Kendrick Perkins Out Until December

Bad news for the Celtics, as Perk tells the Boston Herald that he might not return to the court until at least December: “The Celtics center will undergo major reconstructive surgery to repair tears to the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee – all the result of an awkward and ultimately mortal landing with an offensive rebound during Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Perkins admitted last night to a sense of shock after returning to Boston the day after Game 7 and, following an MRI, learning that he had torn his ACL. It had previously been thought, prior to the exam, that Perkins had merely damaged his MCL and PCL. He had also suffered what was diagnosed as a hyperextension in the same knee while guarding Shaquille O’Neal in Game 1 of the eastern conference semifinals, and didn’t miss a game until Game 7 of the Finals against the Lakers. But Perkins has already put on his game face. Compared to the fatalistic player who, on crutches, bared his heart to the national media the day after Game 6, Perkins is bent on the speediest possible rehabilitation and return. ‘It’s just part of what I have to do – I can get it together to get this done,’’ he said. ‘They told me to expect late December or early January,’ said Perkins. ‘I don’t know what is expected from something like this, but I’m just going to go with the plan and see what I have to do.'”