Would-be enforcer Perkins on Valanciunas' foul of James: 'Bull---t'

Since it's too late to see it in the regular season, maybe Kendrick Perkins and Jonas Valanciunas can throw down at Wrestlemania on March 29. Failing that, maybe they'll get the chance to go toe-to-toe in the playoffs.

That seems to be on Perkins' mind after Valanciunas tackled LeBron James to the court hard on Wednesday, earning a Flagrant Foul-Penalty 1 and the ire of Perkins.

James said that he may need to protect himself more in the wake of the hard foul, which Valanciunas was adamant wasn't meant to harm. If Perkins had his way, it sounds as if it would be the team's self-anointed hype man taking care of such matters on James' behalf.

Himself an enforcer, Perkins understands the Lithuanian's intent but takes issue with his execution:

(There are) time and places that you could get one off. You've got to make sure it's the right time. At the end of the day you have to make sure you go out and play basketball.

Obviously (Valanciunas) was trying to send a message because he had been getting beat all day on the pick-and-roll, and it happens, but it's just bullshit and it ain't cool.

The issue for Perkins the enforcer is that he's sparsely been on the court since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers, rendering him unable to offer much in the way of protection, against hard fouls or shots below the belt. Since signing with the Cavs on Feb. 24, Perkins has appeared in four of six games, playing a total of 29 minutes.

Like a fourth-line fighter who plays too few minutes to deter dirty hits, Perkins may have trouble filling his accustomed role in a far smaller chunk of minutes.