Olynyk is #1 on the Rookie Ladder

[Fafnir]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

I don't really agree.

I think that like the D-league, the Summer League is useful for showing who does and does not belong.  If you dominate the D-League or the Summer League, you might be an NBA player, or you might not.  If you really struggle and fail to stand out in the D-League or Summer League, there's a very good chance you're not an NBA player. 

Sure, there are exceptions -- maybe a guy could flourish in the NBA but doesn't in the lower leagues because those league are so guard-centric.  Maybe your one NBA skill doesn't stand out a ton in the box score.  Greg Stiemsma is a useful (if limited) NBA player and he was by no means a D-League All-Star. 

But I do think that the D-League / Summer League can tell you something.

D-League and Summer league are two different animals. I wouldn't conflate them, d-league can be useful in evaluating players in the manner you say, summer league can't.

That may just be the sample size, but I think d-league's structure and coaching also make a difference.

[clover]

Actually Stiemer's good rebounding and blocking numbers in D-league, along with his good FG and FT%'s, are what led to his opportunity in the NBA.

[Celtics18]

That's fun =)

There are only 10 teams in the summer league, though. Most of the top rookies haven't been seen yet.

Fair to wonder which of the other lottery picks is going to have a better summer league start, though.

Perhaps one of the guards like McCollum or Burke.  Maybe McLemore.  Maybe Shabazz will put up some big numbers.

I don't expect much out of Bennett, Len, or Zeller.  Those guys will be too dependent on good guard play.

Burke's already playing.  He hasn't been that impressive.

[Tr1boy]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

What a negative outlook fafnir.
So you rather see a bad to mediocre summer league performance? Does that still mean nothhing?

I don' think its a negative outlook to say that summer league isn't meaningful. As you say it still would mean nothing if he'd played poorly. Its a four game sample against sub-par competition without much practice or work beforehand. Team-play typically is very poor and rotations, roles, and the rest are all ad hoc.

I'd rather he play well, but the evidence of past summer league doesn't show any sort of consistent relationship to actual ability to play NBA basketball.

Ur being contradictory. The most impressive thing so far about olynyk is his team concept game. He is passing, setting picks, communicating, directing, weak side help, trying to block other mans shot when they take threes. His approach is complete. It helps when ur dad is a coach.

I have rarely seen guys put on complete and consistent summer league performances crash in the nba. Forte had one 30 pt game , where all he did was chuck it. Maybe he had another good one but he was not consistent as i remember. Harangody also inconsistent and his man also filled their stats.

You just cant get any better than oly has shown in 4 games as a young player. Doesnt mean he will continue the same dominance in the nba, but doesnt look like he will fall on his face, or there is unsurity about his game.

So again if u say bc the nba is all about x and os , structure, team play, instead of flashy ind shot blocks, than olynyk should fit in right?

[Smitty77]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

I do think it is important to remember WHO Kelly put up these numbers against.  Versus Orlando he outperformed Andrew Nicholso and Kyle O'Quinn (both of whom were solid last year as rookies).  He outperformed Tony Mitchell (who was projected into the top 25 all along until he dropped to the second round) vs. Detroit.  He outperformed Miles Plumlee vs. Inday.  Last, he outperformed Terrence Jones in the Houston game DESPITE this being his 4th game in 4 days.

That is not too shabby Fafnir!!

Smitty77

[Celtics18]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

What a negative outlook fafnir.
So you rather see a bad to mediocre summer league performance? Does that still mean nothhing?

I don' think its a negative outlook to say that summer league isn't meaningful. As you say it still would mean nothing if he'd played poorly. Its a four game sample against sub-par competition without much practice or work beforehand. Team-play typically is very poor and rotations, roles, and the rest are all ad hoc.

I'd rather he play well, but the evidence of past summer league doesn't show any sort of consistent relationship to actual ability to play NBA basketball.

Ur being contradictory. The most impressive thing so far about olynyk is his team concept game. He is passing, setting picks, communicating, directing, weak side help, trying to block other mans shot when they take threes. His approach is complete. It helps when ur dad is a coach.

I have rarely seen guys put on complete and consistent summer league performances crash in the nba. Forte had one 30 pt game , where all he did was chuck it. Maybe he had another good one but he was not consistent as i remember. Harangody also inconsistent and his man also filled their stats.

You just cant get any better than oly has shown in 4 games as a young player. Doesnt mean he will continue the same dominance in the nba, but doesnt look like he will fall on his face, or there is unsurity about his game.

So again if u say bc the nba is all about x and os , structure, team play, instead of flashy ind shot blocks, than olynyk should fit in right?

To me the most impressive thing about the Klynyk is his surprisingly (to me, at least) advanced skill set.  I understand that putting up good numbers in summer league doesn't necessarily mean squat, but I don't see how one can watch this kid play, and see some of the things he can do, and not be at least a little bit excited. 

I'm not ashamed to get a little carried away with my excitement about they guy.  Isn't that what "rebuilding" is all about, after all?

[Fafnir]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

What a negative outlook fafnir.
So you rather see a bad to mediocre summer league performance? Does that still mean nothhing?

I don' think its a negative outlook to say that summer league isn't meaningful. As you say it still would mean nothing if he'd played poorly. Its a four game sample against sub-par competition without much practice or work beforehand. Team-play typically is very poor and rotations, roles, and the rest are all ad hoc.

I'd rather he play well, but the evidence of past summer league doesn't show any sort of consistent relationship to actual ability to play NBA basketball.

Ur being contradictory.

When I talk about coaching and structure I'm not talking about Olynk's play within a team concept, but rather how the summer league doesn't really have team concept basketball as a whole. Both for individual players and for their competition, its not a good test even if it wasn't just a few short games.

[Celtics4ever]

Olynyk is what Red was hoping to get when he drafted Michael Smith in the 90s.

[Tr1boy]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

What a negative outlook fafnir.
So you rather see a bad to mediocre summer league performance? Does that still mean nothhing?

I don' think its a negative outlook to say that summer league isn't meaningful. As you say it still would mean nothing if he'd played poorly. Its a four game sample against sub-par competition without much practice or work beforehand. Team-play typically is very poor and rotations, roles, and the rest are all ad hoc.

I'd rather he play well, but the evidence of past summer league doesn't show any sort of consistent relationship to actual ability to play NBA basketball.

Ur being contradictory.

When I talk about coaching and structure I'm not talking about Olynk's play within a team concept, but rather how the summer league doesn't really have team concept basketball as a whole. Both for individual players and for their competition, its not a good test even if it wasn't just a few short games.

Yes thats true. Oly hasnt faced structures defense nor he has been part of a proper structure offense. But he is ahead of most already bc he is playing with structure on the fly. Some guys dont know where to be on the court , look lost, but thats rarely seen with oly so far. He doesnt have a shot, he will pass, he will pass it off to the pg on top of the key than roll in to the middle, which gives him a chance to score or open up things for other players out on the perimemter. He will set multiple picks so that other guys get a chwnce to receive a pass. He will cheat and help defend when he should and not do it when he shouldnt. He will post his man deep and if no pass is there soon , he will walk away and set picks. If his shot isnt working he will post up his man.

Its fundementals, structure, iq. Like sully showed last year. 

[The One]

I guess I have designated myself this year's "NBA Rookie Ladder Watcher"  LOL...:-)

But Kelly is still #1.

Just like KRS said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NztOfMln6Mo

[clover]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

What a negative outlook fafnir.
So you rather see a bad to mediocre summer league performance? Does that still mean nothhing?

I don' think its a negative outlook to say that summer league isn't meaningful. As you say it still would mean nothing if he'd played poorly. Its a four game sample against sub-par competition without much practice or work beforehand. Team-play typically is very poor and rotations, roles, and the rest are all ad hoc.

I'd rather he play well, but the evidence of past summer league doesn't show any sort of consistent relationship to actual ability to play NBA basketball.

Ur being contradictory.

When I talk about coaching and structure I'm not talking about Olynk's play within a team concept, but rather how the summer league doesn't really have team concept basketball as a whole. Both for individual players and for their competition, its not a good test even if it wasn't just a few short games.

Yes thats true. Oly hasnt faced structures defense nor he has been part of a proper structure offense. But he is ahead of most already bc he is playing with structure on the fly. Some guys dont know where to be on the court , look lost, but thats rarely seen with oly so far. He doesnt have a shot, he will pass, he will pass it off to the pg on top of the key than roll in to the middle, which gives him a chance to score or open up things for other players out on the perimemter. He will set multiple picks so that other guys get a chwnce to receive a pass. He will cheat and help defend when he should and not do it when he shouldnt. He will post his man deep and if no pass is there soon , he will walk away and set picks. If his shot isnt working he will post up his man.

Its fundementals, structure, iq. Like sully showed last year.

And, especially in the case of someone like KO in Orlando, you can see the advanced and diverse skillset that led to his performance, and that is meaningful.

[Sketch5]

Something people need to look at is not what he put up for numbers, but how he did it.

I got to see every game. He was consistent and rarely looked out of place. Maybe a couple times when  a guy got up on him, but that was usually when a team mate took way too long to help him out. And during the regular season were fouls do matter (unless your Miami, sorry had to sick that in) players wont D up as much like that and be over aggressive. I also think he'll learn the PP move of sweeping under the defenders arms creating contact for the foul which will get rid of a lot of that too.

His offense came from every were's on the court. His 3 needs more work, but its there. 20 feet and in hes money though. I can see him and Rondo working teams like they did with KG and the pick and pops. KO is perfect for that, because if a play plays tight he can still take it to the hoop or pass.

Passing was major. I really hope now with young legs they run a motion offense. KO,Rondo and Green will rack the assists up. If they get a decent C, KO will make him look like a boarder line allstar. I mean look at Melo a couple times that KO passed to him and the position he was in to score.

His defense wasn't as bad as people say. He rarely got his ankles broken or blown by. He didn't block a lot of shots, but made guys take tough shots. He held his ground on one possession were some one was pounding it in the paint dropping his shoulder. KO barely moved and got called for a foul. It was crap, should have been no call or offensive. I think a couple more months and you'll see KO take a couple bumps and then go down with good contact to "sell" the foul. But I don't know if thats part of his game to sell fouls, be might just be hard nosed.

Needs to work on the body, but can over the summer pretty easily. His Base is good, just need to define.

I know the rookie class is weak, but if he even gets to the top 3 rookies at the end of the year that's impressive no matter what the class is.   

[TheBigTicket23]

Well summer league obviously doesn't mean that much but still. Damian Lillard was ROCKING the SL last year, well his reg season wasn't too bad either....

Good news!! I'm starting to like this kid!

[droopdog7]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

Absolutely NOT true.  First, if you excel in the Summer league, then there is at least a chance that you can play in the NBA.  If you suck in the Summer league, then you simply can't play.

Second, it has nothing to do with statistics in the Summer league.  It's about watching the games and determining whether a guy has skills that can translate to the NBA.  Olynyk, in my view, definitely does.  He's 7 feet, mobile, and can score in a variety of ways (including a nice jump shot).

If he were 6'7", a volume shooter, and dominating on the inside (which he would not do in the NBA), then you'd have a different story.

[PhoSita]

Summer league doesn't mean anything. It just doesn't.

Sometimes its promising and it pans out, other times players wilt against superior competition in the real NBA.

Similarly sometimes guys aren't great right away but turn into stars later.

Absolutely NOT true.  First, if you excel in the Summer league, then there is at least a chance that you can play in the NBA.  If you suck in the Summer league, then you simply can't play.

Second, it has nothing to do with statistics in the Summer league.  It's about watching the games and determining whether a guy has skills that can translate to the NBA.  Olynyk, in my view, definitely does.  He's 7 feet, mobile, and can score in a variety of ways (including a nice jump shot).

If he were 6'7", a volume shooter, and dominating on the inside (which he would not do in the NBA), then you'd have a different story.

I agree with this.  Luke Harangody also looked very nice in summer league, and displayed many of the skills that Olynyk has shown.  The key difference is that Harangody is a 6'6'' 3/4 who weighs over 250 lbs.  Whereas Kelly is 7 feet tall and other than his below average wingspan is pretty much ideal size for a PF/C in the NBA.