Tommy on Olynyk

[clover]

I have gone through the following "progression" on Kelly:

1. Hated the pick when he was drafted.
2. Loved the pick while he performed in summer league.
3. Got nervous when he got plantar fasciitis.
4.  Started to hate the pick again during the first two months.
5.  Started to like the pick more recently.

I think he was overly deferential to the vets the first half of the season.  I think he focused on the little things, rebounding, defense, passing, setting picks, being a good team mate.  Now he seems to be gaining confidence in himself, and is starting to assert himself. 

Guys like Larry Bird are rare.  I remember his first game with the Celts. He just took over his first game as a rookie.  Ditto Paul Pierce.  Kelly needs to stop caring what the vets think of him, and just play hard.  Follow Sully's lead.

Can you imagine being the highest draft pick brought into an organization in a generation--and then repeatedly introduced and described by the GM as a 'complementary player' who isn't going to be a star? Sure, he tore it up in SL, where he was expected to be the best player on the team; but then he came in all deferential and only 'complementary' to the veterans on a team that wasn't very good--and that led to a downward spiral of confidence IMO.

I'm glad he seems to have moved beyond that.

[twistedrico14]

I lose a lot of respect for people when they bash Tommy the way some of the people on here have. As far as KO goes, he has the chance to be a very good NBA player, and a few of the people that commented here don't have much insight on that.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I lose a lot of respect for people when they bash Tommy the way some of the people on here have. As far as KO goes, he has the chance to be a very good NBA player, and a few of the people that commented here don't have much insight on that.

Tommy is one of the five people I'd have to my dream hypothetical dinner party. But please share your insight as to how KO has a chance to be a very good player. Your insight may blow some minds.

[cman88]

I feel like too many people on this website are quick to say a player is going to be a "bust" if they dont put up extraordinary numbers in their rookie year.

I remember the countless threads of "bradley = trash" and how he was a bum because he didnt produce his rookie year. You've got to give these kids time.

But, i'll get the countless post of "welll everyone here thinks everyone is going to be an allstar!" when I cant count to one post saying he is. most posts are just saying give him time and he is showing improvement.

[clover]

I feel like too many people on this website are quick to say a player is going to be a "bust" if they dont put up extraordinary numbers in their rookie year.

I remember the countless threads of "bradley = trash" and how he was a bum because he didnt produce his rookie year. You've got to give these kids time.

But, i'll get the countless post of "welll everyone here thinks everyone is going to be an allstar!" when I cant count to one post saying he is. most posts are just saying give him time and he is showing improvement.

Rondo was put through the wringer as well.

[Snakehead]

I feel like too many people on this website are quick to say a player is going to be a "bust" if they dont put up extraordinary numbers in their rookie year.

I remember the countless threads of "bradley = trash" and how he was a bum because he didnt produce his rookie year. You've got to give these kids time.

But, i'll get the countless post of "welll everyone here thinks everyone is going to be an allstar!" when I cant count to one post saying he is. most posts are just saying give him time and he is showing improvement.

Rondo was put through the wringer as well.

Over time Rondo has gotten: not good and carried by hall of famers and also good but only because of hall of famers he passes to.

But yeah, this forum is ridiculous about rookies.

[Snakehead]

I have gone through the following "progression" on Kelly:

1. Hated the pick when he was drafted.
2. Loved the pick while he performed in summer league.
3. Got nervous when he got plantar fasciitis.
4.  Started to hate the pick again during the first two months.
5.  Started to like the pick more recently.

I think he was overly deferential to the vets the first half of the season.  I think he focused on the little things, rebounding, defense, passing, setting picks, being a good team mate.  Now he seems to be gaining confidence in himself, and is starting to assert himself. 

Guys like Larry Bird are rare.  I remember his first game with the Celts. He just took over his first game as a rookie.  Ditto Paul Pierce.  Kelly needs to stop caring what the vets think of him, and just play hard.  Follow Sully's lead.

Can you imagine being the highest draft pick brought into an organization in a generation--and then repeatedly introduced and described by the GM as a 'complementary player' who isn't going to be a star? Sure, he tore it up in SL, where he was expected to be the best player on the team; but then he came in all deferential and only 'complementary' to the veterans on a team that wasn't very good--and that led to a downward spiral of confidence IMO.

I'm glad he seems to have moved beyond that.

I kind of viewed that as motivation by Ainge.

But anyways, one of the things lately that's bugged me is how to a lot of people you are either an All-Star or a guy who makes the league minimum and if you're in between you are overpaid and a "role player" (which is used as a dirty word).

Olynyk for me at the best could be like Divac, a great player who only made one All Star game.  I just think we need to realize every player in the lottery doesn't need to be an All Star (and in reality, "All-Star" doesn't actually mean anything).  A lot of non All Stars put teams over the top to become contenders and championship teams.

[Evantime34]

To me Kelly's early struggles had to do with his defense (which has gotten slightly better but still isn't great) and him attempting to create shots for himself. Olynyk is complementary player that can create shots for others with his passing, score off cuts and positioning as well as knock down the jumper. When you give him the ball against someone his size in the post he is probably not going to score.

Recently his rebounding has been better than expected, which is a positive. I think in the end he will end up being very good and I think if you take him Sully and athletic shot blocker you have a very good 3 big rotation for a long time. I think how he and Sully transform their bodies in the offseason will be vital to their careers.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I have gone through the following "progression" on Kelly:

1. Hated the pick when he was drafted.
2. Loved the pick while he performed in summer league.
3. Got nervous when he got plantar fasciitis.
4.  Started to hate the pick again during the first two months.
5.  Started to like the pick more recently.

I think he was overly deferential to the vets the first half of the season.  I think he focused on the little things, rebounding, defense, passing, setting picks, being a good team mate.  Now he seems to be gaining confidence in himself, and is starting to assert himself. 

Guys like Larry Bird are rare.  I remember his first game with the Celts. He just took over his first game as a rookie.  Ditto Paul Pierce.  Kelly needs to stop caring what the vets think of him, and just play hard.  Follow Sully's lead.

Can you imagine being the highest draft pick brought into an organization in a generation--and then repeatedly introduced and described by the GM as a 'complementary player' who isn't going to be a star? Sure, he tore it up in SL, where he was expected to be the best player on the team; but then he came in all deferential and only 'complementary' to the veterans on a team that wasn't very good--and that led to a downward spiral of confidence IMO.

I'm glad he seems to have moved beyond that.

I kind of viewed that as motivation by Ainge.

But anyways, one of the things lately that's bugged me is how to a lot of people you are either an All-Star or a guy who makes the league minimum and if you're in between you are overpaid and a "role player" (which is used as a dirty word).

Olynyk for me at the best could be like Divac, a great player who only made one All Star game.  I just think we need to realize every player in the lottery doesn't need to be an All Star (and in reality, "All-Star" doesn't actually mean anything).  A lot of non All Stars put teams over the top to become contenders and championship teams.

I agree. I personally think he'll have a Zydrunas Ilgauskas impact the most. Starting or not, he'll put in 12-14 points and 6 rebounds and do it in variety of ways.

It does feel great to get an All Star, but yeah, when you're picking 13th, having that guy being a contributor on a winning team should be what we are looking for, and I think KO would be that. Anything more is gravy.

[Who]

I wonder if Olynyk can add enough muscle ... could he develop into a Bill Laimbeer type player?

Minus the freakish levels of physical toughness that Laimbeer brought to the table. Of course. Olynyk will never have that. But I think he could learn from the other things Laimbeer brought to the table.

Olynyk, like Laimbeer, doesn't have the length to be a shot-blocker but with time and practice he could become a sound positional team defender like Laimbeer was. With more muscle, Olynyk could hopefully be a quality man-to-man defender at the center position. Offensively, Laimbeer's high post game and jump-shooting that created matchup problems at the center position is something Olynyk already has. Olynyk would need more growth as a rebounder but at least he has shown some progress there and looks like he might be able to become a solid rebounder with more work.

I wonder if that is a good player (Laimbeer) for Olynyk to copy and learn from. To try and imitate. To try and put on extra muscle/mass to play the center position in a similar style as Laimbeer used to.

[clover]

I have gone through the following "progression" on Kelly:

1. Hated the pick when he was drafted.
2. Loved the pick while he performed in summer league.
3. Got nervous when he got plantar fasciitis.
4.  Started to hate the pick again during the first two months.
5.  Started to like the pick more recently.

I think he was overly deferential to the vets the first half of the season.  I think he focused on the little things, rebounding, defense, passing, setting picks, being a good team mate.  Now he seems to be gaining confidence in himself, and is starting to assert himself. 

Guys like Larry Bird are rare.  I remember his first game with the Celts. He just took over his first game as a rookie.  Ditto Paul Pierce.  Kelly needs to stop caring what the vets think of him, and just play hard.  Follow Sully's lead.

Can you imagine being the highest draft pick brought into an organization in a generation--and then repeatedly introduced and described by the GM as a 'complementary player' who isn't going to be a star? Sure, he tore it up in SL, where he was expected to be the best player on the team; but then he came in all deferential and only 'complementary' to the veterans on a team that wasn't very good--and that led to a downward spiral of confidence IMO.

I'm glad he seems to have moved beyond that.

I kind of viewed that as motivation by Ainge.

But anyways, one of the things lately that's bugged me is how to a lot of people you are either an All-Star or a guy who makes the league minimum and if you're in between you are overpaid and a "role player" (which is used as a dirty word).

Olynyk for me at the best could be like Divac, a great player who only made one All Star game.  I just think we need to realize every player in the lottery doesn't need to be an All Star (and in reality, "All-Star" doesn't actually mean anything).  A lot of non All Stars put teams over the top to become contenders and championship teams.

I agree. I personally think he'll have a Zydrunas Ilgauskas impact the most. Starting or not, he'll put in 12-14 points and 6 rebounds and do it in variety of ways.

It does feel great to get an All Star, but yeah, when you're picking 13th, having that guy being a contributor on a winning team should be what we are looking for, and I think KO would be that. Anything more is gravy.

That's a sorry kind of motivation IMO. Danny I'm sure was trying to keep expectations down among the fans, but I think it was a mistaken approach.

[Tr1boy]

I wonder if Olynyk can add enough muscle ... could he develop into a Bill Laimbeer type player?

Minus the freakish levels of physical toughness that Laimbeer brought to the table. Of course. Olynyk will never have that. But I think he could learn from the other things Laimbeer brought to the table.

Olynyk, like Laimbeer, doesn't have the length to be a shot-blocker but with time and practice he could become a sound positional team defender like Laimbeer was. With more muscle, Olynyk could hopefully be a quality man-to-man defender at the center position. Offensively, Laimbeer's high post game and jump-shooting that created matchup problems at the center position is something Olynyk already has. Olynyk would need more growth as a rebounder but at least he has shown some progress there and looks like he might be able to become a solid rebounder with more work.

I wonder if that is a good player (Laimbeer) for Olynyk to copy and learn from. To try and imitate. To try and put on extra muscle/mass to play the center position in a similar style as Laimbeer used to.

No. Laimbeer had half the skills. And KO is not a dirty that laimbeer was

KO to me is more like a Brad Miller/channing frye mix

[Boris Badenov]

I wonder if Olynyk can add enough muscle ... could he develop into a Bill Laimbeer type player?

Minus the freakish levels of physical toughness that Laimbeer brought to the table. Of course. Olynyk will never have that. But I think he could learn from the other things Laimbeer brought to the table.

Olynyk, like Laimbeer, doesn't have the length to be a shot-blocker but with time and practice he could become a sound positional team defender like Laimbeer was. With more muscle, Olynyk could hopefully be a quality man-to-man defender at the center position. Offensively, Laimbeer's high post game and jump-shooting that created matchup problems at the center position is something Olynyk already has. Olynyk would need more growth as a rebounder but at least he has shown some progress there and looks like he might be able to become a solid rebounder with more work.

I wonder if that is a good player (Laimbeer) for Olynyk to copy and learn from. To try and imitate. To try and put on extra muscle/mass to play the center position in a similar style as Laimbeer used to.

No. Laimbeer had half the skills.

Are you freaking kidding me. Laimbeer is a multi-time All-Star, one of the best players on a two-time championship team, one of the better defensive rebounders and outlet passers of his generation, a terrific shooter at his position and one of only a handful of players to accumulate 10,000 points and rebounds in his career. He's got a good case as a Hall of Famer.

And you are saying that he has "half the skills" of Kelly Olynyk.

[wiley]

I lose a lot of respect for people when they bash Tommy the way some of the people on here have. As far as KO goes, he has the chance to be a very good NBA player, and a few of the people that commented here don't have much insight on that.

TP.  Bashing Tommy for being positive is kind of a joke.  Do people really think Tommy doesn't understand the realities of the NBA and that some players aren't going to make it?  Tommy is fully aware, even when he lavishes praise that in the end consistency, IQ, physical endurance etc are the final determiners.  It would be really boring if he withheld positive comments to appease the pseudo-realism crowd, only because they don't know how to take things with a grain of salt.  Tommy doesn't praise or criticize, as do many posters, with an obsession for being right.  He and Mike are so far above the majority, if not all other announcers, and it isn't close.

[vinnie]

KO's ceiling is second or third guy off the bench. Good complementary piece. I hope he gets there.

As for Tommy, he knows more about basketball than everyone on this board. That said, I feel he is an embarrassment as a color man on Celtics broadcasts and he really should retire.