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
"I like that they play together and nobody really worries about shots, " O'Neal said. "When I was with Cleveland, guys who couldn't even play were worried about shots. Why was Mo (Williams) taking 15 shots, and I'm only taking four? If LeBron takes 20 shots, that's cool.
"So I said, let me get with a good team for the last two years. I don't mind people calling me a journeyman. I've been programmed to move around every three years."
This is why you gotta love Shaq. He's one of the few players who will say what fans are thinking.
Poor Mo Williams. I wonder if he'll remain a cocky bastard as Cleveland struggles through a 35-47 season?
On Page 2, should Perk have to earn his job back?
ESPN Boston Summer Forecast: Should Perk have to fight for a job?
John:
Nope, Perkins shouldn't have to earn his starting job. He's proven what he can give. And not only that, Doc has made it a point to say over and over again: "This starting five STILL has not lost a playoff series." You think he's going to mess with that? The only thing Perk will have to prove is that he's healthy. Once he's 100 percent, he's the starting center.
Chuck:
Yes. My definition of "earn" is prove he's 100 percent healthy and that might not happen until March.
Jay:
Perk has "earned" his spot over the past several seasons. Doc has said several times that, when healthy, his starting five is undefeated in any playoff series, so I doubt he sways from this. Besides, this is all public contract negotiating by Ainge, akin to the "maturity" comments he made about Rondo last summer. Perk is in a contract year and the one silver lining about his injury could be that the Celtics have some leverage when re-signing him. I'm sure Perk's eyes opened wide at the deal Brendan Haywood received this summer (6 years, $55 million, or the same dollar amount as Rondo, with one more year), so the Celtics would be wise to negotiate with him right now. True, big men are rare in the NBA, and when the new Big Three Era finally ends in two years, Perk will be essential to the next rebuilding process.
Most of the bloggers agree with us.
Your thoughts?