NBA Special: The Kendrick Perkins phenomena
It was the very last season when the Boston Celtics seemed convinced that they would have won the championship, had their phenomenal centre Kendrick Perkins been
fit and in their playing line-up for the last game of the finals. They desperately missed his size, rebounding and shot blocking against the Lakers’ gigantic front line, and simply ran out of gas in an exhausting seven-game series. Keeping that in mind, it
was even bizarre to think that the C’s will even imagine relocating him, the very next season.
The unimaginable however unearthed hours before the 2010 mid-season trade deadline and the mercurial centre ended up bringing his wits to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although many pundits of the game have already started to paint Perkins’ arrival at the Oklahoma City as a potential token to the Championship itself, the newly acquired
Kendrick Perkins has shrugged off any such suggestions. Instead he seems to be more inclined to act as mentor.
“I'm just trying to bring what I know to these young guys, we’ve got a good group of young guys that work hard, stay humble and are talented. I'm just trying to do
what I can to come in and fit in”.
Perkins came in the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade deadline deal with Boston Celtics on February 24th, but could not play for roughly three weeks due
to medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee.
His new coach also seems to opine with his latest superstar. Brooks said that although the arrival of Kendrick bodes well for the Northwestern division powerhouses,
it does not necessarily mean that the Thunder have instantly transformed into a legitimate Championship contender.
“There's no easy path to that level. You have to earn it by working every day. We're getting pieces to having a good team. Perk is another good piece to getting where
we want to get to”
Brooks approach appears to be the one that is more close to reality. In the curious case of winning a championship in NBA, it all comes down to the depth of the roster
and the legacy. It is no matter of coincidence hence, that in the last 31 years there have been only 8 franchises that have earned the taste of the coveted silver ware. Even this year, three of these teams, the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago
Bulls are the favorites to win it.
Although, the Thunder have been the team to look out for this season, yet they still lack the skills, leadership and more importantly the vision to achieve the ultimate
feat. With Kendrick in their ranks now and the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook already in the thick of things, it may not long though when we will finally see the Thunder roar at the top of the league.
For now, Perkins will happily do his part.
“I'm not trying to do too much. I'm not trying to do too little either,” Perkins said. “I've learned a lot in my eight years being in the league. I'm just trying
to carry it over and bring it here and just bring a positive vibe, positive energy. I feel like these guys could get another level of confidence that they don't know that's down there.”
But someday, maybe even soon, the Thunder will rule the roost.
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