Perkins is a very, very, enigmatic NBA player. He turns off local fans by scowling for all 48 minutes of a game, win or lose. He alienates the fans of opposing teams by being the only player willing to be physical to the point of being inappropriate. He can't jump all that well, he can't shoot well. He never gets to the line, he never hits the big shot or makes the huge play.
What he does do, however, is help the team win.
Kendrick is an absolute monster at Center in Boston. He is the best Center in Boston since Robert Parish, with absolutely no exaggeration, and he is going to be out of Game 7 v. LA on a flukey play - a play in which he battled with 2 Lakers under the hoop for a rebound, something that the Celtics are already bad at, now they have to be worse at it in the biggest game of the season.
All Perk has done is play his role - there was a crucial moment in the '08 Season when Perkins was frustrated with Rondo (I believe) because #9 grabbed a rebound that Perk felt was "his". Garnett, during the play, stepped up to Perk and barked at him - a tremendous show of leadership by KG and a huge learning moment for Perk.
So there is an immediate heartbreak in that Perkins has to sit and watch his team either win or lose Game 7 - neither of which will satisfy him, and rightfully so.
But there is a deeper sadness that comes in the form of Perkins losing a long-term extension, that was absolutely coming his way. Rondo is the only player the C's have locked up long-term, and with the advancements on the court that Perkins has made the last few years, I am 100% convinced Ainge was going to lock up Perkins long term.
But there is a deeper sadness that comes in the form of Perkins losing a long-term extension, that was absolutely coming his way. Rondo is the only player the C's have locked up long-term, and with the advancements on the court that Perkins has made the last few years, I am 100% convinced Ainge was going to lock up Perkins long term.
Perkins has torn MCL and PCL ligaments in his right knee. I went online during the writing of this post in order to read more about long-term implications, and I came across the quote below.
"I don't want anybody to feel sorry for me. It's an important game, it's not about me. It's about winning the title."
Well I feel sorry for the entire team, and I feel sorry for Perkins. This team has gone on an incredible 2 month run that Perkins was a crucial, critical and altogether impossible-to-give-up player at the center of this run, and I cannot bear the thought of Game 7 without his Small, Sad Face. And his defense.
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