Your Morning Dump... where Kaman was in Perk's head

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline.  Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Chris Kaman frustrated Perkins the entire night, scoring 27 points (17 in the second half) and sometimes scoring at will. Perkins had one other difficult night defensively, Dec. 8 against Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut (25 points, 14 rebounds) and he generally has trouble with centers with sharp mid-range games. In one sequence, Perkins squared up on Kaman, dug down on defense and Kaman responded by hitting a 12-footer in Perkins face.

[...]

"I think what I tried to instill in Perk's head is composure," he said. "Being consistent with the composure part of the game. I think he's growing as a player but mentally sometimes I think it's a distraction when he's sort of distracted on other things that's going on. I told him to be a really good overall, all-around good player at both ends, you have to be able to be consistent with the mental and no one knows that more that I do.

"No one knows that more than I do. Knowing that I was high energy as far as being mental, I would lose it and it would end up losing games for my team. You live and learn. Although it looks animated. What I am saying is so soothing and straight to the point, at the same time give him some confidence. I thought for the most part, he absorbed what I said and used it."

Globe: KG on 4th quarter exchange with Perkins

It's funny that Perk can completely neutralize a guy who is hyped as the league's most dominant center... yet get worked by a guy who looks like your creepy uncle. 

But Chris Kaman is a good center whose performance shouldn't be all that surprising.  I don't know if Perk took him lightly, or if he simply can't guard centers like Bogut & Kaman yet.  But you could see how frustrated Perkins was after the "away from the ball foul" where the refs ruled Perk pushed Kaman into Baron Davis.  On the next inbounds, Perk demonstratively waved his arms up over his head as he looked at the ref as if to say "look... hands are up... not pushing." 

Kaman crushed the Celtics last night.  If Perk is going to take the next step and really become a premier low-post defender... he's going to have to figure out how to slow down these centers who can square up and hit jumpers, then put the ball on the floor and get to the rim.

Up next, Page 2... where Paul Pierce's knee is "up and down"

Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

“He’s feeling better,” Rivers said before the Celts’ 92-90 loss to the Clippers. “It didn’t feel good (Saturday), so I think that’s the way it’s going to go for a while. We were hoping at one point that he may even fly out at the end of this trip. I don’t think that’s going to happen. As a matter of fact, I know it’s not going to happen.”

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“You just don’t know,” Rivers said. “He could feel great. Who knows with this stuff?”

Herald: Paul Pierce won't be flying for the holidays

I don't like "that's the way it's going to go for a while."  Can someone please let us know how his knee got infected?  

The rest of the links:

Herald: Celtics clipped at buzzer  |  Globe:  Celts clipped at buzzer  |  Depth now paying off  |  ESPN Boston:  Davis: Draw it up and I'll make this  |  CSNNE: C's clipped by poor free throws  |  WEEI: Camerato - Fast Break: C's clipped at buzzer  |  The 3 pointer - Celtics, Rondo off the mark in loss  |  Celtics Blog:  Clipped  |  Celtics Hub: Trouble in LA LA Land  |  Hardwood Houdini: Celtics lose another game they had won