CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: For Perk It's About Loyalty

by FLCeltsFan 4:58 PM

Perk mentioned several times before signing his contract last off season that he was grateful to the Celtics for giving him a chance and he felt he owed it to them to do the best he could. When details of his contract came out, many Celtics fans were saying what a bargain he is at that price. Looking at Nene's contract of $10 million a year after sitting out the entire year before signing with an injury and he certainly hasn't proved much more than Perk that he will be a dominant center and Mark Blount's contract of almost 7 million a year, you have to realize what a bargain he really is.

Perk made this statement soon after signing his extension:

"I'm happy to be a Celtic. They've been loyal to me since I got here. Everything has been good. I love the coaches. I love the organization. This is not rehearsed. This is really coming from my heart. I'm just happy we got this out of the way. It's not like I'm stopping here and I'm satisfied with this contract," It's really just motivation to keep working.

And Perk has worked harder than just about anybody this off season. He took off just a couple of days before getting back into full training mode. He has been working hard on his game and his conditioning.

Above all, Perkins doesn't want to take his current situation for granted and hopes his teammates think about a team loaded with talent the same way. Perkins plans to be an integral part of what he believes should be a run to the NBA Finals.

"I've got to be able to give my best every night," said Perkins, fully recovered from the left foot plantar fasciitis that sidelined him for a spell and prevented him from playing at top form during the second half of last season. "I'm excited about this season and I'm trying to put my all into it. This is a blessed opportunity to be on a team with Paul [Pierce], Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen."

This kid has such a great attitude. The best thing in the above quote is reading that he has fully recovered from the plantar fasciitis. There have been a lot of athletes who have been hampered for years by this and it is great to hear that Perk's has healed. He only sat out 10 games last season and played in pain for much of the season because his team needed him and many of us worried that he would do more damage because of it.

Perk is incredibly dedicated and incredibly loyal to the Celtics. Whatever it takes to be a better player and help the team win, he does. He is always looking to improve. Perk has said that he watches himself on tape after every game, looking for ways he can improve. He checks to make sure he saw cutters, set good screens and was in proper position on set plays. He sees improvement in his overall game on a daily basis, and he points to his post moves, an improved jump hook and the way he runs the floor as the biggest strides in his development.

Some may wonder how Perk and Garnett will get along and mesh but I believe that they will be great teammtes. KG has to respect Perk's work ethic and commitment to defense and Perk is already thinking about what he can do to help KG:

“But it’s not how my defense can benefit,” Perkins said. “It’s what I’m going to be able to do to help his defense that is on my mind right now. I have some elements to contribute that I hope can help what he does. To win in this league, your 5’s have to be able to defend the whole game. We have to be able to stop pick-and-rolls, everything.”

Also, KG is a very loyal guy and he will see that same characteristic in Perk. Unlike a lot of players who get a contract and then slack off, Perk has worked even harder to improve his game. He plays hurt, plays hard, and puts the needs of the team and his teammates before his own stats. After playing with Blount, I have a feeling that KG is going to absolutely love playing with Perk. Today's Globe has this:

While Perkins may sound slightly in awe of the newest Celtics, he feels comfortable with the prospect of playing beside them. He has designed some of his workouts to develop skills that will complement the trio.

In addition to making 15-footers, Perkins has practiced "finishing quick." He knows when he receives the ball around the basket from Garnett, Pierce, or Allen, he must make the most of his opportunities and score quickly. But he also understands that the Celtics care more about his defensive productivity, and that's the way it should be.

"[Defense] is what gives me playing time," said Perkins. "That's my role. I don't care if I shoot the ball one time. I've got Paul, Ray Allen, and KG on the court with me. If I go the whole game and have zero points and we win, I don't care. Why should I care? That's called selfish. If we're winning, everybody's going to get the same publicity and everything else. That all comes with losing yourself within the team.

"I want to win too much to care about anything else. I don't care about my stats. I don't care about how people view me as a basketball player. I just care about getting wins. Anything else is irrelevant to me. I don't care about somebody telling me to shoot the ball or do this more. I'm going to do what my team wants me to do. It's as simple as that."

While playing alongside Pierce and Allen may have Garnett excited, I can guarantee that never played alongside an enforcer like Perk, either. It's all about losing yourself within the team. That reminds me of Celtics teams of old where it was all about team and you don't see that much anymore. Yes, I think KG and Perk are going to get along just fine!!

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