Tag: Kendrick Perkins

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins criticizes Darvin Ham and use of LeBron James

ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins had some strident words for Lakers head coach Darvin Ham amidst the team’s struggles.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a 17-17 record and are clinging to the edge of the Western Conference postseason picture. They have lost eight of their last 11 games.

Granted, they have had a revolving door of injuries and a rough travel schedule over the last few weeks. But it has become clear that, at least right now, they’re not quite the championship-contending team they were billed as when the season started.

Many fans have placed the blame squarely on head coach Darvin Ham. Whether they believe the problem is his rotations or his coaching acumen (or lack thereof), Ham has become the scapegoat for L.A.’s recent woes.

ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins took Ham to task for playing LeBron James at point guard while calling on others to step up their games (h/t Lakers Daily).

“LeBron James playing the point guard, that’s not gonna be sustainable,” Perkins said. “D’Angelo (Russell) gotta find it within to pick up the pace. They play too slow. No easy baskets for Bron or A.D. (Anthony Davis). And that’s why they miss a guy like Dennis Schroder. We forget what he brought to the table on both ends of the floor. But those guys just gotta play, man. They gotta elevate their game.”

James has been playing outstanding basketball and putting up the type of shooting percentages that he has rarely posted in his 21-year career. Russell, on the other hand, struggled for most of December after a very solid November.

The Lakers, as Zach Lowe pointed out, are weak offensively, and a big reason is 3-point shooting. At the same time, their bread and butter offensively is their transition game, and a greater effort from Russell to attack early would help in that area.

Kendrick Perkins on why he thinks the Boston Celtics will win it all

While Perk has been vocally skeptical of his former team in recent years, he’s now a believer.

For a player who won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, former Boston big man and current NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins can be pretty tough on his former ball club. That may be because he knows how good they can be at their best, but at times in the past it’s come off as a bit antagonistic.

But consider Big Perk a convert after the Celtics’ recent successful West Coast swing that saw them blow out the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, beat the Los Angeles Lakers handily, and dropped one to the Golden State Warriors.

Speaking on a recent episode of ESPN’s Pat McAfee show via Boston Dot Com’s Conor Ryan, Perk said that Boston “proved to me and the rest of the world that they’re the best team in the NBA.”

Kendrick Perkins believes in the Celtics championship credentials

The former Boston Celtics champion is finally a believer in this years team.

The Boston Celtics are heading back East after a successful West Coast road trip that saw them go 3-1, including wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers. After beating two teams that are viewed as potential contenders in the Western Conference and doing it on their home floor, it would appear that even the harshest of critics are starting to believe in Boston.

Kendrick Perkins is one of those harsh critics. He has been reluctant to believe his former team has what it takes to become champions at the end of the season. However, after witnessing the Celtics dismantle both LA teams, Perkins has had a change of heart.

The discussion took place on a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Countdown, where Perkins admitted that his former team had impressed him, and he now views them as championship favorites, especially if they can secure home-court advantage.

You can watch Perkins’ full comments by clicking on the embedded clip above.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8MbvY

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Knicks fans have a new top-tier nickname for Jalen Brunson after recent criticisms about his game

Many fans, including Ben Stiller, are calling Jalen Brunson by a new nickname.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was recently the subject of debate when Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon spoke about his potential.

Hammon and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins went back and forth about whether or not Brunson was capable of playing like the best player on the best team in the league.

There is no doubt that Brunson is playing at an elite level right now and he has now scored 30 or more points in eight games so far this season. That now includes a very impressive 36-point performance on Christmas Day during a victory over the Bucks, led by two-time MVP and former NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Despite his accomplishes, though, there are concerns. As a former small guard herself, and as an experienced basketball coach, Hammon wondered if someone his size could lead his team to win a title in the NBA.

We don’t know if Hammon’s criticism of Brunson’s limitations is accurate and we won’t know until we see if he can keep this success for the Knicks in the postseason.

But some fans and teammates are latching on to one of the phrases used in the ESPN debate about whether or not Brunson could become a “1A” player. It seems that his teammates, including Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, think he is already there.

RELATED: Becky Hammon shouldn’t have to shrink herself for the comfort of basketball fans

On this day: Dennis Johnson jersey retired; Kendrick Perkins debut; Charles Claxton, Andre Turner born; Woody Sauldsberry signed

On this day, the Celtics retired DJ’s number, Perk played his first game for them, and Charles Claxton and Andre Turner were born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the Celtics raised champion point guard Dennis Johnson’s jersey to the rafters, honoring the two titles and seven seasons the San Pedro, California native played for Boston. A product of both Los Angeles Harbor College and Pepperdine — Johnson matriculated from the former, a junior college, to the latter — the point and shooting guard was taken with the 29th overall pick of the 1976 NBA draft by the (then) Seattle SuperSonics (now, Oklahoma City Thunder).

DJ — as he was often called as a nickname — would play for that team and the Phoenix Suns before being dealt to Boston in 1983, winning a title with the Sonics in 1979.

The Celtics acquired Johnson for Rick Robey and draft assets, quite a steal in retrospect.

Boston alum Kendrick Perkins legacy is bigger than you think

The former Celtics center has had not one but two NBA careers of note.

Champion Boston Celtics big man Kendrick Perkins was lucky enough to carve out a career in the NBA that included winning a title with the Celtics in 2008. But the Texan center has since found success behind the microphone and in the booth in his second career around the sport, this time as a broadcaster and analyst.

In a recent podcast appearance, Perkins attributed his longevity in the NBA to finding a role and being comfortable with it, and spoke on his unexpected transition to the media world, acknowledging that he didn’t anticipate people connecting with his folksy personality as much as they have.

Perk also shared his frustration with former players who fail to give credit to the current generation of NBA stars, echoing words from former Boston teammate Kevin Garnett.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear the interview in full.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Kendrick Perkins thinks the Bucks need a defensive identity after 3-point loss to the Boston Celtics

Perk praised Boston for their efficient ball movement, timely scoring, and well-defined team identity. 

After a nail-biting 3-point loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden this past Wednesday night, Former Celtics champ and current ESPN broadcaster Kendrick Perkins raised concerns about the Milwaukee Bucks’ defensive identity and the challenges they face in maintaining their success. The game marked the first time the Bucks lost when Damian Lillard scored 20 or more points, indicating a potential vulnerability in their defensive strategy.

Perkins emphasizes the importance of Milwaukee rediscovering their team identity, particularly on the defensive end, where they have historically thrived before this season under new head coach Adrian Griffin. The Celtics, in contrast, had seven players in double figures, emphasizing their cohesive offensive approach. The ESPN analyst praised Boston for their efficient ball movement, timely scoring, and well-defined team identity.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear more of Perk’s argument.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Kendrick Perkins compares OKC Thunder to 2022-23 Kings

Kendrick Perkins compares OKC Thunder to 2022-23 Kings.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have justified those who bought early stock in them after their surprisingly successful season last year.

Through 12 games, the Thunder are a respectable 8-4 with their most recent win coming against the Golden State Warriors.

Possessing arguably the best young core in the league and an All-NBA player in his prime, the Thunder have received praise from national pundits on both their short-term and long-term future.

During a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, former player and current analyst Kendrick Perkins likened this year’s Thunder to last season’s Sacramento Kings, who surprised the entire league by going 48-34 and gaining the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

“It’s not just the short term,” Perkins said. “(OKC) is going to be above the Warriors. They’re going to make the postseason. You know who the Oklahoma City Thunder is going to be this season? Who the Kings were last season.”

After finishing a win shy of the play-in tournament last season, the next step in the young Thunder’s development is to make the playoffs and have a competitive first-round series.

If the Thunder have a season similar to what the Kings had last year, that’ll be a resoundingly successful campaign and a clear sign of progress for OKC’s core.

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On this day: Dave Cowens leave of absence begins; Kendrick Perkins, Gene Conley born; Chuck Connors passes

On this day in Celtics history, Dave Cowens stepped away from the team for a time, Kendrick Perkins and Gene Conely were born, and Chuck Connors left us.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame big man Dave Cowens took a leave of absence from the team after several days of trying to get permission from team owner Irv Levin and legendary Celtics general manager Red Auerbach.

Cowens never revealed what caused him to want the break — it came after a four-game losing streak in a season that saw friend Paul Silas traded away while Cowens was embroiled in a lawsuit, any of which or all could have been the culprit. “Dave came into my office today, and said he’s got a lot of personal problems and feels he can’t play,” said Auerbach via the AP’s Dave O’Hara.

“These things happen,” added Red. “He’s a fantastic human being and sincere. This is a shock to everyone, no one anticipated it. I ache.”

Kendrick Perkins defends Anthony Davis from criticism

ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins made it clear he has Anthony Davis’ back after Davis was dominant in the Lakers’ win over the Suns.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis can be a lightning rod for criticism, especially when he has a subpar game, as he did on Tuesday in his team’s season opener versus the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. In that game, he had a solid first half, but he was practically a no-show after that. He went scoreless in the second half of a 119-107 loss.

It led to the usual criticism of Davis, as pundits claimed he wasn’t worthy of being the team’s No. 1 option on offense.

But as he usually seems to do, he bounced back strongly in his next game and silenced those critics. On Thursday, he put up 30 points on 10-of-17 field-goal shooting and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals. Thanks largely to Davis’ dominance, the Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 100-95, in a hard-earned victory.

Former big man and current ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins defended Davis on Friday’s episode of “First Take,” saying the Lakers don’t have any problems with Davis. In fact, Perkins said he has a problem with anyone who has a problem with Davis (h/t The Cold Wire).

Davis had a mediocre (by his standards) 11 points in the first half on Thursday, but he exploded for 13 points in the final quarter when L.A. overcame a 12-point deficit and snatched control of the game. The big change the team made was to get him the ball in the low post and in the paint more often, rather than simply give him the ball on the wing or the perimeter in iso situations and allow the Suns to load up on him defensively.