Kelly Olynyk is soft.

[Celtics18]

Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, and Lamarcus Aldridge are among some notable bigs in the NBA who at points earlier in their careers have dealt with the "soft" label.  I even remember Tim Duncan being accused of being soft earlier in his career. 

I don't know if this label was ever fair to any of these top notch NBA big men.  I do know that they share games that are more based on skill and finesse than on physically overpowering the opposition. 

I also suggest that "toughness" is a trait that can be developed.  I don't believe it's as finite a quality as one's pure athletic ability.  While perhaps the softness label was always a bit unfair to the above players, it seems likely that they have in fact all been toughened up some by years of battling night in and night out against big, strong, athletic NBA bigs.

Based on the belief that NBA big men can and do get tougher after years of doing battle on the interior in the NBA, I have developed a theory that one of the main reasons that Danny has yet to get a rim protector or an interior tough guy to help protect the young front line of Olynyk and Sully is that he doesn't want them to be protected.  He wants to play them minutes at the center position to give them a crash course in toughness.

Hopefully the strategy pays off.  When Kelly Olynyk eventually is the starting power forward for the Boston Celtics' next contender, it will be as a finesse, skilled, offensively inclined, stretch four.  I am hoping that his early years being forced to play the bulk of his minutes at the center position against big, strong grown men will help make him a tougher player when he reaches his full potential.

[D.o.s.]

Soft is usually a euphemism for "has range on his jumper and doesn't play in the low post."

I'd like to believe that Olynyk is called soft because he takes his moisturizing very seriously.

[Celtics18]

Soft is usually a euphemism for "has range on his jumper and doesn't play in the low post."

I'd like to believe that Olynyk is called soft because he takes his moisturizing very seriously.

Kelly has naturally soft skin.  He doesn't need any fancy moisturizers. 

[Fred Roberts]

Man - It would be great if Kelly can continue getting tougher and better. Honestly, I'm having doubts this year but let's see what he can do.

[clover]

Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, and Lamarcus Aldridge are among some notable bigs in the NBA who at points earlier in their careers have dealt with the "soft" label.  I even remember Tim Duncan being accused of being soft earlier in his career. 

I don't know if this label was ever fair to any of these top notch NBA big men.  I do know that they share games that are more based on skill and finesse than on physically overpowering the opposition. 

I also suggest that "toughness" is a trait that can be developed.  I don't believe it's as finite a quality as one's pure athletic ability.  While perhaps the softness label was always a bit unfair to the above players, it seems likely that they have in fact all been toughened up some by years of battling night in and night out against big, strong, athletic NBA bigs.

Based on the belief that NBA big men can and do get tougher after years of doing battle on the interior in the NBA, I have developed a theory that one of the main reasons that Danny has yet to get a rim protector or an interior tough guy to help protect the young front line of Olynyk and Sully is that he doesn't want them to be protected.  He wants to play them minutes at the center position to give them a crash course in toughness.

Hopefully the strategy pays off.  When Kelly Olynyk eventually is the starting power forward for the Boston Celtics' next contender, it will be as a finesse, skilled, offensively inclined, stretch four.  I am hoping that his early years being forced to play the bulk of his minutes at the center position against big, strong grown men will help make him a tougher player when he reaches his full potential.

Great post, Celtics18.

Yeah, KO is soft, still learning how to play down low, and hopefully will get better. What's interesting is that it doesn't affect his ability to finish at the rim--he shoots a great percentage at less than 3 feet.

I think a fair amount of it has to do with how hard he still has to work not to foul. As his technique improves, that'll be less of an issue.

[billysan]

I don't think Kelly is afraid to mix it up inside. I just don't think he knows how. The guy still has a guard/facilitator mentality on offense.

I still chuckle to remember when Shaq  called Bosh ' the Rupaul' of NBA big men. One of the funniest Shaq quotes ever IMO.

[billysan]

Also, rather that crash course in toughness come from Clifford Ray. Or even Perk if he would sign cheap. He could show them and Zeller in practice. Teach them the scowl.

[rollie mass]

Are you guys blind -KO has been toughening up ,just look back at last year ,the kid lives in the gym now. By next season playing with marcus inspires, i watched him during clippers game and he was trying lateraly-he will get stronger and bulkier but will always be limited by arm length-now that rondo /green are gone i have watched him experiment offensively off the dribble-interesting project olynck-watch him initiate a forearm or push--progress

[droopdog7]

All those players are SIGNIFICANTLY more talented than KO.

[Rosco917]

I can't see him as toughening up, or I can't imagine him with a scowl. That would be funny.

At times he may look soft, when in reality he is just slow to react to the surrounding action. Kelly doesn't need to get "stronger and bulkier"

Kelly's problem is, he has lead legs.

[PickNRoll]

When the ball caroms off the rim and Olynyk is jostling for position with [insert opposing big], I know he's not coming down with the ball.  If he does, he might get stripped.  If he's not stripped and takes it back up, he's getting his shot blocked or losing the ball in some inexplicable loss of balance.

That's soft.  And I like Olynyk.

[Celtics4ever]

I though he was very soft coming out of college.   I have seen some improvement in this regard this year but he has a long ways to go.   Didn't he stand up to KG once earlier in the year.   He needs some more work in the weight room.

[PickNRoll]

I can't see him as toughening up, or I can't imagine him with a scowl. That would be funny.

At times he may look soft, when in reality he is just slow to react to the surrounding action. Kelly doesn't need to get "stronger and bulkier"

Kelly's problem is, he has lead legs.

Agree with this.  Zero burst and poor balance manifests as soft.

[TheTruthFot18]

All those players are SIGNIFICANTLY more talented than KO.

They have also been around long enough to lessen the soft label (or completely get rid of it), have been on rebuilding (for development) as well as championship caliber teams, and were drafted much higher than KO thus were expected to do much more. I'd say he's doing fine and is still developing. If it makes anyone feel better, he might be a rich mans Bargnani with his shooting and lack of strength down low.

[slamtheking]

now THIS guy is soft.  KO's not quite that bad