It’s only been about three months since Miami defeated Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals, but a lot has changed in the Western Conference. By a lot, I mean the Los Angeles Lakers. As you know, the Purple & Gold have added a bushel of current and former All-Stars. These additions go by the names of Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, and Dwight Howard, and many figure that they’ll help Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol make a triumphant return to championship contention. As a matter of fact, I think a lot of folks have already narrowed it down to Lakers vs Heat… even though training camps won’t commence for another two weeks or so.
There are, however, those who don’t see it this way. After all, the Thunder are the reigning Western Conference champs. The Lakers, on the other hand, have experienced consecutive second-round exits. By any line of thinking based solely on the status quo, one would have the Lakers chasing the Thunder, and the Thunder chasing the Heat. Not surprisingly, Kendrick Perkins happens to be someone who believes in this status quo. Via NewsOK.com…
“We are the Western Conference champs, so at the end of the day, we’re not chasing nobody except for the ring. We’re chasing Miami to get a championship. It’s no guarantee who is going to be where. But we earned the Western champs so we’re not chasing the Lakers, we’re chasing a championship and that’s what it’s about.”
Conveniently, the same ideology applies to his starting center position. Via SBNation…
“We’re all teammates, but at the end of the day, the center position over here is mine and that’s the way we’re going to keep it. Any other way, backup minutes or whatever they want to go about, that’s their problem. Once I hit the court, I’m going to make it known – and it’s going to be known – that that’s mine.”
“It’s no beef, but at the end of the day, that’s what it is.”
My first thought? Sounds a little funny coming from the mouth of a man who could be cut loose to make room for James Harden’s impending pay day. My next thought? This is why they play the games—to sort this sh!t out on the court. My final thought? Kendrick Perkins’ overconfidence remains one of the most unintentionally funny things in NBA basketball.
