David Thorpe: Sullinger "Most impressive of the Summer"

[Finkelskyhook]

Is Thorpe trying to win the steven i smith sound-alike contest?

I like Sullinger and think ultimately he'll be a steal.  He had a lot of solid moments in those 3 weeks.  

His shooting percentage was roughly the same as his weight, for God's sake.  He's light years from being ready to be an every day player.

Most impressive of the summer?  Delusional.

I'm trying to temper my expectations of him, too.

But with that being said, you don't think him playing, in stretches, with a lineup of Rondo-Lee-Paul-Jared-KG won't make him (and his team) better?

He's a smart player. I think he will fit in quite nicely, even early. I certainly don't see him starting right away, but as the season wears on I can see him getting some significant PT.

You have an excellent point.  Rondo will be able to get Sullinger the ball a lot more in tune to his talent. 

Sullinger should have absolutely dominated in Summer League to get those kind of accolades from a so-called NBA expert.  Based on Sullinger's performance compared to his peers, that kind of over-the-top gushing is normally beneath Thorpe.

[bbd24]

Is Thorpe trying to win the steven i smith sound-alike contest?

I like Sullinger and think ultimately he'll be a steal.  He had a lot of solid moments in those 3 weeks.  

His shooting percentage was roughly the same as his weight, for God's sake.  He's light years from being ready to be an every day player.

Most impressive of the summer?  Delusional.

Delusional ?  Delusional is saying he's light years away from being ready to be an everyday player.  You'd be correct if were talking Fab Melo here, but you're far from correct about Sullinger.  He's 20 and could easily be ready to start by 21 or 22 yrs of age.  That's not light years, that's right around the corner.

For only 20 years old, he's darn well impressive.

[wahz]

So no one feels singled out, let me put it this way: I saw every minute of every game. Sullinger was solid. He did not shoot well but there is shooting and then there is how one plays.He played very well. He knows what he is doing. He has some very unusual moves that are his own creation and the uglier they were the more effective they were. He was missing more on the more standard moves. He is strong enough that it looks like he will be a great finisher even if he isn't far about the rim, and he won't be. There is nothing to complain about, yet. If someone watched his games, they wouldn't be critical. If someone looked at box scores they might be. Let me add that he is going to get fouled a ton.

[GreenFaith1819]

Is Thorpe trying to win the steven i smith sound-alike contest?

I like Sullinger and think ultimately he'll be a steal.  He had a lot of solid moments in those 3 weeks.  

His shooting percentage was roughly the same as his weight, for God's sake.  He's light years from being ready to be an every day player.

Most impressive of the summer?  Delusional.

I'm trying to temper my expectations of him, too.

But with that being said, you don't think him playing, in stretches, with a lineup of Rondo-Lee-Paul-Jared-KG won't make him (and his team) better?

He's a smart player. I think he will fit in quite nicely, even early. I certainly don't see him starting right away, but as the season wears on I can see him getting some significant PT.

You have an excellent point.  Rondo will be able to get Sullinger the ball a lot more in tune to his talent. 

Sullinger should have absolutely dominated in Summer League to get those kind of accolades from a so-called NBA expert.  Based on Sullinger's performance compared to his peers, that kind of over-the-top gushing is normally beneath Thorpe.

But IMO no one really "dominated" the Summer Leagues.

There was a lot of talk about Andrew Nicholson's 24 pt 12 reb game, but then I really didn't hear anything else about him.

Meyers Leonard? Same thing...a few very good games, but still up and down performances...and this was with POR-ORL Summer League rosters.

To me, no one else really dominated.

I think Thorpe saw what Sully did other than scoring...how he reads the game of basketball. The kid is smart.

I bet he imagined Jared playing with Rondo and the other starters, too.

Plus, any kid with his father's nickname of "Satch" has "Winner" written all over him, IMO.

[bbd24]

So no one feels singled out, let me put it this way: I saw every minute of every game. Sullinger was solid. He did not shoot well but there is shooting and then there is how one plays.He played very well. He knows what he is doing. He has some very unusual moves that are his own creation and the uglier they were the more effective they were. He was missing more on the more standard moves. He is strong enough that it looks like he will be a great finisher even if he isn't far about the rim, and he won't be. There is nothing to complain about, yet. If someone watched his games, they wouldn't be critical. If someone looked at box scores they might be. Let me add that he is going to get fouled a ton.

Outside of rebounding, the greatest attribute I saw was his ability to use that body and draw fouls.  He really puts the pressure on the refs to blow the whistle. I like that. He might not get the calls Lebron style this year, but in the coming years that could all change.

IMO, he's a far better shooter than what he showed at Summer League.  I would bet he develops into something short of KG from the outside, but better than BBD in the long run.  Somewhere in between those 2, with a better 3pt % than both.

[Lightskinsmurf]

Keep in mind to guys the guy is 20 years old. Hes only gonna get better.

[GreenFaith1819]

The one thing I thought was VERY TELLING, for me, with Sully was his comments about hs back a while ago.

I can't find the link, but he basically stated that the allegations about his back were groundless - and that he "Knows how to play Basketball."

When I heard him say that, I thought we'd have a steal if he fell to us.

Can't wait to see him suit up with the starters - or even the bench for that matter.

Jet and Jeff will get him the ball, too.

David Thorpe, IMO, is not off in his assessment.

[Fafnir]

Based on Sullinger's performance compared to his peers, that kind of over-the-top gushing is normally beneath Thorpe.

Unless its one of his clients.

[syfy9]

He seems to have that unique feel for the rim and how to get the ball there -- like when Al Jefferson came on board -- though without Al's sleek/agile frame.  Love that he has great hands.
 
Maybe sort of an Al/Baby combo -- 'Big-Al-Baby'?.

Al had great post moves already coming in. Sully has shown none of the ability to do the damage inside Al could. He has shown a prayer hook shot that's it.

But he does have good hands I'll give him that.

I see him as a poor man's BBD with better rebounding..

I disagree. Sully right now is either better/on par with Al when he came in. Keep in mind that Al came right out of high school and has yet to receive the tutelage from McHale, etc.

Sully has already shown that he has the best post skills in the draft and college coming in. At worst, he'd be a poor man's BBD for this season. I hope he grows into the Al Jefferson mold in a few years, though.

[JHTruth]

I think Love is a very poor comparison for Sully. Love is no athletic specimen but he blows Sully out of the water in the regard. Love has always been a proven shooter while Sully is a bricklayer from range.

I think best comps are Reggie Evans or Danny Fortson. Sully has VERY slow feet and will always need to play next to a long, quick type like Melo or KG to not be a complete defensive liability. BBD on the other hand has very quick feet to get around defenders and can finish at the rim creatively.

Sully cannot finish at the rim at this point. Al in his first SL was already beasting down low with creative finishes. Sully has been launching prayers this whole time.

BBIQ helps but not when you're heaving bricks or your shots are being shoved back down your throat..

[Chris]

I think Love is a very poor comparison for Sully. Love is no athletic specimen but he blows Sully out of the water in the regard. Love has always been a proven shooter while Sully is a bricklayer from range.

I think best comps are Reggie Evans or Danny Fortson. Sully has VERY slow feet and will always need to play next to a long, quick type like Melo or KG to not be a complete defensive liability. BBD on the other hand has very quick feet to get around defenders and can finish at the rim creatively.

Sully cannot finish at the rim at this point. Al in his first SL was already beasting down low with creative finishes. Sully has been launching prayers this whole time.

BBIQ helps but not when you're heaving bricks or your shots are being shoved back down your throat..

As far as the slow feet and athleticism, it is tough to argue.  Although I am excited to see what getting with an NBA trainer can do for Sully.  He is never going to be fast, but I would not be surprised if he could be similar to Love (who got a lot quicker when he shed some extra weight).

Also, Sully still has work to do on his shooting, but he does have nice touch and a great release.  I think right now he is working on extending his range, and with a little more work, he should be a very good shooter from distance.

I really think the comparisons to Evans and Fortson don't work though.  Not only are those guys quicker than him, but he is MUCH more skilled.  His shooting, passing, and BBIQ are all off the charts compared to those two. 

Ultimately, I think the best comparison I have seen to Sully is Scola.  Who is basically a slower Kevin Love.

[GreenFaith1819]

I think Love is a very poor comparison for Sully. Love is no athletic specimen but he blows Sully out of the water in the regard. Love has always been a proven shooter while Sully is a bricklayer from range.

I think best comps are Reggie Evans or Danny Fortson. Sully has VERY slow feet and will always need to play next to a long, quick type like Melo or KG to not be a complete defensive liability. BBD on the other hand has very quick feet to get around defenders and can finish at the rim creatively.

Sully cannot finish at the rim at this point. Al in his first SL was already beasting down low with creative finishes. Sully has been launching prayers this whole time.

BBIQ helps but not when you're heaving bricks or your shots are being shoved back down your throat..

I know that it's just a highlight clip of his college days, but I think Jared has a bit more athleticism than Kevin Love or Glen Davis already:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIsk1aJfT0o

A few of those putbacks/slams I haven't seen Glen or Kevin do. He's a big man, but he's rather light on his feet.

I can understand the "Slow Feet" comments from what we've seen in the Summer Leagues, but the man is probably tired. He's playing games every day - moreso than in college.

I'm not expecting a Karl Malone clone here, but the I can see a bit more upside than KLove, Reggie Evans, Danny Fortson or Baby athletically.

[JHTruth]

I think Love is a very poor comparison for Sully. Love is no athletic specimen but he blows Sully out of the water in the regard. Love has always been a proven shooter while Sully is a bricklayer from range.

I think best comps are Reggie Evans or Danny Fortson. Sully has VERY slow feet and will always need to play next to a long, quick type like Melo or KG to not be a complete defensive liability. BBD on the other hand has very quick feet to get around defenders and can finish at the rim creatively.

Sully cannot finish at the rim at this point. Al in his first SL was already beasting down low with creative finishes. Sully has been launching prayers this whole time.

BBIQ helps but not when you're heaving bricks or your shots are being shoved back down your throat..

I know that it's just a highlight clip of his college days, but I think Jared has a bit more athleticism than Kevin Love or Glen Davis already:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIsk1aJfT0o

A few of those putbacks/slams I haven't seen Glen or Kevin do. He's a big man, but he's rather light on his feet.

I can understand the "Slow Feet" comments from what we've seen in the Summer Leagues, but the man is probably tired. He's playing games every day - moreso than in college.

I'm not expecting a Karl Malone clone here, but the I can see a bit more upside than KLove, Reggie Evans, Danny Fortson or Baby athletically.

Really I see a very slow player with little lift playing against a bunch of guys with far less skill than him.

He is a very poor athlete by NBA standards

[cman88]

Sullingers stats in college are practically identical to Kevin Love actually

Love averaged 17.5 points, Sullinger averaged 17.3. Love shot 55.9 percent, Sullinger shot 53 percent. Love shot 35.4 percent from three-point range, Sullinger shot 36.5 percent. Love shot 76.7 percent from the free-throw line, Sullinger shot 73.3 percent. Love averaged 1.4 blocks, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals; Sullinger averaged 0.8 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals.

summer league isnt exactly the best way to judge bigs play...because you are never going to get the same spacing that you will in a real NBA game....

dont you think playing with Garnett/pierce/rondo he will be lefft open for wide open jumpers/lanes to the basket? or rondo will be able to get a switch with him posting a smaller player?

what it does give you is an idea of what a player can do...and Sullinger can

1. Rebound the ball.
2. bully his way in the paint until he gets fouled
3. shoot the open jumper
4. nice turnaround/post-up game on players of similar size

[GreenFaith1819]

I think Love is a very poor comparison for Sully. Love is no athletic specimen but he blows Sully out of the water in the regard. Love has always been a proven shooter while Sully is a bricklayer from range.

I think best comps are Reggie Evans or Danny Fortson. Sully has VERY slow feet and will always need to play next to a long, quick type like Melo or KG to not be a complete defensive liability. BBD on the other hand has very quick feet to get around defenders and can finish at the rim creatively.

Sully cannot finish at the rim at this point. Al in his first SL was already beasting down low with creative finishes. Sully has been launching prayers this whole time.

BBIQ helps but not when you're heaving bricks or your shots are being shoved back down your throat..

I know that it's just a highlight clip of his college days, but I think Jared has a bit more athleticism than Kevin Love or Glen Davis already:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIsk1aJfT0o

A few of those putbacks/slams I haven't seen Glen or Kevin do. He's a big man, but he's rather light on his feet.

I can understand the "Slow Feet" comments from what we've seen in the Summer Leagues, but the man is probably tired. He's playing games every day - moreso than in college.

I'm not expecting a Karl Malone clone here, but the I can see a bit more upside than KLove, Reggie Evans, Danny Fortson or Baby athletically.

Really I see a very slow player with little lift playing against a bunch of guys with far less skill than him.

He is a very poor athlete by NBA standards

Wow.

I just don't agree. I see something different - especially under the Summer League circumstances.