Perk: My Starting Spot Is Not Up For Grabs

Posted by Brian Robb on Sep 27, 2010 996014 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F09%2F27%2Fperk-my-starting-spot-is-not-up-for-grabs%2FPerk%3A+My+Starting+Spot+Is+Not+Up+For+Grabs2010-09-27+20%3A55%3A25Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D9960

It’s media day here in Waltham and CelticsHub has been live on the scene catching up with everyone from Danny Ainge to Delonte West before the team skips town to Newport for the start of training camp tomorrow.

An endless array of interviews will be forthcoming in the coming hours and day, however the biggest news of the day comes from the C’s center that won’t be suiting up for the start of this season, Kendrick Perkins.

One of the best things about Perk, is he is as candid of an interview you will find on this squad. If something is on his mind, Kendrick isn’t afraid to speak about it, a rarity in this day and age in sports.

Thus, when the topic of Perk reclaiming his starting center job came up in the discussion, number 43 did not mince words proclaiming his ownership of the starting spot, that either Jermaine O’Neal or Shaquille O’Neal will be keeping warm for him, in his opinion:

“I really don’t want to answer that question, because I don’t want to start nothing,” Perkins continued, “but really my spot is not up for grabs. When I come back I will be in my spot, everyone else will just have to adjust.

Spoken like a man with confidenceLet’s remember that all of this speculation started back in August when Danny Ainge first brought up the possibility that Kendrick would have to compete to earn his job back:

“I’m sure Perk’s going to be worried and nervous since we are going to win games with this front line even when he’s not playing. I’ll be sitting with and talking with Kendrick throughout this whole process and hopefully he can get just focus on getting himself healthy and competing for his job back.”

So clearly Danny and Kendrick are not on the same page here. And honestly, that’s fine. Perk is a prideful guy, so he’s well within his rights to believe that job is rightfully his when he regains his health.

The fact of the matter is though, this team struggled a lot offensively last year (15th in offensive efficiency) and Perk was part of the reason why, with his limited offensive repertoire (I’m being kind). To be fair to Perk a lot of his struggles came while he was battling knee tendonitis in the 2nd half of the year, but there’s no question both O’Neals are major upgrades on the offensive end.

Needless to say, this will be a situation to watch as the season unfolds as all the parties involved likely feel they are worthy of the job.

Much more to come this evening from Media Day………….