Am i the only one who just doesn't see anything in KO?

[Vermont Green]

Dirk in his first year  20 MPG, 40%FG, 20%3P%, 3RPG, 1 APG, 8 PPG.
Based on that - the next EU scrub, cannot shoot at all, should never attempt a 3 pointer, cannot rebound, very poor D.
Kelly so far (11 games) - 21MPG, 41% FG, 16,7%3P%, 5,3 RPG, 1,7 APG, 7,8 PPG. Not a significant difference, no?
If we have a 20 games rule for the team, we need at least a 40 games rule for our rookies, esp. the bigs.

One thing to keep in mind with this comparison is that Dirk was 20 years old when drafted, Kelly is 22.  I think those 2 years represent the gap between the two.

KO has some great skills that you just can't teach but so far this year he has not displayed the athleticism to make that much of an impact at the NBA level.  At this point I would project a decent player that bounces around the NBA for several years, always doing OK.  There is upside though as well which we may or may not see.

I think he was a good pick and I remain intrigued. 

[Surferdad]

No evidence that he will turn into Dirk but the comparison is still useful.  In another thread I suggested a good comparitor for KO would be Tony Kukoc, a good shooter, great passer for a big man, average defender and rebounder. Again, no guarantee he will turn into Kukoc but the comparison is useful.

[dreamgreen]

Olynyk is overwhelmed and showing too much respect for players on the team and around the league.  This kind of crap is natural to happen if you have "vets" ordering you around to carry their bags,get dinner etc. (my guess)

In addition not playing with a natural pg is hurting his game.

The SL Olynyk is the real version. He has lots of ways to get buckets in. Right now he is stuck into taking jump shots , passing the ball, playing 90 percent of the time in the perimeter which is only 40 percent of his game

You need to feed him the ball into the post. He needs to also take his time and play "one on one" ball.  Sully is obviously now comfortable doing it but Olynyk either is not or has been instructed not to

I predict lots of up and downs this year (last 2 games being down). As the season goes along he will get better plus once the off season somes (knowing what he did in his redshirt year) i expect him to coming into camp in exceptional shape.

This is my point of view also.

[BballTim]

No evidence that he will turn into Dirk but the comparison is still useful.

  Most useful in that you can't project the career of a rookie based on his first dozen games or so. Whatever people think of Avery Bradley, there were tons of posts after his first season assuring everyone that there's no way he'd ever be a rotation-level nba player.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

KO is alsowhat...22 yrs old.....or so...shaq was a skinny kid then too..not saying he is shaq....but body type...he can develop a lot in a little time.......he is a rookie.....his athleticism is in my opinion very good...strong dunks, good running, fast reaction times and a knowing of how to rebound, on o and d  .....his man to man D will come along.......remember he is new, and he has to learn Brad S system and he has to be in the position BS tells him to be in along with covering his man, and the paint....CENTER and PG are the hardest positions to play..!!!

[clover]

Olynyk is overwhelmed and showing too much respect for players on the team and around the league.  This kind of crap is natural to happen if you have "vets" ordering you around to carry their bags,get dinner etc. (my guess)

In addition not playing with a natural pg is hurting his game.

The SL Olynyk is the real version. He has lots of ways to get buckets in. Right now he is stuck into taking jump shots , passing the ball, playing 90 percent of the time in the perimeter which is only 40 percent of his game

You need to feed him the ball into the post. He needs to also take his time and play "one on one" ball.  Sully is obviously now comfortable doing it but Olynyk either is not or has been instructed not to

I predict lots of up and downs this year (last 2 games being down). As the season goes along he will get better plus once the off season somes (knowing what he did in his redshirt year) i expect him to coming into camp in exceptional shape.

This is my point of view also.

One thing I'll never understand is the idea of even benign hazing rookies. What's the thinking--that rookies need to be taken down a peg or two?

As you point out, IMO that makes them more likely to play like rookies. Bonding with the team? I can't imagine that bonding wouldn't be faster if they were treated as genuine teammates from the beginning.

I know that in the military the idea is that new recruits have to somehow be broken down to then be built back up in the right way. But that really doesn't seem to be what sports team hazing, however light but persistent, seems to accomplish.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

off subject..but hazing seems to be how people show they haven't evolved or are actively fighting it.....if it happened to them...all the more reason to STOP it....it does not endear one to a team concept....it shows bullying and cowardice.....

[Meadowlark_Scal]

KO follows shots like a good center for the rebound....he picks and rolls...but no one feeds him as he rolls even though he is usually open and has a lane to the hoop.....he keeps the ball high like a classically trained center..unlike perkins......he is a good shot blocker, has no fear, passes well and often....dunks, has moves.....he could be a very good post player....but he never  gets fed down there.....till rondo gets back..!!! It isn't really the pg's fault.....they are fighting for their positions too.....

[cman88]

To me, he just looks hesitant out there...when he has an open shot you can tell he hesitant on whether to pass or shoot which is normal for rookies.

hes averaging 7.8ppg and 5.6rpg...I think he will develop just fine. he just needs more confidence

[celticpride17]

No doubt he has a lot of potential,but i think danny will trade him or sullinger to get hayward at some point.

[Beat LA]

I haven't been able to watch but a game or two and a bit of the preseason this year, and I do hope that KO turns into a good player, but I'm afraid he's going to be slightly better than Michael Smith (god I hope I'm wrong), who was also noted for his passing coming out of college, right?  I just remember a line in 'The Big Three', where Peter May said, "Right player, wrong decade.  He could not play NBA defense."  Plus, his wingspan was shorter than his height like Kelly's, but I think that's where the comparison stops.  I would like to see him in the post, though (which is supposed to be his forte, right?), and it's good that he keeps the ball high when he goes for a putback, but his lateral quickness on offense and defense is atrocious.  Last night he tried to drive by his defender near the hoop and looked in slow motion (and not in a good way).  He does need more time, absolutely, but I'm not sure how he could improve in that department.  He almost looks slower than Hibbert when he entered the league (ouch); but whereas Roy lost significant weight and is way better now in that respect idk what KO can do in that department.  It's not like he can play back and block everything like Hibbert, so that's where I'm coming from.

Also, we've got to stop with the Dirk comparisons.  Maybe it's just his hair (which he really needs to cut imo), but Olynyk may turn out to be a slower Luis Scola?  How bad is that comparison?

Lastly, if Danny wanted a player who can pass, play in the post, and rebound, why didn't he draft Henry Sims last year or sign him this past summer?  He's similar to KO in height (6'10" or 7'0, reports vary for some reason), but is way more athletic, quick, and has a 7'4" wingspan.  What harm could have come from signing him?  I know, I'm an idiot 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8YjFdGKErg