<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> March 23, 2007 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#000099">Dallas Mavericks</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">(56-11)</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devin Harris</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">C</span> <span style="color:#000099">Erick Dampier</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jerry Stackhouse, Greg Buckner, DeSagana Diop, Austin Croshere, Pops Mensah-Bonsu</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(20-48)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes, Kendrick Perkins, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Leon Powe, Allan Ray</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Devean George will not play (sprained MCL)</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">DJ Mbenga is out for season (torn ACL)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak is out for season (ankle surgery)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen is out for season (torn ACL/MCL)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff is out for season (back surgery)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 25.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.5 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 18.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Jason Terry</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 16.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.3 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 24.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 15.6 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 16.6 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Delonte West</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 11.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 13.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.4 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Joe Juan Barea</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.0 ppg, 0.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">DAL:</span> <span style="color:#000099">Pops Mensah-Bonsu</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#000099">1.6 ppg, 0.7 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 21</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">5.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">As A Starter:</span> <span style="color:#009900">9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 6.6 apg, 2.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 49</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">3.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">5.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Dallas's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#000099">Josh Howard</span> <span style="color:#3333FF">Season Stats: 18.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.8 apg</span> <span style="color:#000099">Just like last time, Josh has to do his best defensively on Paul Pierce.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 4.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Scal is really the only one who can match up and stick with Dirk. We need Scal SO MUCH tonight.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000099">Dirk Nowitzki</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Again, COME ON SCAL!</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes Play Sebastian Telfair. CelticBalla's Prediction We lose, especially if Doc is gonna pull that bullsh** tanking sh*t again.
Jesus I'm going and I just wanna see a good game. Nothing more. If we win I will probably blow a load or something, but christ Doc, at least keep your good players in when it matters the most.
I'll probably miss this game. Due to the more important college games. Well the last game, which seemed like yesterday. Celtics gave Mavs a run for their money. And it was in Dallas. Boston had like 3 players with 20+ plus points I believe
Well, we got waxed tonight. Dallas just blew the game open when it was time to. Sure, we had some nice moments, we made a couple runs, but we obviously couldn't stick it out with a team like the Dallas Mavericks. The lineups and substitutions by Doc were exceptionally questionable, he ticked me off tonight once again. Nothing new. But I also have to give the Mavericks defense and Avery Johnson's game plan a LOT of respect/credit. They did an outstanding job on Big Al tonight, they deserve all the credit in the world. Doc, you keep talking about playing all the young players off the bench getting minutes. Why did you only play Sebastian Telfair 6-7 minutes in a game like THIS? Oh, and Josh Howard - I love the kid, he's a good kid, but that hard foul... or should I say punch... was uncalled for. Completely unacceptable. I really wish Powe or Perk would have put him on the floor the next time he took it to the basket. Player-by-Player Analysis Paul Pierce was awesome tonight. He was taking it to the basket HARD and he got to the line like crazy. That's the tough Paul Pierce we've known for almost 9 years in Boston, and I love it. Paul did hurt his knee, though. He sat on the bench the rest of the game, he didn't look like he was in a great deal of pain, but he was hurting a little bit. He hurt his knee a week and a half ago too. Hmmm. His knee, elbow, and eye... jesus. Gerald Green was definitely feeling it tonight. He pulled up off the dribble, he knocked down a couple three's, he made a nice acrobatic shot on the break, he pulled up for a couple tweener shots, he was up-faking. He was really scoring nicely tonight, and he was very aggressive. Come on young fella, we need this aggression every night. Is he going to shoot this well every night? No, but we need him to take those shots and be aggressive with his own offense. That's his game. Big Al struggled tonight offensively, and once again - you have to give 90% of the credit to Dallas for their game plan and defense. Al got his boards, as usual, but Dallas' defense really bothered the hell out of him tonight. Rondo really played a very effective and solid game tonight. He didn't put up the numbers, but he really set the tone and ran the offense very nicely (especially in the 2nd quarter). He changes the tempo of the game, I love it. A very solid night for Rondo. Delonte had a little trouble with his shot, for the second straight game, but he didn't necessarily have a "bad" game. He wasn't noticeably bad, he wasn't noticeably that great. He made a couple great plays on the defensive end, by the way. Not a horrible night for Delonte, not a necessarily good night. Just, meh. Gomes missed some jumpers again, but that's expected. Look, it's his 2nd game back, he'll be fine by next week. He still was working hard out there. He had a very quiet night, a VERY quiet night, but he was working. Allan Ray was shooting the ball relatively well for the little time he did get. He hit a couple three's in garbage time, whatever. Powe did well in garbage time... whatever. Perk really struggled offensively. Telfair barely played, what the hell else is new? Player Stat Lines <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce: 30 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists on 5-18 shooting, 1-3 from 3, 19-21 FT Gerald Green: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal on 7-10 shooting, 2-2 from 3, 3-5 FT Al Jefferson: 4 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals on 1-11 shooting, 2-2 FT Allan Ray: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists pn 4-6 shooting, 3-5 from 3, 2-2 FT Delonte West: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks on 2-7 shooting, 0-2 from 3, 5-6 FT Ryan Gomes: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block on 4-11 shooting Rajon Rondo: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals on 1-3 shooting, 1-2 FT Leon Powe: 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist on 3-5 shooting, 1-2 FT Kendrick Perkins: 2 points, 1 rebound on 1-5 shooting Sebastian Telfair: 1 assist, 0-1 shooting in 7 minutes</span> Next Game: Monday (3/26/07) at home vs. Toronto at 7:30 pm ET. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Mar 23 2007, 10:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>terrible big al was nonexistant</div> Not necessarily "non-existent." He did do a good job on the glass, again. But you have to credit Dallas' defense. They set up a great game plan and they did a great job defending Al Jefferson tonight. I give them a ton of credit. Sure, on the average night, Al wouldn't have missed 10 shots, but Dallas is a very good defensive team and they did a great job tonight.
It's funny you say Paul looked good tonight.A friend was at the game tonight and mentioned that Paul looked like old Selfish Paul and continually ignored/missed Green who was rushing ahead of the Mav's D and just tried taking the ball coast to coast rather than give it up to the lead man.guess it comes down to perspective and where you saw the game from (TV vs Live)I didn't see the game, so I don't have an opinion myself on how Paul played..
CB32, his nonexistance I was talking about was on the offensive end. I should have been more specific. Nothing was falling though, even when the defense wasn't collapsing around him. Like you said though, you gotta credit the Dallas defensive game plan on that one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Mar 24 2007, 12:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's funny you say Paul looked good tonight. A friend was at the game tonight and mentioned that Paul looked like old Selfish Paul and continually ignored/missed Green who was rushing ahead of the Mav's D and just tried taking the ball coast to coast rather than give it up to the lead man. guess it comes down to perspective and where you saw the game from (TV vs Live) I didn't see the game, so I don't have an opinion myself on how Paul played..</div> Oh, please. We see the same exact thing on TV that you see at the game. It's not like you're friend could really "notice" anything differently in the stands. Paul took the load on himself a bit tonight, yes, but also note that he was GETTING TO THE LINE. He was very effective, he really played very hard. You're friend said "old selfish Paul," that's funny. Paul really is not a very selfish player at all, he never has been. He's a true competitor, he does use his teammates. Maybe you'd notice it a bit more if Ainge put players on the floor Paul actually could feel comfortable with and feel comfortable trusting.
pu-lease, you're gonna try and tell me that 3 years ago, after when all the young talent started joining the C's and Walker was traded away that Paul didn't become a self-absorbed prick?!?!give me a break.for about a year and a half Paul totally had bad body language, jacked up bad shot after bad shot and didn't seem to give a sh*t about winning.He has since turned it around and has been magnificent over the last few years.but don't try and say he's never been a selfish player.. that's abusrd
Haha who the hell do you think you are saying that Paul Pierce didn't give a sh*t about winning? Are you f*cking joking me?That hardly even warrants a response. The guy is a warrior and he plays his heart out, 100% healthy or not every single game, and he plays because he wants his team to win. Paul Pierce IS NOT a selfish player. It seems like he has been but it wasn't by choice. He's been the best player on a bad, bad team, what else do you want him to do?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Mar 24 2007, 09:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>pu-lease, you're gonna try and tell me that 3 years ago, after when all the young talent started joining the C's and Walker was traded away that Paul didn't become a self-absorbed prick?!?! give me a break. for about a year and a half Paul totally had bad body language, jacked up bad shot after bad shot and didn't seem to give a sh*t about winning. He has since turned it around and has been magnificent over the last few years. but don't try and say he's never been a selfish player.. that's abusrd</div> So Paul didn't give a sh*t about winning a couple years ago? Is that what you are SERIOUSLY trying to sit here and tell me? Well, the only thing I can think of is that you didn't watch basketball and you don't know anything about Paul Pierce. Paul wants to win as much as anybody, and ALWAYS has. He never has been a selfish ballhog that you're making him out to be.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Mar 24 2007, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Haha who the hell do you think you are saying that Paul Pierce didn't give a sh*t about winning? Are you f*cking joking me?That hardly even warrants a response. The guy is a warrior and he plays his heart out, 100% healthy or not every single game, and he plays because he wants his team to win. Paul Pierce IS NOT a selfish player. It seems like he has been but it wasn't by choice. He's been the best player on a bad, bad team, what else do you want him to do?</div>If you read what I said, I mentioned his play of a few years ago, when the team was young or had less talent than it does now.He put up some ridiculous shots and basically went antoine walker on the team, which is to get good numbers but at the detriment of the team's success.the past few years he's become the superstar he was before when they had a good team and made the playoffs.CB32, I do watch and follow basketball and I also read.It may escape your mind, but at the time, I read articles on CNNSI, and ESPN (specifically Bill Simmons) and both said Paul was playing like he didn't give a sh*t and was basically just out there getting stats.now this is going back several years, around after he go stabbed and Walker was traded and the team didn't have much talent or young prospects.He's had a complete 180 and is a superstar team player in my books.and yes he has tons of heart.I so desperately hope the Celtics either draft or trade for a superstar to go along side Paul so he can be rewarded with the success the Celtic fans and he deserve.Ainge makes me nervous with his sh*tty trades. Doc is not a good in game coach as he doesn't seem to make the adjustment necessary to win.So yeah, my hopes are on getting the first or second pick and Oden or Durant (as mentioned in another thread or two)Otherwise, the current make up and talent level of the Celtics looks a lot like a middling team that makes it to the playoffs, only to be first round fodder stuck getting a #14-19 pick in the draft and a shite GM who can't make the trade to get his superstar and team over.. (Gee sounds like another ex-celtic GM we know of eh?)But hey, if you guys are happy with the prospect of becoming the T-Wolves of the East, then I guess I'm just wrong...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Mar 24 2007, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If you read what I said, I mentioned his play of a few years ago, when the team was young or had less talent than it does now. He put up some ridiculous shots and basically went antoine walker on the team, which is to get good numbers but at the detriment of the team's success. the past few years he's become the superstar he was before when they had a good team and made the playoffs. CB32, I do watch and follow basketball and I also read. It may escape your mind, but at the time, I read articles on CNNSI, and ESPN (specifically Bill Simmons) and both said Paul was playing like he didn't give a sh*t and was basically just out there getting stats. now this is going back several years, around after he go stabbed and Walker was traded and the team didn't have much talent or young prospects. He's had a complete 180 and is a superstar team player in my books. and yes he has tons of heart. I so desperately hope the Celtics either draft or trade for a superstar to go along side Paul so he can be rewarded with the success the Celtic fans and he deserve. Ainge makes me nervous with his sh*tty trades. Doc is not a good in game coach as he doesn't seem to make the adjustment necessary to win. So yeah, my hopes are on getting the first or second pick and Oden or Durant (as mentioned in another thread or two) Otherwise, the current make up and talent level of the Celtics looks a lot like a middling team that makes it to the playoffs, only to be first round fodder stuck getting a #14-19 pick in the draft and a shite GM who can't make the trade to get his superstar and team over.. (Gee sounds like another ex-celtic GM we know of eh?) But hey, if you guys are happy with the prospect of becoming the T-Wolves of the East, then I guess I'm just wrong...</div> Wow, lmao. We are so different from the T-Wolves it's not even funny. Even if we didn't make any moves, this team wouldn't be anything like the Wolves because of the young players. I'm pretty confident that Al Jefferson, Rajon Rondo, Gerald Green, Delonte West, Ryan Gomes, and Tony Allen will be better than Ricky Davis, Randy Foye, Trenton Hassell, Marko Jaric, and Troy Hudson. Minnesota has a star and mediocre veterans at best. We have one legit All-Star, one soon-to-be All-Star in Al Jefferson, and some young talent with a lot of potential that will pan out better than Mark Blount and Troy Hudson status. When healthy, we are better than the Wolves NOW, let alone the potential on this team. Second of all, don't pay attention to articles like that, ESPECIALLY BILL SIMMONS. Simmons tries too hard to be funny, half of what he says is the most ridiculous sh*t I've ever heard, and he's one of the most negative writers out there. And about this offseason, we have to just wait and see. We have so many options, something WILL happen. I guarantee that, something will happen. Whether it be we get a top 2 pick, we trade for a legit star, we get a couple solid veterans, whatever. SOMETHING is going to happen.
soo uhh you're saying you trust Ainge to make a good trade?remember this is the guy who basically gave away the #6 pick last year for Sebastian "jump shot? I don't need no stinking jump shot!" Telfairsure sh*t may happen this summer, but the C's will have to give something up to get it.and well yeah I've been discussing the need to get one of the top two picks so u know my thoughts on that.as for something happening this summer, well we do have 6 salaries expiring this year. Including Vin Baker's 5 mill the team paid out. 5 of those (luke jackson, vin, Brian grant, Orien Green, Pittsnogle) will most likely not be renewed. the 6ht is Mike Olowokandi, I'd only retain for the vest minimum.But the overall team salary total will only drop $200,000 due to escalating salaries.we have Theo's 11,666,666 contract to dangle as it expires after 07-08.unfortunatley wally get 12 mil next year and 13 the year after.... and by then the young talent will be looking to get paid. (Jefferson and West)The C's record the last 5 years2006 33-49 2005 45-37 2004 36-462003 44-382002 49-33Total 207-203 Now if that isn't middle of the road to mediocrty, I don't know what is.Sure we have more promising young talent than Minny, but they've had a much better record over the last 5 years too.Problem with promising talent, a lot of it remains just that promising with no results.Counting on all of the C's young talent to develop and become more than just bench material is plain foolish IMO. Sure a few guys with have the dedication to take that talent and make something of it, others will be like a Harlold Miner or Deshawn Stevenson, disappointments.as for Bill Simmons, sure he goes out on the limb with is opinions, but a lot of them do make sense and thinking he doesn't know what he's talking about is foolish.he's more reliable and on point than any other nba writer at ESPN IMO.
Do I trust Ainge with making a big trade? I don't know yet, we'll certainly find out. He hasn't yet, he's never had the pieces like this to do it. He has made a couple bad trades, but he's never made a big one yet. Give him a chance, he has all the trading chips in the world. Last Year's Pick It was the #7 pick not #6. I know, I know, big deal, you were one off. Just saying. But Ainge didn't necessarily do that deal all because of Sebastian Telfair. He dumped Raef LaFrentz's knees and atrocious contract and took on Theo Ratliff's. What does that do? Well, that depends on Ainge. He can either package that giant expiring deal this summer (VERY valuable trading chip) or he can simply let him walk and use that money to extend the contracts of some of these young players. Either way, that trade definitely helped us. Had we kept that pick, we would have had Brandon Roy. That would have been nice, but he does NOT fit here with Pierce/Wally/Allen/Green/West. That wouldn't have worked. Also, we needed a point guard at the time - we got two. Has Sebastian dissapointed a bit? Yes, but he still has potential and I definitely have not given up on this 21 year old playmaker. But again, that trade did help us out a lot. With that expiring deal, we CAN make a deal for a star this summer. We wouldn't be able to with Raef's (it expires one extra year after Ratliff's, therefore that would set us back with the trade market another year). Those expiring contracts you listed - Cleveland agreed to pay most of Jackson's contract in that trade, plus Jackson is a Raptor now. - Orien Greene is a Pacer. - Michael Olowokandi will not be re-signed. - Brian Grant retired. - We waived Pittsnogle a long time ago, he's playing overseas, and his tiny contract means absolutely nothing. Ainge can pay that out of his pocket, and it was not even a guaranteed contract. Our record the last 5 years Yup, mediocrity. Nobody ever argued that, but Ainge has also never been in contention for a top 2 pick with 2 superstars in this draft class (knock on wood), and he's never had the trading chips he has now. Let's just wait and see what happens. On May 22nd (draft lottery), we'll have a pretty good idea at how this team will look next year.
absolutely the draft lottery is what decides how this team goes.I only mentioned the salaries because according to this;http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htmthey do count against the cap.as for Bassy, sometimes guys with talent and potential don't come through. You can name any team and they have talented players who never put it together. I think Bassy is going to be one of those players.Gerald Green, is one to worry about too.Will he be the next T-mac or the next Deshawn Stevenson?he's still young so he can have a 'growth' spurt and show something, but I do worry about his b-ball iq, not his skills/athleticsm.Perkins.. does NOT have a b-ball IQ and it shows.You have to look at this once medicore team that is the second worst in the league right now with some objectivity.not everyone on this team is a gem and a keeper. That includes the young guys too.
How does Perkins not have basketball IQ?He's one of the best passing big men in the leagueHe just can't get that baby hook to fall..he can't get any lift because of the plantar fasciitisHe will be a pretty solid role player off the bench once he gets by this injury
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Mar 25 2007, 09:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does Perkins not have basketball IQ?He's one of the best passing big men in the leagueHe just can't get that baby hook to fall..he can't get any lift because of the plantar fasciitisHe will be a pretty solid role player off the bench once he gets by this injury</div>seriously, you think a 1.1 apg, 1.3 TO/game and 3.0 fouls per game is basketball IQ? (his number from last year are slightly worse btw)gawd don't be such a blind nut hugger.never every single player drafted by the C's is gonna be a good player.chances are most won't.This guy is sloooooooooow to develop and may never avg double digits in scoring or rebounding.he's show precious little to show court awareness IMO and contribute to the success of the team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticFan @ Mar 26 2007, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>seriously, you think a 1.1 apg, 1.3 TO/game and 3.0 fouls per game is basketball IQ? (his number from last year are slightly worse btw) gawd don't be such a blind nut hugger. never every single player drafted by the C's is gonna be a good player. chances are most won't. This guy is sloooooooooow to develop and may never avg double digits in scoring or rebounding. he's show precious little to show court awareness IMO and contribute to the success of the team.</div> First off, 1.1 apg... who cares? If you watch the games, you know that Perk is one of the best passing centers in the league. 1.3 TOPG? That's a good number. 3 fouls per game, he does have to work on not falling for so many up fakes, but that number really isn't THAT bad. Perk isn't a guy that was ever envisioned to average double figures in anything, except minutes per game. He is a guy to come in and do the dirty work. He is playing hurt, he has been all year. He'll be fine. He's not going to be a career starter, but having a guy like him off the bench will be very nice in the near future.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Mar 26 2007, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>First off, 1.1 apg... who cares? If you watch the games, you know that Perk is one of the best passing centers in the league. 1.3 TOPG? That's a good number. 3 fouls per game, he does have to work on not falling for so many up fakes, but that number really isn't THAT bad.Perk isn't a guy that was ever envisioned to average double figures in anything, except minutes per game. He is a guy to come in and do the dirty work. He is playing hurt, he has been all year. He'll be fine. He's not going to be a career starter, but having a guy like him off the bench will be very nice in the near future.</div>you're right!he should be a bench player.but because of the lack of talented size, Perk starts and isn't good enough to be a starter.Ideally the Celtics have 4 starters (Jefferson, Pierce, Allen and Rondo) and two good bench players in West and Gomes. Jefferson is best as a PF not a center and Kandi, Ratliff and Perkins are all serviceable back ups but that's it. (when healthy of course)bottom line, perkins is not very good and shouldn't be included in the young and up and coming talent.He's just about at his max potential IMO.
