The Celtics’ Defense Without Kendrick Perkins
Yesterday, the Celtics made it official. Kendrick Perkins won’t be playing in game seven tonight against the Lakers. Kendrick Perkins is very important for the Celtics on the defensive end, and the numbers prove it. According to raw +/-, the team is about 8 points better per 100 possessions with Perk on the floor versus with him on the bench, and it is performing better on both sides of the ball with Perk in the line-up (according to BasketballValue via CelticsHub).
On the defensive end, Kendrick Perkins is the anchor, allowing for the rest of the team to play against more favorable matchups. Kevin Garnett on Andrew Bynum is rough, but Kevin Garnett on Pau Gasol (the matchup when Kendrick Perkins is in the game) is much more manageable.
Perkins is also one of the reasons why the Celtics are so good at defending the pick and roll:
Perkins hedges out real hard here, but the Celtics probably gameplan it this way to get it out of Kobe’s hands. The Lakers actually counter with a nice play, a quick pass to Gasol who then hits a rolling Bynum (trying to take advantage of Perkins’ hedge). However, Perkins is able to get back, use his body, and force Bynum under the basket. This is something that Kendrick Perkins does very well.
