Olynyk

[nickagneta]

I'm just baffled by the intense negativity that's coming from some angles. 

That's okay because I am baffled by the love he gets.

[clover]

I'm just baffled by the intense negativity that's coming from some angles. 

That's okay because I am baffled by the love he gets.

I still believe in KO's potential, though I admit to being disappointed by his start this year.

Also, I'm not sure that he's been hungry enough to get better fast enough. E.g., Bulpett seems to be saying that Rondo checked in on KO to make sure the rookie was going to work out on the off day--not a great sign: http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2014/02/celts_benefit_from_rested_hand_of_rajon_rondo

[D.o.s.]

AB was awful as a rookie, he couldn't hit a shot! This kid can already stroke the long ball and is a great passer, like every rookie he has a LOT to learn.

I hear this truism a lot, but it's pretty wrong. AB rehabbed a broken ankle, set the D-league on fire, and then came in and played amazing defense for the C's in a handful of games, even though he sucked running the point. He even had a 20 point game. At the end of the 2010-11 season, most of us were extremely psyched and thought Bradley was a steal.

Olynyk has 2 20 point games, and hasn't played in the D-League. 

And there's usually a diverse set of opinions but I remember the consensus on AB being very different.  A few people were excited about his one decent game but he was generally regarded as a bust until midway through his second season.  He was much younger and on a much better team, though.

And when he saw the floor during his rookie year it was largely as a backup point, I think? Or at least a semi-prominent ball handler.

And his play was bad. Real bad.

  It's true he was bad that year. It's also true that anyone who offered reasons for his poor play (that turned out to be accurate) were killed (blind homer, green tinted glasses, unable to evaluate nba talent, you know the drill) and Danny probably got more grief for the AB pick than JR Giddens.

I was at the heart of the storm telling people he would eventually be a good midrange shooter because he had all the tools, and had been in college.  So I remember this well.

To the average fan, though, there's not a whole lot to go by aside from on-the-court play and "the eye test"

  That's true, but you also have microwave versions of scouting reports with very little sense of perspective on a regular basis.

Yup. Gotta keep a silo of salt grains ready when you hop on the internet to talk about sports.

[Snakehead]

Oops... don't look now but he has slightly better stats than Dirk had his rookie year.

Haven't you heard?  Olynyk is a bum.  He's pale and has that floppy hair; he's inherently infuriating. 

The verdict has already been passed that he's a stiff.  Case closed.  Everybody knows that finesse big men never improve after their first season.

TP.

You guys are nuts yo.  It's truly unbelievable how little perspective this board has on rookies.

I think if I see this Dirk comparison one more time I will be sick.

Does anyone actually remember Dirk's rookie season? He was 20 years old. He went from school to military service to the NBA. He didn't have two years of college level basketball to prepare him for the NBA. He also came into a strike shortened season with no Summer League and very little training camp.

He was awful to begin with but there was steady progression and by seasons end, over the last 15 games or so he was averaging 12 PPG, 5 RPG, and had a TS% somewhere in the low to mid 50's and had taken over the starter's position.

Does anyone really see any progression in Olynyk's game?

Does anyone really see him taking over a starter's position because of improved play?

Does anyone really see him averaging over 12 PPG for a month while shooting a TS% of 55%?

Because then I think a comparison to Dirk would be meaningful. Otherwise, Olynyk isn't on the same planet as Dirk as a player as a rookie or otherwise.

Apparently you missed the whole point of the Dirk comparison being: you don't know jack yet.

I'll take flashes of skill.  That's all I need from a rookie.  The number one thing that grows with players after they enter the league is consistency.  Even greats like Dirk were not good their rookie years.  That's the point.  Olynyk hasn't been good... lets add him to the list for rookies.  Most rookies aren't good, even if they have talent.

Olynyk could be a bust. Saying anything of a the sort right now is absolutely dumb.  Should we go dig up Avery posts or something to see how dumb it is? 

I wish we could dig up hypothetical Dirk rookie year posts from some of you guys.

[fairweatherfan]

I'm just baffled by the intense negativity that's coming from some angles. 

That's okay because I am baffled by the love he gets.

Do you have any examples of this?  Because from where I'm sitting it's been a debate between "he's atrocious" and a coalition of "he's ok" and "he hasn't been good but lots of rookies start this poorly". 

[PhoSita]

  The numbers don't really support it.

Honestly, I think looks play a large role in it.

If you're going to be big, goofy, and white with floppy hair, you better be great from the word go, especially if your game is more perimeter oriented as opposed to boards-n-dunks.

[LooseCannon]

It's hard to evaluate a player properly if he doesn't know his role and is not getting minutes regularly. I can understand why Doc never played rookies, he was coaching a contender, but 8 minutes for Kelly vs pathetic Magic team is beyond me.

I don't believe in force-feeding him minutes.  Right now, the goal with Olynyk is to develop his rebounding and defense.  I'd say that you want to teach Olynyk that he has to learn how to contribute something other than taking shots to earn playing time.  I don't think how well he is shooting and how many shots he takes is that important.  As far as player development goes, it's probably more important to let Avery Bradley learn to shoot on an NBA court or die trying rather than to get Olynyk his shots.  Right now, you probably want to get Olynyk enough time on the floor so you have enough film to show him what he is doing wrong on defense, without giving him so much time that he is getting completely abused.  Give him more time when he has a favorable matchup he can defend against and give him less time when an opposing player is scoring at will.

[kozlodoev]

I'd say that you want to teach Olynyk that he has to learn how to contribute something other than taking shots to earn playing time.

Yes, making shots would be a good start

[Celtics4ever]

I think he is working in the weight room.  His arms look more toned but he has a long way to go.   Do you all realize he only got 5 on the bench press?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kelly-Olynyk-19790/

The maximum number of bench press repetitions at 185 pounds is recorded. This is a test of maximum strength and repetition (strength) endurance. The test also requires excellent bench press technique to maximize the athlete's score. See more details of the maximum bench press test and bench press technique.

He weighs 240 and could only bench 185 five times that is weak as all get out.   He will improve with the Celtics trainers.   Strength is easy to improve but power and jumping is much harder.

To put it in perspective Okafor and Blake G. did 22 reps to Oly's 5.   Harangody did 23 and Jae Crowder 20.  Humph did 22 his rook year.  It is not the be all end all but it helps with low post banging.  Sully did it 9  times and he is plenty strong but that was when his back was bothering him.  But 5 make no doubt about it is weak.

I think as he gets stronger he will be able to play better closer to the rim.   I think it will help his confidence immensely as well.

With more strength many aspects of the game will be easier as he is not a speed guy.  So best to be powerful.   Right now his confidence is shot folks.

[nickagneta]

I think he is working in the weight room.  His arms look more toned but he has a long way to go.   Do you all realize he only got 5 on the bench press?

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kelly-Olynyk-19790/

The maximum number of bench press repetitions at 185 pounds is recorded. This is a test of maximum strength and repetition (strength) endurance. The test also requires excellent bench press technique to maximize the athlete's score. See more details of the maximum bench press test and bench press technique.

He weighs 240 and could only bench 185 five times that is weak as all get out.   He will improve with the Celtics trainers.   Strength is easy to improve but power and jumping is much harder.

To put it in perspective Okafor and Blake G. did 22 reps to Oly's 5.   Harangody did 23 and Jae Crowder 20.  Humph did 22 his rook year.  It is not the be all end all but it helps with low post banging.  Sully did it 9  times and he is plenty strong but that was when his back was bothering him.  But 5 make no doubt about it is weak.

I think as he gets stronger he will be able to play better closer to the rim.   I think it will help his confidence immensely as well.

With more strength many aspects of the game will be easier as he is not a speed guy.  So best to be powerful.   Right now his confidence is shot folks.

You see this is one of the reasons I am down on Olynyk. He is just not strong and has little power.

Now anyone can hit a weight room and get stronger but without medicinal help, there's a limit to just how strong someone can get if they naturally are lacking power.

I know some guys that without being in a gym are 6 foot 200 lbs and yet are naturally built like a brickhouse and can pick up engines. I know other guys that without being in a gym are 6 foot 200 lbs and probably would have trouble benching 100 pounds or curling 25 pounds with one arm.

Just different body types with different natural initial power levels.

I just don't think Olynyk has the initial power or body type that even with work will be good enough to make it long term in this league. He lacks speed, power, burst quickness and leaping ability. dedicated work will help those areas but when the starting off point is so low and he is creeping up on 23 years old, the expectations shouldn't be that he is miraculously going to change his body enough to be good enough to become much more than what he already is, IMHO.

I have been down on the guy, I will admit it. Probably unfairly so. But having watched him at Gonzaga and now a half year here in Boston, I just don't see that he has the talent that is high enough to overcome what nature gave to him as a body to work with to be tremendously successful in this league.

I still don't see him playing in the league beyond his rookie contract. Just do not see it.

[Celtics4ever]

Strength can be increased, power is very hard because it is speed + force.    I think Kelly has a finite amount he can gain as well, Nick.

But big stiffs have five fouls and can set picks.  I don't see him as dominant either but I would not mind being wrong.  The T rex arms always scared me, too.

[azzenfrost]

At least he's better than Fab Melo.

[tstorey_97]

Part one
Olynyk:
Is a two.
Can't bench press much.
Harangody could probably beat him up.
His hair style blows.
Is outplayed by Humphries.
Is like Dirk cuz he sucked at the beginning of his career.
Has a shorter wingspan than Jeff Green.
Is a turnstile on defense.
Generates excuses by the truckload with "rookie" as the most legit.
Has refused more open shots than Gerald Wallace which is just Krazy.

Part two
Olynyk:
Is better than Fab.
Hasn't been to the D league.
Isn't getting showcased.
Has one of the most flawless jumpshots I've seen since the 60's.

He has not gotten his form together and if he doesn't will be 4th big off the bench behind Greg Steimsma in New Orleans.

However, if he gets his shot together, will be an off the bench three point threat. He has had three games where he has started "rain" shots on the enemy. Perhaps, only a "flash" but, worth trying to develop....in the meantime? Let the Gold's Gym free memberships along with the "his feet keep slipping and the lighting is terrible" quotes keep comin'.