KO...yes or no???

[PickNRoll]

A few months ago I had nearly given up on Olynyk.  Now, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  He's underdeveloped in a way similar to Gerald Green.  Even though Green has always been able to jump out of the gym, he's only recently come to terms with his limited lateral mobility.  He either spots up OR he drives (only) when he comes off a pick clean.  He rarely drives after facing up an opponent. His first step just isn't good enough, but it took him years to understand that.  He hasn't learned any NEW talents per se, but he understands his limits now and the results speak for themselves. He's aware of how matchups should impact his decisions.  I think KO faces a similar trajectory.  Should be fun to watch.

I never thought I'd see Kelly Olynyk compared to Gerald Green.

What do you mean? There has never been a player more like Gerald Green in the history of the Boston Celtics.

The comparison was more mental -- understanding your limits.  They're both a little knock-kneed too, which presents some similar problems for them.  That's where the comp ends.

So glad you said that I have been thinking about that, you must have been the same person who said that about Gerald Green years age. **** does that mean?

In medical terms, it's a condition where the lower legs are positioned at an outward angle.  i.e. When your knees are touching, your ankles are far apart.  Look at this link:  http://dxline.info/img/new_ail/knock-knees_2.jpg 

I'm using it in a more general sense, but you can see when Gerald Green runs that he's slightly knock-kneed.  The effect is limited lateral mobility and a slow first step.  Olynyk has it too, to a lesser degree.  He looks like he's always on the verge of falling down.  Compare to a guy like Sully who has excellent balance and a lower center of gravity.

[Phil125]

KO per36 rookie year  14.1 ppg  9.3 rebounds

Chris Bosh's per36 rookie year  12.3 ppg  8.0 rebounds

Now I doubt KO will become Chris Bosh, but I see a lot of similarities in their games.

[D.o.s.]

KO per36 rookie year  14.1 ppg  9.3 rebounds

Chris Bosh's per36 rookie year  12.3 ppg  8.0 rebounds

Now I doubt KO will become Chris Bosh, but I see a lot of similarities in their games.

When Olynyk was 22 per 36: 12.3 ppg, 8.0 rebounds, 6.1 personal fouls
When Bosh was 22 per 36: 21.4ppg, 10.0 rebounds, 2.2 personal fouls

Sorry, this personal fouls per 36 has really rung a chord.

[moiso]

A few months ago I had nearly given up on Olynyk.  Now, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  He's underdeveloped in a way similar to Gerald Green.  Even though Green has always been able to jump out of the gym, he's only recently come to terms with his limited lateral mobility.  He either spots up OR he drives (only) when he comes off a pick clean.  He rarely drives after facing up an opponent. His first step just isn't good enough, but it took him years to understand that.  He hasn't learned any NEW talents per se, but he understands his limits now and the results speak for themselves. He's aware of how matchups should impact his decisions.  I think KO faces a similar trajectory.  Should be fun to watch.

I never thought I'd see Kelly Olynyk compared to Gerald Green.

What do you mean? There has never been a player more like Gerald Green in the history of the Boston Celtics.

The comparison was more mental -- understanding your limits.  They're both a little knock-kneed too, which presents some similar problems for them.  That's where the comp ends.

So glad you said that I have been thinking about that, you must have been the same person who said that about Gerald Green years age. **** does that mean?

In medical terms, it's a condition where the lower legs are positioned at an outward angle.  i.e. When your knees are touching, your ankles are far apart.  Look at this link:  http://dxline.info/img/new_ail/knock-knees_2.jpg 

I'm using it in a more general sense, but you can see when Gerald Green runs that he's slightly knock-kneed.  The effect is limited lateral mobility and a slow first step.  Olynyk has it too, to a lesser degree.  He looks like he's always on the verge of falling down.  Compare to a guy like Sully who has excellent balance and a lower center of gravity.

Antoine Walker was super knock-kneed.  He had a quick first step though.

[Boris Badenov]

Looks like KO is a significantly better rebounder and passer, and also has a legitimate 3 point shot.  Also KO has much better ORTG / DRTG compared to Yi's horrible 98/112.

Yi is a .333 career three-point shooter. Also, I haven't found the BBRef ORTG/DRTG to be any useful, but that's just me.

In any case, all I wanted to point out is that having a handful of big scoring games doesn't really mean much -- especially on a god-awful team.

Looking at least at his rookie year numbers, he averaged 1 3 point attempt every other game, and he hit less than 30% of them.

You're right, though, plenty of rookies who have nice scoring nights playing for bad teams never amount to anything.

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

Also -- just because a guy (like Yi, or Morrison) didn't end up sticking around in the league doesn't mean he never had the skills or physical attributes to do it.  Each guy, I think, had the potential to become a useful role player, albeit a fairly limited one.  Neither guy realized that potential, for whatever reason.

I think that is a really good evaluation of where KO stands right now.

Here's to hoping he ends up doing well.

[rollie mass]

I remember kevim m when he started what an awkward runner  and physique he had-remember where ko played at little Gonzaga-between school and basketball and at that level they didn't concentrate on his defensive conditioning like he will this summer-bird ainge McHale parish Johnson---not exactly a poster for verticle leap,powerful physiques and blazing speed- I was coached by massinino and defense was his thing then and heart and intelligence are a huge factor along with defensive conditioning-ko has had to adjust to pros talent level, size, speed,referees,,travel,injuries and how many different point quards and combinations of forwards and with rondo coming back from injury all on a losing team-would red have liked ko, would bird have liked ko-everything about ko says there will be personal improvement then add in  a team that is more consistent and led by rondo-a smart ,hustling ,7footer that can handle the ball,  pass, shoot and only improve-been fun to watch but i'll never forget mchale bird parish and ainge collection and what they accomplished without being prototypes 

[D.o.s.]

Not that I disagree with you, rollie, but I gotta say the constant misuse of the word "prototypical" by the sports universe kills me

[kozlodoev]

It's not about having a diverse skill set, though. It's about being able to do at least one thing well enough to stay in the NBA.

. . . if your ceiling is that of a role playing specialist, which I don't believe Kelly's is.

I believe that even NBA players that are not role playing specialists are able to do at least one thing well enough.

[D.o.s.]

It's not about having a diverse skill set, though. It's about being able to do at least one thing well enough to stay in the NBA.

. . . if your ceiling is that of a role playing specialist, which I don't believe Kelly's is.

I believe that even NBA players that are not role playing specialists are able to do at least one thing well enough.

[TBreezy]

I remember kevim m when he started what an awkward runner  and physique he had-remember where ko played at little Gonzaga-between school and basketball and at that level they didn't concentrate on his defensive conditioning like he will this summer-bird ainge McHale parish Johnson---not exactly a poster for verticle leap,powerful physiques and blazing speed- I was coached by massinino and defense was his thing then and heart and intelligence are a huge factor along with defensive conditioning-ko has had to adjust to pros talent level, size, speed,referees,,travel,injuries and how many different point quards and combinations of forwards and with rondo coming back from injury all on a losing team-would red have liked ko, would bird have liked ko-everything about ko says there will be personal improvement then add in  a team that is more consistent and led by rondo-a smart ,hustling ,7footer that can handle the ball,  pass, shoot and only improve-been fun to watch but i'll never forget mchale bird parish and ainge collection and what they accomplished without being prototypes

Wait you were coached by Massimino?  What are the details? I was a major Nova fan through the late 80s through to essentially the end of the kittles era.

[Tr1boy]

how did KO do last night?? the only part of the highlight i saw , was him poking Plumlee's eyes

i guess thats one way to help the team

[Tr1boy]

Kelly Olynyk is just a rookie but already Tommy Heinsohn can see the potential.

"I think he’s going to be a star," says Heinsohn. "He has got such a terrific basketball IQ. He really has a sense of how to play the game."

Like any rookie, Olynyk has his faults. Heinsohn says if he's really going to excel, Olynyk needs to work on his big-man game. He needs to do a better job of protecting the basket and providing the big-man presence on offense.

"All the rest of his game is way above par," says Heinsohn.

I wonder what would happen if Olynyk can get up to 260-265 pounds. If that would really help his inside game or cut into his mobility and make things worse

[hwangjini_1]

Kelly Olynyk is just a rookie but already Tommy Heinsohn can see the potential.

"I think he’s going to be a star," says Heinsohn. "He has got such a terrific basketball IQ. He really has a sense of how to play the game."

Like any rookie, Olynyk has his faults. Heinsohn says if he's really going to excel, Olynyk needs to work on his big-man game. He needs to do a better job of protecting the basket and providing the big-man presence on offense.

"All the rest of his game is way above par," says Heinsohn.

I wonder what would happen if Olynyk can get up to 260-265 pounds. If that would really help his inside game or cut into his mobility and make things worse

this is a very good question. what underlies the question is what sort of player the celtics want olly to be.

do the celtics want him to play mostly under the basket, root out rebounds, and get put back points?

or, would the celtics prefer him to be more away from the basket, shooting and cutting to the basket against other bigs?

right now, i think his skill set is closer to the latter of the two. i also think he will be the better over all player if he does not bulk up. rather, if he can simply build up muscles and be stronger without bulking up to 260ish i think he will still be a good rebounder and still have his offensive game.

[clover]

Kelly Olynyk is just a rookie but already Tommy Heinsohn can see the potential.

"I think he’s going to be a star," says Heinsohn. "He has got such a terrific basketball IQ. He really has a sense of how to play the game."

Like any rookie, Olynyk has his faults. Heinsohn says if he's really going to excel, Olynyk needs to work on his big-man game. He needs to do a better job of protecting the basket and providing the big-man presence on offense.

"All the rest of his game is way above par," says Heinsohn.

I wonder what would happen if Olynyk can get up to 260-265 pounds. If that would really help his inside game or cut into his mobility and make things worse

this is a very good question. what underlies the question is what sort of player the celtics want olly to be.

do the celtics want him to play mostly under the basket, root out rebounds, and get put back points?

or, would the celtics prefer him to be more away from the basket, shooting and cutting to the basket against other bigs?

right now, i think his skill set is closer to the latter of the two. i also think he will be the better over all player if he does not bulk up. rather, if he can simply build up muscles and be stronger without bulking up to 260ish i think he will still be a good rebounder and still have his offensive game.

I agree. It's too bad Sully has tailed off in the second half of the year here, because I would have liked to see him able to anchor a trade for Asik or some such. My hope against hope is that CI can somehow put himself on Perk's early-career improvement projectory and be a complementary tough-man center to the C's new shooters on the wing, KO, and Rondo.

[Tr1boy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4LCaTuF9Ls

Nice game by KO vs his idol last night