Want to know why Kendrick Perkins went from looking like a young Wilt Chamberlain to just your regular old Erick Dampier type? Tendinitis, obviously. It’s been bothering him for the last two months. (And I know he never resembled a young Wilt Chamberlain, but if Dan Shaughnessy can give that label to DeMarcus Cousins, why can’t Perk get it too? The only way Cousins is like a young Wilt the Stilt, Dan, is if he mates like a dog in heat 24/7.)

“I felt alright, I thought I played pretty good at practice today,” said Perkins. “My knee felt better. I’m looking forward to going out there and playing [Wednesday].

“There’s a little bit [of stiffness]. It’s probably something I’ll have to deal with the rest of the season. I’ll continue to get treatment, continue to come in at night and get that treatment.”

Perkins also admitted he’s been battling the tendinitis for as much as two months before he finally took the advice of Rivers and the training staff and shut it down for the week. Perkins begrudgingly noted the injury has likely affected his game.

“I can’t get up and block shots like I want to, I can’t get up for the rebounds,” said Perkins. “But I’m out there, so I gotta get the job done. I’m not making excuses, but I think it has [affected his play] in a way.”

Perk’s admission explains a lot. His numbers have been down across the board, and we attributed them to the return of Kevin Garnett and Perk’s struggle to return to his former role.

But now we really know why his play plummetted. It’s too bad he’ll have to deal with it the rest of the season, but it’s nice that he was afforded a couple games of rest. Perhaps the rest will equate to better basketball from here out.