Big Perk is back and manning the middle for the Celtics once again.  After missing the first half of the season, Perkins has finally returned from his ACL injury.  In the first eight games since his return, he has seen his minutes steadily increase to a high of 35 against Charlotte on Feb. 7th.  

It took him a total of five games, but Perkins has once again cemented his status as the starter at center for the Celtics.  He’s already put up double-digit rebounding totals in three games since his return.  And, while Perkins is not known for his offensive prowess, he’s able drop a dozen or so points on any given night.  Last season Perkins averages 10.1 PPG in 78 games.  

In the ever-shallow pool of available centers, Perkins surely can hold his own.  He will contribute in field goal percentage, averaging more than 60 percent twice in his career.  Since his return, Perkins is shooting 58.3 percent from the field.  And while it’s only eight games into his ’11 season, he is averaging a career-high 8.4 rebounds per game.  

With the aging and oft-injured Shaq as the only other capable big man in Beantown, Perkins is sure to receive the lion’s share of playing time at center going forward. Currently, Perkins is owned in about half of all CBS leagues so jump on him now!   

Here’s another NBA big man in the spotlight…one who has come up HUGE this season for the Rockets.  In what can be deemed a relative bargain by today’s NBA contract standards, Scola is more than earning his $7.75 million this season.

The Argentine has quietly put together a monster season averaging 19.4 PPG, 8.4 rebounds per game along with 2.4 assists and shooting 50 percent from the field.  He’s redefining what it means to be a consistent scorer on a nightly basis with double-digit totals in all but two of his team’s games this season.  

And speaking of consistency, Scola played 82 games in each of his first three seasons for the Rockets, and is on pace to hit that mark once again.  Along with Kevin Martin, he’s kept the Rockets afloat in the post-Yao era which arrived earlier than most expected in Houston.

Where has the juice gone from Mayo’s game??  It’s been a rough ride in his third season for the former third overall pick of the Timberwolves.  After a stellar couple of seasons, Mayo’s shooting has regressed.

O.J. averaged 18.5 PPG in ‘08-’09 and 17.5 PPG last season.  This season, Mayo has seen his scoring average drop by more than five points.  In addition, his assists and rebounds are down as is his FG, FT, and 3-PT percentage.  Overall, it’s fair to say that it’s been a crummy season for Mayo.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Mayo earned himself a ten game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance – dehydroepiandrosterone (a.k.a DHEA).  Of course Mayo didn’t knowingly ingest this banned substance.  He has a story, claiming claims it came from an energy drink he purchased at a gas station.  Regardless, the end result is the same; he’s gone for ten games.