Some fans complain about Perk because of the fact that he doesn't fill up the stat sheets. But, his coaches, who know him best know the real value of having Kendrick Perkins on their teams. I've said it so many times. Perk's value goes way beyond the stat sheet. From NESN, here's what both coaches had to say:
Before the game, both Thunder coach Scott Brooks and Celtics coach Doc Rivers spoke about the importance of the 28-year-old center, whose impact goes beyond the box score. “Perk’s never going to have big stats,” Rivers said.
“That’s not why you have Perk on your team. He does a lot of other things. You can’t put a number on identity or perception but there is a number. I don’t know what it is, but Perk gives their team that.”
The NBA is still new to Oklahoma City, so it is not very surprising that Thunder fans have looked at the box score and wondered what the big deal is. They see a 6-foot-10 defensive specialist who averages 4.2 points and 4.6 assists per game and wonder how this guy can be more valuable than Serge Ibaka, who averages 14.7 points and 3.4 blocked shots per game. But Perkins is more valuable that Ibaka, not that Ibaka is a slouch.
“The good thing about it is, ‘the people’ don’t make the decisions,” Brooks said. “I look at what he does and I get to see it every day. It’s easy [to say] when you see it through the box scores or you see it once a year, but what he does day in and day out is perfect for what we need. We’re not going to go to him and say, ‘Perk, you need 12 points tonight.’ That’s not how we win. He has to continue to bring that toughness, bring the spirit of competition every night and he does it.”
And Perk knows that sometimes fans will look at the box score and think he's not doing his job, but he also knows that what he does leads to winning. He does his job and fills his role to perfection, even though he doesn't get the glory that comes from filling up the stat sheets. From CSNNE:
While Perkins would love to see his numbers improve this season, he understands that doing the dirty work that often goes unnoticed, is vital to his team winning.
"It's definitely hard," Perkins said. "It takes sacrificing. But at the end of the day, I'm trying to win. I know my numbers aren't where they need to be, but at the end of the day ... some games I might take eight, nine shots. Some games I may take none. But at the end of the day, it's about winning. I just try to find differnt ways to get involved."
Like setting screens which has been part of the high-scoring play of Kevin Durant and point guard Russell Westbrook.
And, if you wonder if Perk has forgotten the Celtics, he cleared that one up as well. Perk had this to say about his old team.
I still follow Boston every night, even when we play at same time, I watch games later.Perk is still a Celtic and always will be. I'd love to have Perk back on the Celtics but I don't see Scott Brooks giving him up. He also knows how important he is to his team's success. Now for some off the court stuff. Perk's beautiful wife Vanity posted some great photos on twitter from Perk's Celtics reunion. Vanity seems to be a beautiful person inside and out and the perfect match for Perk. Here are the photos she posted.
KG love us! We love him more!!! instagr.am/p/SZiccrJfsf/
— Vanity Perkins (@VanityHearts5) November 24, 2012
We miss these guys:( instagr.am/p/SZiUY2JfsX/
— Vanity Perkins (@VanityHearts5) November 24, 2012
Baby Kenxton with his God father! #Rondo instagr.am/p/SYcyjwJfkZ/
— Vanity Perkins (@VanityHearts5) November 23, 2012
Silly baby! He is so much fun!!! instagr.am/p/SZi_jmJfs5/
— Vanity Perkins (@VanityHearts5) November 24, 2012
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