Celtics Links for Today 11/7

Herald  Deep roots of defense
Sullinger: KG praise means a lot
Russell Westbrook leads Thunder past Raptors 108-88
KG searches for offensive balance
Globe  For Jared Sullinger, a chance to go beyond the comparisons
Kevin Garnett says Celtics are a ‘work in progress’
Celtics Green  Preview: Wizards (0-2) at Celtics (2-1)
Jason Terry is a Celtic - Parking Cars
Rookie Round-Up: Week 1 - Sullinger Shines
Celtic Minute and Practice Report

Comments from the Other Side - Raptors 11/6

You almost have to feel sorry for Raptors fans.  Any fanbase that starts talking about tanking and the lottery just a couple games into the season has lost all hope.   They alternate between insults and good things about the Thunder and, of course, complain about the refs.  At least most of them are smart enough to know that the refs wouldn't have mad a difference in the outcome.  Enjoy today's Comments....

I hope we can win but don't see it happening.

God I hope Lowry outplays Westbrook, Can't stand him.

We need Harden to continue throwing hex dust at OKC.

Fields is going to shut out KD

Okc is there for the taking. This is better than when perk got traded to okc and Boston went emo.

Hopefully we can encourage Westbrick to chuck while Lowry puts up a 50 PER and we steal one

Lowry needs to get in Westbrook's head and let him take OKC out of the game.

Celtics Links for Today 11/6

Herald  The search for Rondo’s right minutes average
Jared Sullinger paid attention to dad
Jason Terry plans to back up talk with play
Carmelo Anthony keeps Knicks perfect with win over 76ers
ESPN radio announcer Jim Durham dies at 65
JJ Barea, Donald Sloan get NBA’s 1st 2 flopping warnings
Globe   Celtics getting defensive
Rivers puts pressure on Celtic reserves
Celtics have been losing bench battle, but Jason Terry hopes to even score
Globe 10.0 - How much will Jared Sullinger contribute this season?
What we’ve learned about the Celtics
For NBA flops, let players police themselves?

Player Power Rankings

Royce Young has his inaugural Thunder Player Power Rankings up on Daily Thunder.    Perk is ranked #7 on the team, which seems about right.  I'd maybe rank him a bit higher, but that's just me. Here's what Royce had to say about him:

7. Kendrick Perkins The “Bash Perk Bandwagon” is filling up earlier than usual this season. But give him credit with this: Against the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge struggled to find any offensive rhythm, going just 10-of-22 from the floor. That was from Perk’s annoyance, as well as his defense. Perk is Perk and you’d think Thunder fans would accept him as the player he is by now. He’s not a low post threat, he’s not a double-double machine and he’s not going to pull in 15 rebounds. He’s a tough guy that sets good screens, defends the post as well as anyone in the league and adds a little mean streak to OKC’s defense. That’s it.

Thunder fans should heed my warning. You don't appreciate what Perk brings to the team until he's not there to bring it any more. The Celtics found out the hard way.

Celtics Links for Today 11/5

Herald  Doc Rivers, Celtics on quest for consistency
Lakers give coach a moment of respite from hot seat
Magic use huge 2nd half run, upend Suns 115-94
Globe  Jeff Green of Celtics returns to native Washington for first time since his heart surgery
Jared Sullinger’s NBA education is coming slowly but surely for Celtics
Celtics Green  The Best of Tommy
Boston Celtics Weekly Recap – November 4th
Comments from the Other Side - Wizards 11/4
Red Claws Draft Jeremiah Rivers
What's the Problem?

Perk Makes a Difference

This headline in NewsOK caught my attention:

Title hopes might depend on Kendrick Perkins' long-term health 

For all the people who criticize Perk for not having big stats in each game, Scott Brooks and those who know what Perk really brings to a the team realize that he is crucial to their title hopes. It's no coincidence that when Perk was with the Celtics they reached the Finals twice in 3 years. Since Perk was traded, they haven't been there even once. On the other hand, before Perk arrived in OKC, the Thunder hadn't made the Finals. Since the trade? They've been there twice. It's not his stats. It's his leadership, his defense, his picks, his boxing out, his toughness.

Speaking of his toughness. Just look at the stare in the photo above. He was giving the ref one of those stares to let him know he didn't appreciate not getting a call on the previous play. When Perk was in Boston, he gave that look to a ref in a game vs the Knicks and they gave him a technical for the look on his face. He didn't say a word. Just that Perk stare.

Perk Expected to Play Sunday

Darnell Mayberry reports that Perk should be ready to play on Sunday vs the Hawks. 

Kendrick Perkins, who sprained his ankle late in Friday’s game, should be a go Sunday against Atlanta. Scott Brooks said Perkins did not participate in practice today but will be evaluated before the game and is expected to play. “It wasn’t as bad as I initially thought,” Brooks said. “He’s feeling much better today than I thought he would.”

That's definitely good news. He wasn't limping much as he left the floor so I was hoping it wasn't serious. But you never know with Perk. He didn't limp much in the playoffs last season and he was playing with a torn groin muscle.