Kelly Olynyk = Jack Sikma

[Kuberski33]

Sikma in his prime was an all star. We can only hope KO approaches his level.  He was great at facing up on his man and draining that mid range jumper over him without a dribble.  It was called the 'Sikma 'Move' and some bigs tried to emulate it.  The thing is bigs suck so much now offensively that the Sikma Move is buried in the same attic as the Sky Hook.

[syfy9]

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

I don't think that's going to happen this season - maybe last, but we are tanking and we could see an inflation in his numbers.

I agree that I, as well as a lot of people, are over-hyping him, but I think at worst, he'd be a serviceable role player. 

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

Also, I watched a lot of Sikma. Sikma was a true center that could hit the 15-17 footer but who's game was more physical and located in the post. He was extremely strong and hard to move in the post and had excellent rebounding fundamentals. His handle was very good for that era but not like what some bigs have today.

I just don't see a lot of similarities in their game.

I don't understand this line of thinking... I don't get how you want to see this, all so you can gloat? Why wouldn't a Celtic fan want and be excited at the possibility a player on their team can turn out to be a good player. I hope I get to revisit this threads if he turns out great. What does it do for you if he turns out to be over-hyped, what does it do for the team? Sure you get to say "I told you so" but what do you gain from that?

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Yes or No.

Kelly Olynyk plays like Jack Sikma.

Anyone as old as me?

man wow , I remember the name , I was very young ........the name is all I can recall

played for the sonics. was very good.

[nickagneta]

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

Also, I watched a lot of Sikma. Sikma was a true center that could hit the 15-17 footer but who's game was more physical and located in the post. He was extremely strong and hard to move in the post and had excellent rebounding fundamentals. His handle was very good for that era but not like what some bigs have today.

I just don't see a lot of similarities in their game.

I don't understand this line of thinking... I don't get how you want to see this, all so you can gloat? Why wouldn't a Celtic fan want and be excited at the possibility a player on their team can turn out to be a good player. I hope I get to revisit this threads if he turns out great. What does it do for you if he turns out to be over-hyped, what does it do for the team? Sure you get to say "I told you so" but what do you gain from that?

I think you got me all wrong there ImShak. I want Olynyk to be awesome. I want him to be one of the greatest of all time.

But I temper my enthusiasm with some reality.

Olynyk isn't the next Jack Sikma or Dirk Nowitzki or Larry Bird. Not even close. And not right now.

He has skills but the skills he showed this week were against a level of talent that probably won't even be in the league this year. What happens when he is matched up against Serge Ibaka, Anderson Varejao, Tim Duncan, leBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, etc., etc.? Probably not good things, right?

I am just trying to temper expectations because some here are going off the deep end with unbridled enthusiam and are going to have a huge letdown when he isn't some kind of instant ROY candidate or All-Star. And when those expectations aren't met, people here tend to go the complete opposite direction and start hating the guy because he isn't All-NBA.

I saw him play in college and in the Summer League. He's got offensive skills, works hard and a lot of physical limitations that kill him defensively. I don't think he turns out to be anything special, but I really don't think many in this draft will be. It was a draft pretty devoid of top tier talent or even rotation playing talent.

I hope I am wrong. I hope he becomes one hell of a player. But let's at least see him in some NBA games before coronating him King of the Celtics.

[Celtics18]

When I look at Kelly O's game, there's really only one guy who he reminds me of:

Dare I say it? 

His middle name is Joe.

(Ducking for cover)

[PhoSita]

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

Also, I watched a lot of Sikma. Sikma was a true center that could hit the 15-17 footer but who's game was more physical and located in the post. He was extremely strong and hard to move in the post and had excellent rebounding fundamentals. His handle was very good for that era but not like what some bigs have today.

I just don't see a lot of similarities in their game.

I don't understand this line of thinking... I don't get how you want to see this, all so you can gloat? Why wouldn't a Celtic fan want and be excited at the possibility a player on their team can turn out to be a good player. I hope I get to revisit this threads if he turns out great. What does it do for you if he turns out to be over-hyped, what does it do for the team? Sure you get to say "I told you so" but what do you gain from that?

I think you got me all wrong there ImShak. I want Olynyk to be awesome. I want him to be one of the greatest of all time.

But I temper my enthusiasm with some reality.

Olynyk isn't the next Jack Sikma or Dirk Nowitzki or Larry Bird. Not even close. And not right now.

He has skills but the skills he showed this week were against a level of talent that probably won't even be in the league this year. What happens when he is matched up against Serge Ibaka, Anderson Varejao, Tim Duncan, leBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, etc., etc.? Probably not good things, right?

I am just trying to temper expectations because some here are going off the deep end with unbridled enthusiam and are going to have a huge letdown when he isn't some kind of instant ROY candidate or All-Star. And when those expectations aren't met, people here tend to go the complete opposite direction and start hating the guy because he isn't All-NBA.

I saw him play in college and in the Summer League. He's got offensive skills, works hard and a lot of physical limitations that kill him defensively. I don't think he turns out to be anything special, but I really don't think many in this draft will be. It was a draft pretty devoid of top tier talent or even rotation playing talent.

I hope I am wrong. I hope he becomes one hell of a player. But let's at least see him in some NBA games before coronating him King of the Celtics.

Kelly may never be an All-Star, but I think you have to be pretty down on him as a player to look at the offensive skills he's shown so far and expect him to score 4 points a game -- unless you think he's going to play like 8-10 minutes a game.

We see offensively limited players score in double digits every season in this league.  Guys who couldn't do what Kelly has done this week.

If people were expecting Kelly to score in the high teens his first season as the Celtics #1 offensive option, I'd be right there with you trying to temper people's optimism.

But I think it's far more likely we see Kelly play 20-30 minutes a game and get 10-12 shots per game as a functional piece of the offense.  He'll get his shots, but he won't be the focal point.  He'll have nights where he struggles, especially against quicker, more athletic competition and better defensive teams.  But other nights he'll score a bunch because he gets hot from outside and we're facing a hapless defense.

[Celtics18]

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

Also, I watched a lot of Sikma. Sikma was a true center that could hit the 15-17 footer but who's game was more physical and located in the post. He was extremely strong and hard to move in the post and had excellent rebounding fundamentals. His handle was very good for that era but not like what some bigs have today.

I just don't see a lot of similarities in their game.

I don't understand this line of thinking... I don't get how you want to see this, all so you can gloat? Why wouldn't a Celtic fan want and be excited at the possibility a player on their team can turn out to be a good player. I hope I get to revisit this threads if he turns out great. What does it do for you if he turns out to be over-hyped, what does it do for the team? Sure you get to say "I told you so" but what do you gain from that?

I think you got me all wrong there ImShak. I want Olynyk to be awesome. I want him to be one of the greatest of all time.

But I temper my enthusiasm with some reality.

Olynyk isn't the next Jack Sikma or Dirk Nowitzki or Larry Bird. Not even close. And not right now.

He has skills but the skills he showed this week were against a level of talent that probably won't even be in the league this year. What happens when he is matched up against Serge Ibaka, Anderson Varejao, Tim Duncan, leBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, etc., etc.? Probably not good things, right?

I am just trying to temper expectations because some here are going off the deep end with unbridled enthusiam and are going to have a huge letdown when he isn't some kind of instant ROY candidate or All-Star. And when those expectations aren't met, people here tend to go the complete opposite direction and start hating the guy because he isn't All-NBA.

I saw him play in college and in the Summer League. He's got offensive skills, works hard and a lot of physical limitations that kill him defensively. I don't think he turns out to be anything special, but I really don't think many in this draft will be. It was a draft pretty devoid of top tier talent or even rotation playing talent.

I hope I am wrong. I hope he becomes one hell of a player. But let's at least see him in some NBA games before coronating him King of the Celtics.

Andrew Nicholson, Tony Mitchell, Terrence Jones, (and probably even Justin Harper) will all be in the league this year. 

[PhoSita]

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

Also, I watched a lot of Sikma. Sikma was a true center that could hit the 15-17 footer but who's game was more physical and located in the post. He was extremely strong and hard to move in the post and had excellent rebounding fundamentals. His handle was very good for that era but not like what some bigs have today.

I just don't see a lot of similarities in their game.

I don't understand this line of thinking... I don't get how you want to see this, all so you can gloat? Why wouldn't a Celtic fan want and be excited at the possibility a player on their team can turn out to be a good player. I hope I get to revisit this threads if he turns out great. What does it do for you if he turns out to be over-hyped, what does it do for the team? Sure you get to say "I told you so" but what do you gain from that?

I think you got me all wrong there ImShak. I want Olynyk to be awesome. I want him to be one of the greatest of all time.

But I temper my enthusiasm with some reality.

Olynyk isn't the next Jack Sikma or Dirk Nowitzki or Larry Bird. Not even close. And not right now.

He has skills but the skills he showed this week were against a level of talent that probably won't even be in the league this year. What happens when he is matched up against Serge Ibaka, Anderson Varejao, Tim Duncan, leBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, etc., etc.? Probably not good things, right?

I am just trying to temper expectations because some here are going off the deep end with unbridled enthusiam and are going to have a huge letdown when he isn't some kind of instant ROY candidate or All-Star. And when those expectations aren't met, people here tend to go the complete opposite direction and start hating the guy because he isn't All-NBA.

I saw him play in college and in the Summer League. He's got offensive skills, works hard and a lot of physical limitations that kill him defensively. I don't think he turns out to be anything special, but I really don't think many in this draft will be. It was a draft pretty devoid of top tier talent or even rotation playing talent.

I hope I am wrong. I hope he becomes one hell of a player. But let's at least see him in some NBA games before coronating him King of the Celtics.

Andrew Nicholson, Tony Mitchell, Terrence Jones, (and probably even Justin Harper) will all be in the league this year.

I just want to add that I'd be just fine with Kelly being guarded by Carmelo.

[Q_FBE]

Time will tell where Kelly Olynyk will go with his career opportunity to play for the Celtics. Summer league heroes tend to come and go and I have reason to believe he will be a useful role player. If he turns into another perrenial All-Star - GREAT - and a feather in the cap to Danny Ainge to draft him. If he plays like he did against Carl Hall of Wichita St in the 2nd round of the NCAA semis, then he will bust like Eric Montross.

[nickagneta]

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

Also, I watched a lot of Sikma. Sikma was a true center that could hit the 15-17 footer but who's game was more physical and located in the post. He was extremely strong and hard to move in the post and had excellent rebounding fundamentals. His handle was very good for that era but not like what some bigs have today.

I just don't see a lot of similarities in their game.

I don't understand this line of thinking... I don't get how you want to see this, all so you can gloat? Why wouldn't a Celtic fan want and be excited at the possibility a player on their team can turn out to be a good player. I hope I get to revisit this threads if he turns out great. What does it do for you if he turns out to be over-hyped, what does it do for the team? Sure you get to say "I told you so" but what do you gain from that?

I think you got me all wrong there ImShak. I want Olynyk to be awesome. I want him to be one of the greatest of all time.

But I temper my enthusiasm with some reality.

Olynyk isn't the next Jack Sikma or Dirk Nowitzki or Larry Bird. Not even close. And not right now.

He has skills but the skills he showed this week were against a level of talent that probably won't even be in the league this year. What happens when he is matched up against Serge Ibaka, Anderson Varejao, Tim Duncan, leBron James, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Garnett, etc., etc.? Probably not good things, right?

I am just trying to temper expectations because some here are going off the deep end with unbridled enthusiam and are going to have a huge letdown when he isn't some kind of instant ROY candidate or All-Star. And when those expectations aren't met, people here tend to go the complete opposite direction and start hating the guy because he isn't All-NBA.

I saw him play in college and in the Summer League. He's got offensive skills, works hard and a lot of physical limitations that kill him defensively. I don't think he turns out to be anything special, but I really don't think many in this draft will be. It was a draft pretty devoid of top tier talent or even rotation playing talent.

I hope I am wrong. I hope he becomes one hell of a player. But let's at least see him in some NBA games before coronating him King of the Celtics.

Kelly may never be an All-Star, but I think you have to be pretty down on him as a player to look at the offensive skills he's shown so far and expect him to score 4 points a game -- unless you think he's going to play like 8-10 minutes a game.

We see offensively limited players score in double digits every season in this league.  Guys who couldn't do what Kelly has done this week.

If people were expecting Kelly to score in the high teens his first season as the Celtics #1 offensive option, I'd be right there with you trying to temper people's optimism.

But I think it's far more likely we see Kelly play 20-30 minutes a game and get 10-12 shots per game as a functional piece of the offense.  He'll get his shots, but he won't be the focal point.  He'll have nights where he struggles, especially against quicker, more athletic competition and better defensive teams.  But other nights he'll score a bunch because he gets hot from outside and we're facing a hapless defense.

I heard a lot of the same things regarding Donatas Montiejunas last year as well. And, unless something changes, there are still three players on this team that are better NBA players than Olynyk right now that play his position(Sully, Bass, Humphries). So yeah, I expect him to be limited in minutes, pull a ton of DNP-CDs, and struggle defensively and struggle to get his offense going versus most starting PFs in this league.

At least next year.

So I think my numbers realistic.

Why? Because I really want the new coach to stress defense and to stress that you have to earn minutes. I think that the correct way to handle this young team. Want minutes? Be better than the guy playing on the court, practicing on the court, hitting the weight room and studying film. Rookies shouldn't be given stuff. They should earn it.

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. I'll say so. I have no problem with that. But I want to see him against NBA talent before jumping on this "Olynyk is the best thing since sliced bread" wagon that many seem to be on because he scored against some marginal NBA talent in the Summer League.

[footey]

He reminds me of Dirk much more than Sikma. Sikma had no ball handling skills.

[vjcsmoke]

And why do you feel obligated to be a Debbie Downer?  Nothing I've seen so far indicates that Olynyk is going to suck offensively.  4 PPG is only possible for KO if he's averaging only 6 minutes a game coming off the bench playing only in pure garbage time situations.

Last time I checked, PP and KG are gone.  The competition is wide open for minutes at 4/5 position.  With his skillset and offensive polish, I can easily see Olynyk putting together a double digit ppg rookie campaign.

He needs to work on his defense, improving his muscle, and rebounding, but that's true of a lot of young rookies.  They need to get their bodies into NBA shape.  I don't think KO will turn into Jack Sikma.  LOL, but I do expect to see a skillful shooting stretch 4/5 out there on the floor who still has a lot of room to improve his game.

I can't wait to see these threads revisited when Olynyk is averaging 4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.4 APG while shooting 44/32/80 and is fouling at a rate almost as high as his PPG rate.

Also, I watched a lot of Sikma. Sikma was a true center that could hit the 15-17 footer but who's game was more physical and located in the post. He was extremely strong and hard to move in the post and had excellent rebounding fundamentals. His handle was very good for that era but not like what some bigs have today.

I just don't see a lot of similarities in their game.

[mmmmm]

Dirk came to prominence by destroying everyone in sight at the Nike Hoop Summit at 18yrs old...

Abroad, Nowitzki's progress was noticed. In 1996, FC Barcelona Bàsquet wanted to sign him, but Nowitzki refused to move before finishing his Abitur.[18] A year later, the teenager participated in the Nike "Hoop Heroes Tfuour," where he played against NBA stars like Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen. In a 30-minute show match, Nowitzki outplayed Barkley and even dunked on him, causing the latter to exclaim: "The boy is a genius. If he wants to enter the NBA, he can call me."[19] On March 29, 1998, Nowitzki was chosen to play in the Nike Hoop Summit, one of the premier talent watches in U.S. men's basketball. In a match between the U.S. talents and the international talents, Nowitzki scored 33 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 14 rebounds and 3 steals for the internationals[3] and outplayed future US NBA stars Rashard Lewis and Al Harrington. He impressed with a combination of quickness, ball handling, and shooting range, and from that moment a multitude of European and NBA clubs wanted to recruit him.[20]



You can NOT compare KO to a HOFer... this is completely ridiculous

He said a poor, poor man's dirk. As in double poor, which is pretty poor but considering Dirk; still a good basketball player. Nobody here is saying he's as good or going to be as good. Just observing he has some of the same strengths and weaknessess, albeit in varying degrees.

TP. Btw, it was poor, poor, poor man's Dirk. 

 As much as i love the Dirk comparisons i see more of a Zydrunas Ilgauskas in his game. Definite range from 3, great on pick n roll and pick n pop situations. Not the greatest defender or rebounder but he fights for everything. What he lacks in pure athleticism he shows in effort and a true knowledge of the game

Yes my final comparison is KO=Big Z

I think down in the post, Kelly is far more smoother. He was smoother than Dirk when they were around the same age. Big Z is also taller and a far better defender but more stiff.

Also, I don't get the notion of Big Z being a good 3 point shooter. He wasn't a prolific at all, unlike Dirk. More of a mid-range game. He hit some open threes, but Marc Gasol did too. Nobody is comparing Olynyk to Gasol, though. Gasol is way too tough and Olynyk is leaning on the soft side (like Dirk).


At the end of the day, if you look at the 3 in mugshot format, the bald guy is the odd man out. 

Agreed.   

I do not see 'Big Z' at all.

To me, the most telling comparison question might be:  What is your feeling when they put the ball on the floor and dribble through traffic?   Confidence?  Nervousness?  Terror?

With Olynyk, I feel pretty confident that he's not going to dribble it off his foot.   Even with his left hand, for crissakes.

Of the various names tossed about in this thread so far, Dirk is the only other one.

Again - not saying Olynyk is going to have Dirk's career.

Just saying that profile comparisons with Olynyk should probably start with "really tall guy with an unexpectedly good handle" and move forward from there.

[PhoSita]

And, unless something changes, there are still three players on this team that are better NBA players than Olynyk right now that play his position(Sully, Bass, Humphries). So yeah, I expect him to be limited in minutes, pull a ton of DNP-CDs, and struggle defensively and struggle to get his offense going versus most starting PFs in this league.

The problem here is that our four best big men, right now, are all power forwards.  Kelly is one of them.

Projecting the rotation right now I'd expect to see a mix of Sullinger, Bass, Humphries, and Olynyk, with Kelly getting at least 10-15 minutes a night.

By the time the season starts I imagine either Bass or Humphries will be playing on another team, so that should open up even more minutes.

I agree with you about expecting guys to earn their minutes, and I think Kelly will do that, just like Sullinger did last season.