Despite Loss of Shaquille O’Neal, Cavaliers Will Present Formidable Matchup For Kendrick Perkins

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Mar 14, 2010

Despite Loss of Shaquille O'Neal, Cavaliers Will Present Formidable Matchup For Kendrick Perkins The Celtics have powered through the first couple weeks of March in uncharted territory this season: They're completely healthy.

With a refreshed starting five and a deep, potent bench, the C's head into Sunday afternoon's matchup against Cleveland in the best shape they've been in all season, physically.

The same can't be said of their opponents for Sunday's nationally-televised tilt. The Cavaliers head into the weekend with a sore LeBron James, a sidelined Sebastian Telfair and a banged-up Antawn Jamison. But perhaps most importantly, there's no Shaquille O'Neal in sight.

Generally, being without a 15-time All-Star has a damaging effect on a team. Basic rule of thumb. But in the case of Shaq and the Cavaliers, it's a matter of fit. And losing their veteran center might not hurt the Cavs as much as you think.

"In my opinion, I think they’re better," said Kendrick Perkins, the man charged with guarding Shaq or whoever else the Cavs start at center. "They can run more. You’ve got Anderson Varejao, who’s more of an active body. He gets LeBron open a lot, opens up the paint for him, so I think they’re a better team. Obviously, Shaq could help them, but I think they’re a better, more fast-paced team."

Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has kept an eye on the Cavs, monitoring how the team has changed since losing Shaq to a thumb injury and acquiring Jamison last month at the trading deadline. And he doesn't see that much of a change.

"They're playing the same guys, really," Rivers said. "They haven't changed their offense or anything. They're quicker. They're faster. They're more athletic. And you've got to think — right when Shaq went down was right when Jamison was coming in. So it gives them the ability to go small in some ways, and very skilled, with Jamison at the four or five. That makes them pretty tough to guard."

What you can expect from the Cavs this weekend is their "energy guy" lineup — a lot of Jamison, a lot of J.J. Hickson, a lot of the familiar former Celtic Leon Powe. But most importantly, expect a lot of Varejao, who has quickly become one of the most athletic defenders in the game. Varejao brings the athleticism; it's up to Perkins to bring the physicality. He sounds like he's up to it.

"You’ve just got to take him out of the game," Perkins said of Varejao. "He’s the instigator. I think you’ve got to be more of the instigator when you’re playing against him. You’ve got to hit him first. He’s a guy who flops, gets a lot of calls, takes charges, offensive rebounds, so I think you’ve just got to keep a body on him and play against him hard.”

These won't the the same Cavaliers that Boston faced on opening night almost five months ago. They won't even be the team we saw last month, when these two squads met up shortly after the trade deadline on Feb. 25. It's a new team without Shaq, and the matchup will be a good barometer for a Celtics team looking for a statement win.

"I’m looking forward to the game, seeing exactly where we’re at, and just going out there and competing," Perkins said. "They’re a great team, they’re at home, best in the NBA, just seeing where we’re at. I think it would be a great confidence boost for us if we could go in their home building and get a win."

Easier said than done — the Cavs are 28-4 this season at Quicken Loans Arena. But the Celtics' big man isn't scared.

"They still haven't won nothing," Perkins said. "They're just the best team in the league."

They're the best so far. But they've got a real test coming up Sunday.

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