Don't say the man can't smile.

If you saw Game 4, you saw Kobe Bryant chirping in Perkins’ face in apparent attempts to get under Perk’s skin and encourage Perk’s 7th tehcnical foul. Smart play by Kobe, but Perkins wasn’t budging.

Every time Kobe — or any other Laker — tried to instigate something with him, Perk walked the other way. He played hard and he played tough, but Perk stayed away from the extra-curricular stuff that has cost him plenty of times in the past. Perkins doesn’t want to be suspended, not one bit.

“Sometimes the tougher guy has to walk away,” he told reporters.

“Sometimes the tougher guy has to walk away.” That might be my favorite quote of the year. A nice little slap in the face to all those taunting Lakers. You can taunt me all you want but I’m not going to respond, Perk seems to be saying. But even if I don’t respond, don’t get it twisted: I’m still far tougher than all you clowns.