Steven Adams

[tarheelsxxiii]

... but we moved up for Olynyk? Please make sense of this for me... I'm thinking it is not possible.

[saltlover]

What's your point?  He's a rotational defensive big.  No offensive game to speak of.  He's a foul magnet/interior bruiser who will get some rebounds and alter some shots because he's big.  He's better than Ryan Hollins, but I'd take Olynyk over Adams again without pause.  Adams is nice because he gives the Thunder the same thing as shell-of-his-former-self Perk for 20% the cost, but don't fool yourself into thinking he'll ever turn into 2008-2010 Perk, because he won't.  He fills his role nicely on the Thunder, and it was a very successful pick by them, but the Thunder have a) the best scorer in the game, b) a second elite scorer, and c) the best shot-blocker in the NBA.  His job, and Perk's job, is to help control the paint.  They both do that, but it's a narrow role.

[kiwiceltic]

I'm not sure what your point is either... If you mean that Steven Adams went 1 spot higher than KO in last years draft, why did the Celtics not trade up for him?
The simple answer to that is that Adams was/is incredibly raw. He had 1 below par year at Pitt and had only been playing the game for a very short amount of time previously. I'm guessing Ainge didn't wanna risk another pick on a potential Fab Melo 2.0.

As it turns out Adams has come on a lot this season (most people picked him for a couple of years in the D-league), but as saltlover said, he is lucky enough to be playing with Ibaka KD and Westbrook, and he has a few skilled vets to learn from.
I think Adams could become a pretty good center in the NBA, especially if he continues developing at his current rate. but he is still a long way off being the answer at C for the Celtics, though it would be kinda nice having him pair up with Sully and KO in our rotation

[pokeKingCurtis]

Think Zaza Pachulia or a rich man's Jason Collins.

Despite that, I was, and still am, quite high on Adams but I don't think much of whiffing the pick anymore. Olynyk has impressed me too much.

Plus didn't Adams get drafted even earlier than Olynyk?

[kiwiceltic]

If I remember correctly Adams went at 12, KO at 13?

Yep. I had really wanted Adams, wasn't considering KO at all.

But I warmed up to KO as soon as Danny picked him, and I think he'll turn out just fine.

[SHAQATTACK]

He plays with out fear, boxes out anybody ,  Tim Duncan let Adams push him around inside , the Spurs were soft in the paint.   Adams made a huge diff in last nights game.  It was a young Perk like presence ,  he is no patsy .

KO is far more skilled ball handler, shooter, , but at present lacks the confidence Adams has on court .....like somebody mentioned KO was a deer in the headlights , where Adams rolled up his sleeves balled his fists and jumped right into the fray.

[footey]

He plays with out fear, boxes out anybody ,  Tim Duncan let Adams push him around inside , the Spurs were soft in the paint.   Adams made a huge diff in last nights game.  It was a young Perk like presence ,  he is no patsy .

KO is far more skilled ball handler, shooter, , but at present lacks the confidence Adams has on court .....like somebody mentioned KO was a deer in the headlights , where Adams rolled up his sleeves balled his fists and jumped right into the fray.

That's an unfair description of KO the last 2 months of the season.  Became more confident, and it showed in his numbers.

[Celtics4ever]

Nothing to cry about.   Not like he is split milk.

[ACF]

He plays with out fear, boxes out anybody ,  Tim Duncan let Adams push him around inside , the Spurs were soft in the paint.   Adams made a huge diff in last nights game.  It was a young Perk like presence ,  he is no patsy .

Here's why:


http://m.newsok.com/okc-thunder-rugby-siblings-taught-steven-adams-how-to-play-tough/article/3923514

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Nothing to cry about.   Not like he is split milk.

lololol

[moiso]

I'm happy with KO but I really like Steven Adams.  He has come a long way in a short time.  I love his toughness, like his shot blocking and scoring around the rim.  Lets not forget that he's 20 years old.  He has several years of improving to do.

[jambr380]

Steven Adams is decent, but I don't see him getting much better or anything. He has been put in a very fortunate position and is doing well in it. If he were asked to do anything [at all] offensively, I think he would struggle. It is nice to see a young rookie doing well on a championship caliber team, but he was a lottery pick - chosen ahead of our own Kelly Olynyk, who frankly, has a lot more potential for bigger things in this league (and also more potential to flame out, but am hoping very much that does not happen).

[knuckleballer]

Adams was taken before Olynyk.  Who's to say OKC would have accepted the same trade offer that we used to get Oly?

[moiso]

Steven Adams is decent, but I don't see him getting much better or anything. He has been put in a very fortunate position and is doing well in it. If he were asked to do anything [at all] offensively, I think he would struggle. It is nice to see a young rookie doing well on a championship caliber team, but he was a lottery pick - chosen ahead of our own Kelly Olynyk, who frankly, has a lot more potential for bigger things in this league (and also more potential to flame out, but am hoping very much that does not happen).

Strange that you don't think a 20 year old will improve.

[saltlover]

Steven Adams is decent, but I don't see him getting much better or anything. He has been put in a very fortunate position and is doing well in it. If he were asked to do anything [at all] offensively, I think he would struggle. It is nice to see a young rookie doing well on a championship caliber team, but he was a lottery pick - chosen ahead of our own Kelly Olynyk, who frankly, has a lot more potential for bigger things in this league (and also more potential to flame out, but am hoping very much that does not happen).

Strange that you don't think a 20 year old will improve.

I don't either in a lot of ways.  He should get better defensively, no question.  Probably will get better at setting screens.  Maybe his rebounding positioning will improve, but it's not bad currently, so maybe it won't.  But he's probably not going to develop a back-to-the-basket game because the Thunder don't need him too, nor much of a jump shot.  I expect he'll improve on most of what he currently does well, but not add in anything to his game that transforms him as a player.  He's a useful 1-way defensive player with an enforcer attitude on a team that can protect him offensively, but doesn't mind if he's chippy to keep the chippiness away from KD and Westbrook.  Again, a good player for that team, but not a good fit everywhere.  We don't need that skillset on our team any more than OKC needed a stretch four with good ball skills and passing like Olynyk.  (Okay, maybe we need that skillset a little more thank OKC needs Olynyk's because our team has more needs, but we were 25th in offensive efficiency, and that number would have been even worse with Adams in place of Olynyk, so we need Olynyk more.)