Kendrick Perkins

Last night's Celts versus Orlando Magic game was different from the other games in this series. The Celtics came out looking determined to win this one and end the series in 6. The Cs had the lead the whole entire game (biggest lead 12) until the last 3 minutes. This is the first time during this playoff that a Cs lead in the 4th did not lead to a close out. Rondo had a good night scoring 19 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals, and so did Perkins scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and 3 blocks. But it wouldn't be enough with Ray Ray only scoring 5 points and Davis 6 points -- this is not what C-Nation is used to! The Cs bench did play great Defense though, especially Scalabrine, and if he can keep that up, it will be huge in game 7.  But no offense from the bench -- I was hoping to see House step up when Allen was off, but no such luck.    Their "Superman" D. Howard had the night that Magic fans were waiting for and scored a game high 23 points and game high 22 rebounds and with help from R. Lewis scoring 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, it was just enough to give the Magic the win 83-75.  I thought that when the Cs were up 8 with 9 minutes left in the game, we were leaving with a win, but Pierce and Allen were 3-15 in the second half and that's what cost us. Pierce played an overall good game, scoring 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists keeping the Cs in the lead the whole game. But right down the stretch when Pierce usually single-handedly closes out the other team, he just didn't have it  and no one else stepped up. The Cs handed this game to the Magic!!! Pierce missed two free throws in the last 3 minutes and then the Celts just couldn't score and Orlando took advantage. They got the lead with under 3 minutes and kept it, sending this series to a game 7. Another crazy series but as Dato, G, Jon, KC, Rach, Ro,JR, Bobafet, Even-Murray, and I said from the start, this was going to a Game 7!!!( Rach has believed from the beginning that this series iwould be just like last year's, and she's right.) This will be back in Boston Sunday night at 8:00 where the Cs franchise is 32-0 in game 7. MIT believes the Cs are a lock. The Professor and I believe it's going to be a battle and could come down to the last possession. We will see Sunday. So Go Celts, get your green on; you don't want to miss this one!!!

Continue reading "Boston Celtics: It Can Get Awfully Hot in Orlando"

yer, the type of leader, and the type of heart he has.

Rajon Rondo had another double-double, and Kendrick Perkins definitely lived up to his moniker (Perk IS A BEAST!) by grabbing 19 boards and swatting another 7 shots. This was undeniably Perkins' best performance, and he continued his consistent level of play through the whole game. Glen Davis came up with some big shots and boards, and this series as well as the last 3 months in KG's absence has given him a great deal of confidence. You can see it in his body language and his knack for coming up with a big jumper.

Continue reading "Another game, another epic battle"

Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen each played great basketball and Kendrick Perkins was solid down low, but despite his 29 points, Paul Pierce looked sluggish and made some critical errors that were very uncharacteristic of him. His Twitter update yesterday extolled the virtues of Portello's italian sausages in Chicago. He looked like he had eaten a few before the game today. 

Continue reading "The agony of defeat"

I also challenge anyone to tell me that Kendrick Perkins doesn’t look like a combination of John Thompson III and The Muppets’ Sam Eagle. These are the things I think about it. Is there something wrong with me?

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: Volume II"

(Note: I've published this post on another blog of mine, here.)

Did you see these two teams yesterday? I don't think I've ever been more impressed by a pair of NBA teams on the same day. The Celtics absolutely dismantled a respectable Dallas Mavericks' team, and the Lakers shamed the once-mighty San Antonio Spurs. Everything was clicking for both the Celtics and Lakers, and yet it's not as if this was a one-time deal.

Continue reading "We're headed for a Lakers/Celtics ..."

and LaMarcus Aldridge or their other bigs, seeing as how pick & roll defense is something that Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett especially excel at as much as anyone else in the league.  Garnett's length and physical play will bother both Aldridge and Roy if they run a lot of these sets, so it's probably better to run more isolation plays for Roy (he's especially good at these) and force the Celtics to defend him one on one. 

Continue reading "Celtics v. Blazers Preview Extravaganza"

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On a positive note, the core of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins should be much more comfortable playing with each other next year, which could mean that the Celtics will dominate even more next year than they did last season.  It’s a stretch, but imagine how much more smoothly the offense could run with everybody on the same page and having spent even more time developing rapports with one another.

Continue reading "Return of the Rivalry"

lues the contributions and efforts of the other Celtics like Rajon Rondo, Eddie House, James Posey, Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Glen Davis, PJ Brown and the alien from the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull… er, I mean Sam Cassell (don’t forget Scal and Scott Pollard!).  Each and every one of those guys, especially Scalabrine, made contributions to the team and were vital parts of this championship run.  The Celtics are all about teamwork, sacrifice and selflessness, and it won them a title.  Highlighting just the three all stars as the contributors goes against every key characteristic of the Celtics’ identity.

Continue reading "Defense Dominates"

ost of the Lakers fans are even in their seats.

Speaking of defending Odom and Gasol, this is why Kendrick Perkins will be a huge factor in this series.  He has played good, physical basketball against the Lakers this season, and played very well in the last few games of the Conference Finals against the Pistons.  His size and length should be irritating to a slender, finesse player like Pau Gasol if Perk can stay out of foul trouble for the majority of the series.  perkins is also great at using his body to show on the pick & roll and disrupt the rhythm of the play, which could be crucial against the high screens for Kobe that Gasol will set.  Finally, if Perk can force Gasol to work a little bit on defense, fatigue could be a factor down the stretch for the lanky Spaniard.

Continue reading "Middle Men"

o;m in the Finals! These guys make me look awesome!”

Announcers Desperately Attempt to Make Kendrick Perkins Cool

When Kendrick Perkins had his playoff breakout game during game five of the Celtics-Pistons Conference Finals, the announcers for the game, Mark Jackson, one of the Van Gundy’s and that old white guy, were desperate to claim to know who the hell he was.

Continue reading "Celtics Notes!"

eing a lot of the Big Ticket in his face for most of the game.  Additionally, the Celtics have Kendrick Perkins, whose combination of length and physicality should disrupt Gasol at least a little.  On the perimeter, the Celtics can match Paul Pierce and James Posey up against Lamar Odom (when they aren't guarding Kobe), and put everybody else on the Black Mamba.  Rajon Rondo should also be able to cope with Derek Fisher better than Fisher will be able to handle Rondo, which should work in Boston's favor (though Fisher is consistent and confident, crucial traits that Rondo is LACKING). 

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 Kendrick Perkins, PJ Brown and perhaps Glenn Davis will all take a turn on BIg Z, and match up well against his size and his game.  Additionally, there will be some help on the interior because of the collective black hole that Cleveland has at power forward since they traded Drew Gooden away at midseason.  At best, the Cavs have Joe Smith at the 4, and at worst it's Ben "Anemic on Offense" Wallace, with Floppy McFlopperson (excuse me, Anderson Varejao) falling somewhere in the middle in a realm I like to call obnoxious game and hair land.  Since none of Cleveland's power forward's can score consistently, there will be plenty of help defense on Ilgauskas and anyone else who sets foot in the paint in Boston tonight.  

Continue reading "Cross Your Fingers"