{"id":4129,"date":"2017-02-16T15:45:26","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T21:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=4129"},"modified":"2017-07-08T12:27:51","modified_gmt":"2017-07-08T17:27:51","slug":"perkins-gets-standing-ovation-his-significance-in-culture-change-in-okc-significant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=4129","title":{"rendered":"Perkins Gets Standing Ovation; His Significance in Culture Change in OKC Significant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: via @UpTheThunder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New York Knicks last night in the Chesapeake Energy Area in front of another sellout crowd (18,203).\u00a0 The home fans were\u00a0\u00a0treated to Russell Westbrook’s twenty-seventh triple double (38-14-11).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Another buzz of the night was the introduction of former Thunder Kendrick Perkins by\u00a0 the\u00a0 in-house public address announcer Mario Nanni.\u00a0\u00a0 Perkins, unlike the negative response by the Thunder crowd last Saturday night with the first sighting of Kevin Durant in OKC since his departure last summer, was given a standing ovation.\u00a0 Along with his wife Vanity, a subcultural personality herself in\u00a0this city, Perkins is now a beloved in this franchise on Reno Street, and the now free-agent is deserving of that feeling from the fans of the Thunder.\u00a0 As Perkins was a welcomed guest in a practice before the game at the training site of the Thunder, Perkins transcends the\u00a0various \u00a0teams he has played for and is a positive influence in the NBA.<\/p>\n

When Kendrick Perkins was traded to the Thunder a complete culture change took place as the team went from an extremely talented but inexperienced and “soft’ team to one of the\u00a0most highly competitive,\u00a0with “swagger”, starting five’s\u00a0in the\u00a0Association.\u00a0 Every team has to have the man that sets the mental attitude of the team and Perkins was the man in OKC.\u00a0 His presence, having won a ring with Boston, set the stage for the immature Westbrook, the beta-male in Durant, and the rookie Harden to get a sense of stature while developing into the best young team the NBA had seen in twenty years.\u00a0 Perkins, along with Thabo Sefolosha to a lessor degree, gave the team what it needed, a hard edge on the court.\u00a0 Perkins, never noted in OKC for his scoring\u00a0offense, was a monster in his first three years on defense, understanding the role of a post defender against the best that the Association could throw at him and his teammates. And yes, he could set a strong pick to free up\u00a0Kevin or Russell, or James.\u00a0 Dwight Howard, for example, was always held in check when Perkins was his foil.\u00a0 Zach Randolph, the fine big from Memphis, was effective, but not as much as he would have liked going against a Perkins led OKC interior defense.\u00a0 The fact of the matter, Perkins, a player that jumped like a fat white man, was so skilled in his post defense, was always a positive even with a lack of other qualities of an NBA player.<\/p>\n

One day, probably sooner than later, Kendrick Perkins will be an assistant coach\u00a0on an NBA team.\u00a0 His knowledge and teaching ability of post play will guarantee that.\u00a0 It should be noted that Perkins is still a media darling, in that when he speaks,\u00a0his words are put into print.\u00a0\u00a0 Perkins is an interesting personality in the league.\u00a0 His\u00a0relationships with\u00a0both\u00a0players and NBA general\u00a0managers is positive.\u00a0\u00a0He\u00a0will be a natural in the coaching profession.\u00a0 He knows\u00a0basketball sports\u00a0fans.<\/p>\n

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Kendrick Perkins enjoys a Thunder game with teammates Kevin Durant (right) and Nick Collison (left). (AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Kendrick LaDale Perkins (born November 10, 1984) is an American professional basketball player who played for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA).\u00a0 Photo Credit:\u00a0 http:\/\/imgarcade.com\/1\/kendrick-perkins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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    The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New York Knicks last night in the…<\/p>\n

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