New lineup perking him up: Celtic is fine with being fifth option

October 12, 2007

LONDON - It was center Kendrick Perkins who aggressively took the first two shots during the Celtics' exhibition game Wednesday, not one of the heralded threesome of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce.

While heading to the free throw line after being fouled by the Timberwolves' Theo Ratliff, Perkins said, "I'm going at him." And in the Celtics' 92-81 victory over Minnesota, Perkins had 11 points, more than either Garnett or Pierce.

But preseason is preseason. And Perkins knows that once the regular season starts, he will likely become the fifth scoring option of the Celtics' starting five.

"I'm not worried about it," Perkins said. "I always say I just want to lose myself within the team. If we go win it all and I average 2 points, we all still get rewarded. If I average 2 points and we win it all, I will have nothing to complain about."

Much already has been made about perennial All-Stars Allen, Garnett, and Pierce. Rajon Rondo is the fourth option offensively and will have the ball in his hands a lot since he is the point guard. As for Perkins, there won't be many plays run for him, if any.

The 6-foot-10-inch, 280-pounder averaged 4.5 points and 3.7 field goal attempts per game last season. And when the fifth-year Celtic does score, it will probably be on putbacks or when he is wide open under the basket. This preseason, he has received easy looks after Garnett has been double-teamed.

Perkins received strong praise from coach Doc Rivers after he scored 8 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Toronto in the exhibition opener in Rome Oct. 6. He made 3 of 5 shots and 5 of 6 free throws, and hauled in two offensive rebounds against Minnesota.

"We've got a few [plays] Doc runs for me," said the 22-year-old Perkins. "I don't really [care]. An assist to me or me setting a pick for Paul or Ray and getting them open for a shot, that's just like me scoring. The way Paul and Ray reward you for setting picks makes you want to set picks. It's just a good feeling.

"But from the outside looking in, it's like, 'Man, Perk ain't getting no touches.' But, really, I'm happy."

Said Rivers: "[Perkins] has an understanding that he's not going to get the ball a whole lot, but he can. All he has to do is go get it. It's up there every time [as a rebound]. And he'll get some, on [pick and] rolls and when he rolls when guys are double-teamed. He'll be the guy opening [up]. But as far as us featuring him offensively, that's just not going to happen."

It wasn't long ago that Perkins was used to doing most of the scoring.

He averaged 27.5 points per game as a senior for Ozen High School in Beaumont, Texas, in 2002-03. Maybe a sign of what was to come was Perkins scoring 6 points in the 2003 McDonald's All-America Game, which was highlighted by LeBron James scoring 27 points. Perkins was selected with the 27th pick in 2003 by Memphis before his rights were dealt to Boston on draft night.

While playing sparingly and averaging 2.2 and 2.5 points, respectively, in his first two seasons in the NBA, Perkins had a hard time dealing with not getting the ball. But after accepting his role, he started in 93 of 140 games the last two seasons and averaged 20.7 minutes, a number that could have been higher if not for foul trouble.

"My first two or three years in the league I didn't want to hear what Coach was talking about," said Perkins, who averaged 4.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.9 minutes per game last season. "I was on the injured reserve list. You'll learn not playing. I wanted to be a person on the court. Not getting [any] minutes, man, you'll learn to accept your role."

After playing for a team that had the second-worst record in the NBA last season and endured a franchise-worst 18-game losing streak, Perkins is ecstatic to be on a much improved team that he views as a title contender.

"With three potential Hall of Famers on your team, you can't complain about [anything]," said Perkins. "I'm just happy to be on the court with them."

The Celtics did not practice yesterday after returning to Boston. They are expected to work out today at their Waltham practice facility.

Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Wednesday there is no timetable to trim the 17-man roster to the maximum 15.