separate themselves. By the way, where’s PJ Brown? not in the game…I’m surprised he hasn’t been a bigger part of this team (and disappointed).

79-69 C’s, under 3 mins 3rd qtr; Rondo just left Nash in the dust with a sick crossover (did i just write ’sick’? I don’t think I’ve ever actually said that) and that Nash charged over Posey which of course was a block…Doc made a daring move - he replaced Perk with Posey and it’s working. Posey bodied up Stoudamire, stuck with him and then KG came over with help at the last second…Amare in the 3rd qtr: 0-2, 2 reb wow…meanwhile a Nets fan walked into the room (they had a 42 pt. first quarter today and Josh Boone has 21 points in the first half…Josh Boone! how?)

84-73 C’s after 3: Turnovers are coming fast and furious for the Suns (they had more TO’s than assists in the third) and the Celts are taking advantage of the extra chances. My chinese is here and this that’s it for this update…

93-79 C’s under 9 to go: Phoenix is getting “manhandled” in all aspects of the game (Hubie Davis one word quote) - C’s have 18 more field goal attempts than PHX - that’s where offensive rebounds and turnovers play in. So despite the Suns at 56% from the field and Celts at 49% the somewhat big lead for Boston. Mike D’antoni tried to go small (no Shaq or Amare) and it didn’t close the gap at all.

110-88 under 5 to go: C’s are in control so I have three points to finish with.

First - ESPN switched to the Cavs/Hornets game so I got to see the end live and it was a great one. LeBron drives to the hoop to go ahead by one with 7 seconds left. After a TO, LeBron defends Chris Paul. Paul drives to the hoop and the much taller LeBron was nearby so smartly Paul found David West wideopen and the Xavier alum hits the free throw line jumper for the win. Great play, great finish - Hornets great team.

Second, Paul Pierce was so quiet in the first three quarters (even with 15 first half points) I was all set to diatribe about how he’ll disappear sometimes. Then he scores 10 points and drops a few dimes in the first 6 minutes of the fourth quarter. But the point remains: Pierce has become a role player of sorts - maybe the best role player in the league but still Garnett is becoming the face and the go-to guy throughout games.

Third, Celts fans were chanting MVP for Garnett in the fourth quarter. Chris and I are in agreement that KG should not be the MVP of the entire league and I think it’s foolish to have fans chanting this compared to Kobe, LeBron and even Chris Paul. KG is 4th at best unless something radical happens…It’s still a 20 point game and we’re under 3 minutes to go so we’re safely in hand. Most likely you’re reading this after the game is over so I’ll talk to you later.

Cheers!