Enemy Chatter: Vince Carter is being aggressive?

I often wonder what opposing teams, their beat reporters and bloggers are saying about the Celtics after playing the Celtics. Here's a dose of 'enemy chatter' from Orlando.

So he's taking a beating, and the media are exploiting the usual talking points about him: he's soft, he's not clutch, he's timid, he doesn't have a "killer instinct." And, well, yeah, there's truth to some of that, insofar as he's having a pretty terrible series, shooting 35.9% from the floor for 13 points per game. But I don't have a problem with his aggression in his series; I don't see him settling for too much. Consider that his percentage of shot attempts at the basket area (28.1%) in this series actually exceeds that figure from the regular season (25.6%) and that his work in the pick-and-roll has led to 4 assists for 9 points, as well as 9 other looks for which his teammates did not reward his unselfishness, per Synergy Sports Technology.

Orlando Pinstriped Post - VC will be OK

In other words...Vince Carter is being Vince Carter.

“I tell you what, Rasheed Wallace …. I mean, I want to say this in the right way — I hate the guy. I mean, he never, ever — same thing when I was in Miami — it’s like the guy never, ever has a bad game against the team I coach, you know. So incredible. He’s playing extremely well.”

Orlando Sentinel - Stan Van Gundy hates Sheed

On Page 2, an Orlando writer blasts Perk and other NBA crybabies.

I certainly understand the logic about not wanting to see a key player suspended because of a questionable technical foul, but Perkins gets what he deserves. I wanted to see him get suspended just to teach his obnoxious butt a lesson.

To me, at least, Perkins epitomizes one of the most unlikeable aspects of the NBA — coaches and players who think every call against them is the wrong one.

Perkins has the worst reputation in the league among officials. He cries, whines and complains about every call. He is among the league leaders in technical fouls most every year. He is the extreme example of a mentality that permeates the NBA – a league where crabby crybaby coaches and players cuss, complain, glare, grimace, beg and plead — even when an official makes an obviously good call.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not just Perkins. Dwight Howard of the Magic is nearly as bad. And it gets tiresome and tedious watching guys like Howard and Perkins go berserk everytime an official has the audacity to make a call against them.

Orlando Sentinel - NBA should have sent message to Perk, other crybabies

I agree with Mike Bianchi. Perk's bitchiness is at an all-time high in the playoffs.

While the league rescinded one of his technical fouls from last night's game allowing him to play in Game 6, Perk is still one tech away from suspension. Should the Celtics advance, do you think he'll be able to control himself and avoid suspension in the Finals? I doubt it...