Scal says KO should play the three.

[Rondo9]

I'm trying to think if there's any precedent for a guy with these sort of physical limitations blossoming into a solid starter.  Drawing a blank thus far.

How about a versatile offensive skillset.

[PickNRoll]

I'm trying to think if there's any precedent for a guy with these sort of physical limitations blossoming into a solid starter.  Drawing a blank thus far.

How about a versatile offensive skillset.

Right, but I'm trying to think of a specific guy who survived in the NBA despite being this slow and having no post game.  Maybe Channing Frye? 

Would we say that Olynyk is "versatile" at this point? 

[guava_wrench]

SCal should know.  They're kinda similar players. 

I think the risk is that you don't have enough ball handlers or facilitators.  Zeller, Sully, and KO really labor putting the ball on the floor.  If you run out a lineup of Smart, Bradley, KO, Sully and Zeller you would have zero playmakers.

It also feels like KO would get torched by quick 3's, but on this point alone I'd be willing to experiment.  You just never know how things like this play out.  They're all smart players.  Maybe KO finds a way to use his length against 3's?

I would argue that Kelly is currently one of the top two ball handlers on the team.

Nelson, Turner, Smart are all twice as good.

I'm not a fan of Turner's ball handling. He loses the ball a lot trying to make moves.

[Kuberski33]

I'm trying to think if there's any precedent for a guy with these sort of physical limitations blossoming into a solid starter.  Drawing a blank thus far.

It's why I think he's a career reserve.  In time he may get a little bit stronger and with experience he could get to the point where he can hold his own defensively against 4's and 5's for certain amounts of time,but you can't win with him starting.  He's too poor of an athlete. 

He can be a decent bench player though.  His offensive skills are good and figure to improve over time.

[Celtics18]

Kelly's too slow to play the three.

Possibly.  His lateral movement trying to stay in front of perimeter players is probably his biggest weakness right now.

I'd like to see him given more opportunity to work on improving that skill.

Lateral quickness isn't like shooting where you get better through practice, it's either you have it or you don't, and dat billy goat just doesn't have it, imo.  I mean, sure, he can continue to work out, watch film, and improve his stamina, etc., but there's only so much you can do.  Plus, his severe lack of lateral quickness wouldn't be the only thing that prevents him from being able to guard 3s - it's his lack of a wingspan, so now, not only can he not move his feet to stay with a guy off of a switch or whatever, but his t-rex arms won't make anyone think twice about driving around him or just shooting it because Olynyk is not a shot blocker.  What a great pick by Ainge (sarcasm).   The only way that you can possibly make up for a being as slow as he is is if he had lightning quick hands like Chris Mullin, or, to a lesser extent, Scott Wedman, but he doesn't have that, either.  Meanwhile, I'm still waiting to see these supposed 'world-beating' post moves that he has, and no, fadeaways don't count.  I mean real moves with his back to the basket.  How in the world did he ever end up with 23 points tonight, anyway, lol?   Sigh.

Btw, if Scal really said that (because I must have missed it), then I'm not taking anything he says even the least bit seriously from now on, lol.   I think his phrase of the night was, "build out to shooters," lol.   Ugh.

I disagree.  I think you can improve how well you move side to side defensively, and how well you learn to react to where the offensive player is going and get in position.

I've seen it happen. 

[Celtics18]

SCal should know.  They're kinda similar players. 

I think the risk is that you don't have enough ball handlers or facilitators.  Zeller, Sully, and KO really labor putting the ball on the floor.  If you run out a lineup of Smart, Bradley, KO, Sully and Zeller you would have zero playmakers.

It also feels like KO would get torched by quick 3's, but on this point alone I'd be willing to experiment.  You just never know how things like this play out.  They're all smart players.  Maybe KO finds a way to use his length against 3's?

I would argue that Kelly is currently one of the top two ball handlers on the team.

Nelson, Turner, Smart are all twice as good.

I disagree on Smart, wasn't counting Nelson as he hasn't been playing, but, yes, I think Evan Turner is our best ball handler.

[hondobird33]

Depending on who else is on the floor SCAL is HALF RIGHT.  KO can play the 3 on O and 4 on D.  I like him as a true stretch 4 so my preference is a 4 on both ends of the floor since he brings out the defending PF further out on the floor leaving room for drives to the hoops and/or center low post play. 

When we had Green it made more sense to possibly play KO at 3 on O and 4 on D since Green could defend the 4 position.  I don't think Crowder has enough height.

Who on Celts can play 4 on O while defending the 3 on D? 
   

[slamtheking]

it doesn't really matter where olynyk plays, he can't defend at any position. but scal is right he needs to be the facilitator and a focal point on offense. it's the only way to justify playing him at all.

He really is this generation's version of Michael Smith.  Ugh.

having seen Michael Smith, KO is much better.  Smith was slow and showed nothing.   KO is a better passer, shooter and ball handler

[wiley]

Depending on who else is on the floor SCAL is HALF RIGHT.  KO can play the 3 on O and 4 on D.  I like him as a true stretch 4 so my preference is a 4 on both ends of the floor since he brings out the defending PF further out on the floor leaving room for drives to the hoops and/or center low post play. 

When we had Green it made more sense to possibly play KO at 3 on O and 4 on D since Green could defend the 4 position.  I don't think Crowder has enough height.

Who on Celts can play 4 on O while defending the 3 on D? 
 

Kevon Looney 

[footey]

SCal should know.  They're kinda similar players. 

I think the risk is that you don't have enough ball handlers or facilitators.  Zeller, Sully, and KO really labor putting the ball on the floor.  If you run out a lineup of Smart, Bradley, KO, Sully and Zeller you would have zero playmakers.

It also feels like KO would get torched by quick 3's, but on this point alone I'd be willing to experiment.  You just never know how things like this play out.  They're all smart players.  Maybe KO finds a way to use his length against 3's?

KO is a much better ball handler than Scal.  They are nothing alike.  Scal was also a good defender.

[footey]

Yeah, I agree.  I always thought that Olynyk has a similar skill set as Larry Bird, who was played small forward. Now I am not saying he is nearly as good as Bird, but he is similar in terms of his ball handling and passing skills, and outside shooting, looks to find the open player. I think it's a good observation by Scal. I thought he said Kelly should take more 3's, not play the 3. LOL

at least get it right..LOL

[footey]

SCal should know.  They're kinda similar players. 

I think the risk is that you don't have enough ball handlers or facilitators.  Zeller, Sully, and KO really labor putting the ball on the floor.  If you run out a lineup of Smart, Bradley, KO, Sully and Zeller you would have zero playmakers.

It also feels like KO would get torched by quick 3's, but on this point alone I'd be willing to experiment.  You just never know how things like this play out.  They're all smart players.  Maybe KO finds a way to use his length against 3's?

I would argue that Kelly is currently one of the top two ball handlers on the team.

Nelson, Turner, Smart are all twice as good.

wrong wrong wrong

[footey]

I'm trying to think if there's any precedent for a guy with these sort of physical limitations blossoming into a solid starter.  Drawing a blank thus far.

Larry Bird. Wasn't exactly a great athlete, physically. 

He had a pretty decent career, as I recall.

[moiso]

I'm trying to think if there's any precedent for a guy with these sort of physical limitations blossoming into a solid starter.  Drawing a blank thus far.

Larry Bird. Wasn't exactly a great athlete, physically. 

He had a pretty decent career, as I recall.

Bird had incredible balance and coordination that Kelly lacks, as well as those lightening quick hands that someone else mentioned.  It seems like Kelly stumbles and falls down quite a bit when he drives.  Also Bird was much stronger.  He could bang and wouldn't lose his position easily when someone else banged him.

[PickNRoll]

SCal should know.  They're kinda similar players. 

I think the risk is that you don't have enough ball handlers or facilitators.  Zeller, Sully, and KO really labor putting the ball on the floor.  If you run out a lineup of Smart, Bradley, KO, Sully and Zeller you would have zero playmakers.

It also feels like KO would get torched by quick 3's, but on this point alone I'd be willing to experiment.  You just never know how things like this play out.  They're all smart players.  Maybe KO finds a way to use his length against 3's?

I would argue that Kelly is currently one of the top two ball handlers on the team.

Nelson, Turner, Smart are all twice as good.

wrong wrong wrong

If you think Olynyk is a better ball handler than Jameer Nelson, there's nothing I can say.  Pressey is far better.  Young and Crowder might be as well.