Practice Report: Perk is back to day-to-day

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RUSSELL WESTBROOK

Thunder head coach Scotty Brooks told us after the game last night Kendrick Perkins was good to go and could have gone back in the game after aggravating his strained right hip muscle.

Things changed a little bit overnight.

“He came in today and was just a little sore so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

Perkins did not practice today, instead getting treatments from the Thunder medical staff. He’ll get more of that later today and then again tomorrow.

“We will talk with the doctors, our medical team, Perk and myself we’ll all get together and do what’s best for Perk,” Brooks told a throng of reporters, “and if he’s ready to go he’ll go and if he’s not then we won’t play him but we’ll see he feels tomorrow.”

NAZR MOHAMMED

Perkins is known for being one of the toughest players in the league when it comes to playing with pain and dealing with injuries in fact Brooks thinks his center has almost superhero like powers.

“He’s as tough as they come if they ever do another Avengers movie he’d probably be one of the characters, Perk. It’d be Thor, Captain America and Perk.”

If Perkins doesn’t play tomorrow night expect Nazr Mohammed to start in his place and Cole Aldrich likely will see some important minutes too.

SCOTT BROOKS

“I’m hoping he’s (Perkins) is okay,” said Mohammed today, “he’s one of our leaders, he’s our defensive leader and he’s the heart and soul of this team, but my mindset (if Perkins can’t go) is just to try and play defense and try to continue some of the things he did on the floor and then add to it some of things that I do.”

Like forcing Andrew Bynum to guard him out away from the basket and then hit open shots, both of which Nazy did last night.

“That’s my job, to be there and make the open shot if the ball is given to me and other than that to set screens and try to finish off plays.”

Brooks will have no second thoughts about starting Mohammed and increasing minutes for both Aldrich and Nick Collison.

THABO SEFOLOSHA

“I’m confident,” he declared, “those guys, Naz, Cole, Nick, Serge (Ibaka) and Kevin (Durant) they can play good minutes for us and Naz has great experience he’s been on a Championship team (2005 Spurs) and has played important minutes throughout his career.”

Some of the most important could very well come tomorrow night against the Lakers if the newest Avenger can’t play.