Kendrick Perkins talks about his technicals

Really great stuff from Darnell Mayberry on Kendrick Perkins and his propensity to pick up technical fouls. Already he has five in just a few weeks with the Thunder. Russell Westbrook leads the team with eight, but that’s a full season of course.

As Mayberry wrote, Perk tried to explain what’s going on when he picks them up.

“It’s times that you can get a good tech,” Perkins explained. “You set the tone every now and then.”

Most of Perkins’ five technical fouls in a Thunder uniform have come from altercations with opposing players. Jawing. Pushing. Stare downs. That sort of stuff. But Perkins doesn’t think techs of that variety are a problem. In those situations, Perkins said he’s intentionally pushing other players’ buttons. He’s playing the role of the schoolyard bully, testing and taunting his competition to see how far they’ll allow him to go.

As Perkins said, if he pushes and is not pushed back he knows he has the upper hand. If he barks and his man backs down, he know he’s won the game within the game.

When it comes to the refs, however, Perkins is more careful.

“I try to pick and choose,” Perkins said. “Sometimes it may look like I’m attacking the ref or swearing or cursing at a ref but I’m not. Sometimes I’m just telling him to get his head in the game or something to that nature.

“As I got older, I developed good relationships with the guys so they know how I am and they have a higher tolerance for me. And I know how to approach them. I just pick and choose. Some days I try to get a tech. Other days, I just mess with them every now and then.”