| Doc Unleashes Two-Headed Monster Authored by A. Robin McKenna - January 19, 2006 - 5:49 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | More Than A Salary Dump For most of the NBA, the Knicks' trades last Friday were about 2010. But this trade can also help the club this season.
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And no, I am not talking about the sometimes seemingly stat driven scoring duo of Paul Pierce and Ricky Davis — who get plenty of burn — but the inside tandem of Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins, tonight off the bench when it mattered against the T-Wolves and combining for 35 points, 14 boards, 4 blocks, and no turnovers. They had not once this season scored in double digits during the same game and often found themselves watching the likes of Brian Scalabrine and Raef Lafrentz finishing out the close ones.
Although Perkins (in his 3rd year in the NBA out of High School) has this year shown to be a legitimate defender, and Jefferson (in his 2nd) a natural back-to-the-basket scorer, the two have not often played simultaneously during meaningful stretches of games; Doc Rivers perhaps with them in mind when he said that players have to “earn” playing time. And while Jefferson admits needing to keep at his defense, and Perkins to keep trying to get his shot, Rivers finally pulled the stops tonight, leaving them in together for the money minutes.
Although Paul Pierce did serious damage with 20 second half points, the game undoubtedly belonged to the Celtics' talented big men. Both 6-10 forwards seemed much more vocal and involved then has been the case.
Together they put paint pressure on Minnesota at both ends of the floor and showcased aspects of their games that have been previously inadequate. Jefferson had a key stuff down the stretch and Perkins got some more creative footwork going on his scoring takes. Perhaps the most revealing statistic in tonight’s contest was Perkins holding KG to 2 fourth quarter points after the wily veteran was brutally up in his face during the first half, berating him with stare downs and insults after blocking his shots and scoring on him.
“We all put on our shorts the same way.., we all came to play basketball” said Perkins of Garnett after the Celtics 103-96 victory.
The Celtics—now with a record of 15-23—have struggled this season to get any sort of momentum going (they’ve won two straight only once) and rarely win the close ones, as coach Doc Rivers has consistently juggled lineups and used all twelve of his players. With these serious failings and both Paul Pierce and Mark Blount expressing an openness to being traded, this season was beginning to crumble fast. However, in the last two weeks Delonte West has been a distinct bright spot, blatantly coming into his own with consistent, gutsy play, superb 3-point shooting (he shot the best 3-point field goal % in the league since Dec. 21), and confidence in the clutch. With his two brethren in the Celtics “youth movement” having their breakout game tonight, the league’s most decorated franchise might tonight have shown signs of waking up their promise. |
