All Sullinger needs to do is get to the line more

[TheFlex]

Even stars have nights during which their shots aren't falling. There's a reason, however, why stars can shoot 4-12 while still netting 15-20 points.

The only thing missing from Sullinger's game right now is the recognition of the importance of free throws. The most consistent scoring weapons always seek out contact and try to get to the line, especially on nights where their field goals aren't going down. If Sullinger can begin to do that, I believe he's an All-Star.

This is not like saying "All Olynyk needs to do is add five inches to his vertical and he'll be able to block a lot more shots and be an All-Star." Sullinger has the size, body control, ball-handling ability, court vision and BBIQ/instinct needed to find contact and draw fouls. If he can recognize a cold shooting night early on in the game and try to get to the line 5-10 times, this kid will be a special force on the low block as well as facilitating the offense at the top of the key.

[GranTur]

As an undersized, low-vertical player, he's not gonna get to the line a lot on offense despite the fact that he uses his girth and skill so well.

Sully will never consistently draw fouls unless he becomes a faster player.

[TheFlex]

As an undersized, low-vertical player, he's not gonna get to the line a lot on offense despite the fact that he uses his girth and skill so well.

Sully will never consistently draw fouls unless he becomes a faster player.

I disagree. Paul Pierce is example A. You can get to the line with strength, body control, and hesitation/change of speed. Sully has all of those things imo.

[GreenWarrior]

he ain't getting to the line shootin 3's. anyone that fouls him out there is an idiot.

[moiso]

As an undersized, low-vertical player, he's not gonna get to the line a lot on offense despite the fact that he uses his girth and skill so well.

Sully will never consistently draw fouls unless he becomes a faster player.

Leon Powe was always at the line.  You get to the line by attacking the rim.

[Celtics4ever]

Sully will never consistently draw fouls unless he becomes a faster player.

They have this thing called a shot fake that relies on hand speed not foot speed.    If your really tricky you let the opposing big block your first shot and then shot fake the next few times and watch the fouls sprout as once a big gets a block he wants more.

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

he ain't getting to the line shootin 3's. anyone that fouls him out there is an idiot.

  TP

[BudweiserCeltic]

he ain't getting to the line shootin 3's. anyone that fouls him out there is an idiot.

Meh, he only took 2 threes last night (discounting the last one which was a set-up play at the end of the game with .6 left).

This fascination with Sullinger shooting 3s is a bit comical right now. Call me when he's shooting 8 a game.

[Celtics4ever]

Meh, he only took 2 threes last night (discounting the last one which was a set-up play at the end of the game with .6 left).

He took that shot so why discount it?   That is sillier than the fascination with the threes.   If we wanted to make that shot, I would have picked Thornton to take it.

The game has changed, Bird shot about 2 per game and he was a way better shooting than Sully.  Guys take more of them now and the game has changed.     

It is true, that you do not draw many fouls out there.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Meh, he only took 2 threes last night (discounting the last one which was a set-up play at the end of the game with .6 left).

He took that shot so why discount it?   That is sillier than the fascination with the threes.   If we wanted to make that shot, I would have picked Thornton to take it.

The game has changed, Bird shot about 2 per game and he was a way better shooting than Sully.  Guys take more of them now and the game has changed.     

It is true, that you do not draw many fouls out there.

Because that was the play, we were down three... we HAD to take a 3, so it's not really relevant. And with .6 remaining there wasn't any other option than to take the shot when he touched it. It's like having a player shoot from the half court because time ran out and use that number to say how bad he shot throughout the game.

[D.o.s.]

He wasn't having any luck drawing fouls when he was under the basket either, though.

[Celtics4ever]

He still took it, period.  It affects his stats and the game results.

It's like having a player shoot from the half court because time ran out and use that number to say how bad he shot throughout the game.

You are aware that official stats still record these shots?   That is why some guys don't take them.  Nowhere did I say he shot bad throughout the game, so that is moot here and no one in the thread said that.  However, I will address it here.   He shot 2-11, 2-10 in Budweiser World, even without shooting that shot he shot bad..   Everyone has off  shooting bad nights occasionally and it is preseason of a long season.  But a shot is a shot, therefore relevant.

I have been a harsh critic of him shooting threes but I have seen some improvement and I hope it is for real.  I am not blaming him for taking the shot, the ball was in his hands and there is something in his makeup that makes him want to take those shots.   I have seen it in other games try to be the man.   You need guys who take those shots. 

I can see your point, but I think all shots that make into the box score are relevant and disagree amicably with you.

[BudweiserCeltic]

He wasn't having any luck drawing fouls when he was under the basket either, though.

I thought the refs were particularly bad last night with how they called the game, particularly in the fouls department. You had offensive players hooking defenders and then calling fouls on the defender, offensive players pushing off in exaggerated manners multiple times and not calling for the offensive foul, etc. throughout the whole game.

I remember Sully getting hammered down low, I think it was off penetration, and he didn't get the call. So yes, the ref's whistle is quite a significant factor.

[BudweiserCeltic]

He still took it, period.  It affects his stats and the game results.

It's like having a player shoot from the half court because time ran out and use that number to say how bad he shot throughout the game.

You are aware that official stats still record these shots?   That is why some guys don't take them.  Nowhere did I say he shot bad throughout the game, so that is moot here and no one in the thread said that.  However, I will address it here.   He shot 2-11, 2-10 in Budweiser World, even without shooting that shot he shot bad..   Everyone has off  shooting bad nights occasionally and it is preseason of a long season.  But a shot is a shot, therefore relevant.

I have been a harsh critic of him shooting threes but I have seen some improvement and I hope it is for real.  I am not blaming him for taking the shot, the ball was in his hands and there is something in his makeup that makes him want to take those shots.   I have seen it in other games try to be the man.   You need guys who take those shots. 

I can see your point, but I think all shots that make into the box score are relevant and disagree amicably with you.

I know official stats record it, but it's also why you don't got solely by stats when analyze a player. It would be foolish to do so. Context matters, situationals matter.

The point is, that the last shot is not representative of how he shoots throughout the course of a game. It's not a game to game situation, so to me it's irrelevant when considering how much Sully shoots.

Stats need sample size and it normalizes in the end, but when discussing one particular game, that one shot has more significant value.

[D.o.s.]

He wasn't having any luck drawing fouls when he was under the basket either, though.

I thought the refs were particularly bad last night with how they called the game, particularly in the fouls department. You had offensive players hooking defenders and then calling fouls on the defender, offensive players pushing off in exaggerated manners multiple times and not calling for the offensive foul, etc. throughout the whole game.

I remember Sully getting hammered down low, I think it was off penetration, and he didn't get the call. So yes, the ref's whistle is quite a significant factor.

From my recollection they started off very whistle friendly and then eased up as the game went on, so by the time players were getting tired enough to start making mistakes they weren't getting the same calls as they were when they were baiting the refs into ticky-tack fouls.