The Morning Walkthrough: Kendrick Perkins is a thief... in a good way

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn't mean we have to. Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day.

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald - "Watching Perkins roll out an arsenal of moves far more lethal than what he had when Jefferson was around these parts, Jefferson might have been moved to ask, 'Who are you and what have you done with the Perk I knew?' But Al has been paying attention. 'We were just talking about that last night, how well he’s been playing and how his confidence has gone up on the offensive end,' Jefferson said. 'The way he keeps playing, I think he has a chance to make the All-Star Game. I actually do see him a lot because (the Celtics) always play on a day we don’t play and I watch them every chance I get. To me, he had a quiet night, compared to the games I have seen him play.' And some of the Celtic’s moves may seem a bit familiar. 'I stole a lot of stuff from him,' said Perkins, who made 7-of-10 shots while Jefferson was hitting 9-of-18. 'The pump fake I do? That’s from him.'"

Dan Duggan, Boston Herald - "'Actually I kind of surprised myself. I wanted to lay it up, but I saw him running so hard, so I just had to finish,' Allen said. 'I was pretty happy after that. It actually motivated me throughout the game.' It’s the type of play the Celtics have come to expect from Allen, who missed the first 20 games of the season while recovering from offseason surgery on his right ankle. 'Tony was phenomenal,' coach Doc Rivers said. 'He’s been terrific. He’s just doing the things we need him to do. This is the best stretch that we’ve had him, as far as with this group of guys, where he’s playing his role.'"

Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe - "Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 15 assists in the Celtics’ 122-104 victory over Minnesota last night. But Rondo was regretting one of those assists after being informed that Paul Pierce had a chance to break a team record for 3-pointers without a miss. 'I had no idea, I didn’t know he shot 6 for 6 until I saw him do an interview,' Rondo said. 'You know, I looked him off on one, too. The skip pass to Ray [Allen], Paul said he was open, too. He made sure he told me that right after.' Pierce became the first Celtic to convert six 3-pointers without a miss in a home game. He tied a team record for threes without a miss in any game established by Danny Ainge at Utah Jan. 4, 1988, and Walter McCarty at Toronto Nov. 2, 1999."

Chris Forsberg, ESPNBoston - "'Well, first of all I didn’t think [House] was athletic enough to get to the ball," said Rivers. "So the fact that he got to the ball, I was shocked. And then he made a play once he got to the ball -- it was pretty spectacular. It was great. I was happy because it was a great defensive play.' Allen, who registered season-highs with 15 points (5-of-8 shooting) and 24 minutes, couldn't believe how the play unfolded, either. 'That was random -- a transition play, Eddie got a tip on the ball, defensively, chased it down to me and I was just running the lane for the fast break and we got the bucket,' explained Allen, who said he initially didn't intend to go for the jam. 'Actually, I kind of surprised myself. I wanted to lay it up and I saw [Brewer] running so hard, so I just finished, had to finish.'"

Frank Dell'Apa, Boston Globe - "'I told him he needs to get back to just playing on his instincts,’ coach Doc Rivers said of Pierce. 'I thought he was trying to get everybody involved, which you want him to do, too. But I think our three really instinctive players are Kevin [Garnett], [Rajon] Rondo, and Paul. You always have to remind them, just be an instinctive player, you have great instincts. Those three guys, you just want them to play. And their instincts do everything for them.’"

Jimmy Toscano, CelticsBlog - "'He's been huge man,' Pierce said of Allen, 'just his energy and what he's been able to bring especially with Marquis [Daniels] out because he's a guy who can come in and slash, score, and also what he's best known for is his defense. He comes in right away and he gets a steal and a fast break layup to start the game off when he gets in the game. Kendrick Perkins was matched up with his old friend Al Jefferson tonight. Perkins finished the night with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Jefferson recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds. 'Perk [Kendrick Perkins] is getting better and better every game,' said the Timberwolves' Al Jefferson. 'If he keeps playing the way he's playing, he's going to get a big contract. He's a great defensive player, always has been... Plus his offensive game is getting better.'"

Have a link I might want to look at? Send it my way by email (jayking@celticstown.com) or Twitter.

Celtics-Timberwolves game preview: Al Jefferson 'has the patience of a grandmother knitting on her porch'

When Al Jefferson was in Boston, he was the future. I watched him, saw his baby-soft hands, and looked forward to the time when Big Al would grow into his massive potential. I looked at his footwork and saw shades of Kevin McHale, looked at his soft touch down low and knew that one day, Al Jefferson would be one of the top low-post scorers in the NBA. I watched his potential and couldn't wait to see Al team with Paul Pierce to be one of the league's best inside-outside tandems.

Fortunately for the Celtics, that day never came. Jefferson was packaged in the Kevin Garnett trade and sent to Minnesota, where he (no surprise) blossomed into one of the best interior threats in basketball. While the Celtics were busy winning the 2008 NBA title, Jefferson came into his own with the Timberwolves. But the rest of the team has yet to catch up to Big Al.

Still, Jefferson remains unfazed by his team's lack of wins (5-22 record) and lack of top-notch talent, and sees hope for the future.

Via the Boston Globe:

“I do see hope,’’ he said. “The thing I have been through in Minnesota is, when I first got here with Randy Wittman and Kevin McHale, it was a rebuilding stage. Now two years later, we got David Kahn, we got Kurt Rambis, so it’s now Stage 1, the rebuilding stage. Luckily, I’m still young and I am able to go through that. But the difference is now that I have David Kahn, who is committed to making us a playoff team.

“They said three years max that we could be a playoff team. One year is almost gone, so next year, maybe this offseason we can add some pieces, do whatever we are going to do. And I can see it. I am really happy about what’s been going on here.’’

Happy? With a 5-22 record and a roster that could probably use even a few of the players on Boston's D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws? Only a loyal man, could be happy with what's going on in Minnesota. But Jefferson, who, as the Globe's Gary Washburn wrote, "has the patience of a grandmother knitting on her porch," seems to realize that nothing comes easy in life, that the best things are worth working towards:

“It’s not going to come easy; you have to work for everything,’’ he said. “There’s going to be times like this. I was in Boston and I was going through the same thing in Boston. We were rebuilding. I got traded for one of the best players [in the NBA], put myself in a position here, got blessed with a nice contract. So this is what it’s all about. It’s about working your way to the top. It’s not about people giving you stuff, making it easier for you."

I'd prefer to see Jefferson posting double-doubles for a championship contender (and I'm sure he would too), but a player who is in such a bad situation, yet does not complain, must be highly-respected. Losing so many games must be frustrating, no? Playing on a perennial bottom-feeder must eat at Jefferson, make him hate playing for Minnesota... right? Not so, according to Jefferson:

“At the end of the day, you could be playing with the worst team in the league but it’s still the best job in the world. It’s still the best job to be on the worst team. It’s a blessing. So I don’t feel that way. If I got waived or got cut then I would feel bad. I am in this league and I rather be playing for the worst team than not playing at all.’’

But wouldn't Jefferson rather be playing for Boston, contending for championships every year? Yes, but he's willing to wait for his own shot at it, a shot he still thinks will come:

"Boston will always be home to me. It’s like a homecoming. It’s always good to come back and see the guys I came in here with. To see the goals they have reached and I know my day is coming to be where they have been. That’s what I hope."

*****

Things to watch for in tonight's game:

1. Minny's inside tandem - A couple days after over-the-hill Elton Brand and inexperienced Marreese Speights had their way down low with Boston's front line, Al Jefferson and Kevin Love come to town.  They will both be all over the glass, and both are talented and relentless scorers.  Fortunately for the Celtics, Love's return means Oleksiy Pecherov won't be playing tonight.  Why is it fortunate that a bum won't be playing?  He murdered the Celtics the last time the two teams met.  For one night, at least, it looked like Pecherov was actually worthy of being an NBA player.
2. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce's field day? - Allen and Pierce might as well take the night off defensively; it doesn't take an All-Defense Team-caliber defender to guard Corey Brewer or Damien Wilkins.  On the other end, Brewer and Wilkins aren't horrible defenders, but Boston's wings should have a whole lot of energy saved up for their offense.
3. Boston's turnover struggles - After a few games with precise ball-handling, the Celtics' old nemesis - turnovers - reared its ugly head in full-force against Philadelphia.  The C's not only made turnovers; they made careless, bone-headed mistakes that resulted in a one-point loss.  If the C's don't take care of the ball tonight, this is another game that could be a lot closer than they plan for.

*****

Game notes:

• Lester Hudson is back on the Celtics' roster, after a brief stint in the D-League.  Hudson played well for most of his time with the Maine Red Claws, but had a dud in his final game (7 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds). 
• Boston looks to get back on track at home, after the Friday-night loss to Philly dropped their home record to 8-4 for the season.  (They are 12-1 on the road.)
• Paul Pierce is in a bit of a slump: After scoring in double figures in each of the first 17 games, he's scored in single figures in three of the last eight games.