All Sullinger needs to do is get to the line more

[GetLucky]

As an undersized, low-vertical player, he's not gonna get to the line a lot on offense despite the fact that he uses his girth and skill so well.

Sully will never consistently draw fouls unless he becomes a faster player.

I disagree. Paul Pierce is example A. You can get to the line with strength, body control, and hesitation/change of speed. Sully has all of those things imo.

Well they play different positions, which is a big factor. I can't recall a dribble penetration hesitation ever from Sully. And Pierce may have been slow, but he was much more athletic than Sully. Sully could never do this:
http://youtu.be/81qEEekk3Ko
We seem to be misremembering history here. Sully will never be Paul Pierce. I'll bet 500 Tommy Points to anyone who thinks different. If we are able to transform him into the Pierce from that video, I'd rather give the 5+ inches in vertical to Olynyk and have him block more shots.

Getting to the line more is much easier said than done. More fouls are let go in the paint, and there are a lot of dependent variables any given game (how the refs are calling it, etc.) The people who can get to the line 10+ times a game are either special or completely incompetent (Dwight Howard comes to mind).

[greece66]

maybe we should tell him free throws are cheeseburgers.

Send Sully to Maccabi to keep company to Sofo.

[hpantazo]

maybe we should tell him free throws are cheeseburgers.

Send Sully to Maccabi to keep company to Sofo.

Man, what a waste of talent. Sofo looked so promising in the World Championships years ago. That's too bad.

[greece66]

maybe we should tell him free throws are cheeseburgers.

Send Sully to Maccabi to keep company to Sofo.

Man, what a waste of talent. Sofo looked so promising in the World Championships years ago. That's too bad.

His Greek nickname is asphalt compactor.

[TheFlex]

As an undersized, low-vertical player, he's not gonna get to the line a lot on offense despite the fact that he uses his girth and skill so well.

Sully will never consistently draw fouls unless he becomes a faster player.

I disagree. Paul Pierce is example A. You can get to the line with strength, body control, and hesitation/change of speed. Sully has all of those things imo.

Well they play different positions, which is a big factor. I can't recall a dribble penetration hesitation ever from Sully. And Pierce may have been slow, but he was much more athletic than Sully. Sully could never do this:
http://youtu.be/81qEEekk3Ko
We seem to be misremembering history here. Sully will never be Paul Pierce. I'll bet 500 Tommy Points to anyone who thinks different. If we are able to transform him into the Pierce from that video, I'd rather give the 5+ inches in vertical to Olynyk and have him block more shots.

Getting to the line more is much easier said than done. More fouls are let go in the paint, and there are a lot of dependent variables any given game (how the refs are calling it, etc.) The people who can get to the line 10+ times a game are either special or completely incompetent (Dwight Howard comes to mind).

My intention was not really to compare Sully to Paul Pierce but rather to evoke a style of game that we are all familiar with in Pierce: change of speed/hesitation (dribble hesitation, as you point out), lateral shifts using things like spin moves and crossovers (two moves we've actually seen a lot from Sully when he's faced up this preseason), up-and-unders after multiple shot fakes, etc. All of these things can get a guy with Sullinger's body type to the line. He can shield the ball with his shoulders and rear end and force the defender to create contact in order to challenge his shot.