Kendrick Perkins: The Cavaliers' Unlikely Hero

Cleveland fans know a thing or two about ugly games with the Boston Celtics. When the original Big Three of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett were assembled in 2007, it essentially put a roadblock to Cleveland’s success in the same way that Michael Jordan’s Bulls foreclosed our postseason runs in the 90’s.

The 2015 Celtics were not going to stand in the way of Cleveland this time. In fact, they probably owe their postseason debut to the Cavaliers. Had Cleveland not essentially thrown their final two games–back-to-backs at the end of April with most of their starters out–it’s reasonable to assume that the more talented Indiana or Miami teams would have advanced. So how did Boston reward Cleveland for allowing them this trip into late April? By playing dirty for four straight games and eliminating one of our Big Three to injury.

I lived in Boston for two years. I was there when the Red Sox came back from a three game deficit to top the Yankees and eventually win the World Series. Most Cleveland fans I know didn’t think Game 4 of this series would be important. Having seen firsthand how Boston teams can fight and claw their way to victory, I was a bit more trepidatious. When the long-haired Canuck Kelly Olynyk grabbed hold of Kevin Love’s arm and pulled him unwillingly across the paint, I was not entirely surprised. What did surprise me was who eventually came to his–and the team’s–rescue.

In 2010, there was a sentiment in Cleveland that the Doc Rivers-led Celtics had been playing dirty all year–especially against the up-and-coming Cavaliers who were looking to transcend the 2008 playoffs against the now-aging Big Three. (The Cavs and the Celtics did not meet in 2009.) Nowhere was this sentiment perhaps more corroborated than in February when Glen “Big Baby” Davis’ fouled Shaquile O’Neal on the thumb and then intentionally pulled on the injured appendage later to send Shaq out for the regular season. At the time, longtime Cavalier’s commentator Austin Carr was a bit bemused that there was no retaliation.

In the same fashion, the current Cavs have let a number of hard fouls go unanswered. Case in point was March’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors when a Jonas Valanciunus clothesline sent LeBron James to the floor. His only response was that he would have to protect himself better.

Enter Kendrick Perkins.

Even in 2010, Perkins’ numbers were starting to wane. From being a game-changing defender, he had regressed into a role player on a Celtics team that needed an overhaul. The trade to Oklahoma City allowed him to start for a few more seasons before being relegated to someone who could spell the more active Steven Adams. When the Enes Kanter trade went down, Perkins’ time in The Big Friendly was finished.

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Despite his deteriorating inside presence, no one ever doubted Perkins’ grit. In fact one of the reasons Scott Brooks used him so heavily–despite constant calls to the contrary–was because he was the kind of enforcer that made other defenders think twice before going after Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. This was a role he embraced on the court for three seasons. A loyal defender who put his body in harm’s way for his teammates, someone who wasn’t afraid to amass personal and technical fouls to keep the rest of his team healthy. In OKC as in BOS, he became a fan favorite.

He was also a team favorite, too. In possibly the most emotional MVP speech ever, Kevin Durant thanked Perkins profusely for helping him develop as a player. “Perk…I hated you before you got here. But, the moment you got here you just changed my whole perception of you. You’re one of the best teammates I ever had. I thank you so much. The late night calls after the tough games, you texting me…telling me I’m the MVP. That meant a lot to me. Thank you.”

“Perk…I hated you before you got here. But, the moment you got here you just changed my whole perception of you. You’re one of the best teammates I ever had.”–Kevin Durant

Durtant’s sentiments echo Cleveland’s now. For the numerous double technicals during the 2010 playoffs, we hated him. For the fouls and the mouthing off and the perceived unsportsmanlike conduct, we despised him. For the way he banged against Shaq and Zydrunus Ilgauskus and Anderson Varejao, we loathed him.

For the way he clocked Jae Crowder in the face, we love him.

Can anyone explain what was happening in the TD Garden before Perkins finally took control of the game? Here’s how dirty the Cetlics play: they gave one of their own a black eye during warm-ups. That player then dislocated the shoulder of our power forward and was allowed to remain in the game. Twice, they committed reach-in fouls that were called jump balls. Later, Isaiah Thomas poked LeBron James from the back during an inbound and turned it into foul shots for the Celtics. Brad Steven said his team lost their poise. They had no poise to start with, and if Brad Stevens wasn’t encouraging their dirty play directly, he wasn’t doing anything to stop it.

Which is why Perkins had to.

Even from New York, I heard the city of Cleveland cheer when Perk sent Crowder to the floor. It got louder when Crowder went after Perk only to get a jab in the face. Was Perkins being dirty? Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. If the refs weren’t doing their job–which clearly, they weren’t–someone needed to step in. Perkins has been a marginal player on the Cavaliers so far this year, but like Mike Miller, his impact is felt in other ways. Where Mike Miller brings unbridled optimism and positivity to the locker room, Perk reminds everyone all around the league that he’s still an enforcer capable of battling the heaviest of hitters.

The loss of Kevin Love against the physical, paint-heavy Bulls could be significant, but Cleveland should rest a little easier knowing Kendrick Perkins has our back.

Kendrick Perkins: The Cavaliers’ Unlikely Hero

By Eric Bauer | Apr 27, 2015