Kelly Olynyk is soft.

[Eddie20]

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

While being "tough" is saved for players who can't shoot and/or have marginal offensive games (see Rondo, Perk, TA).

[aingeforthree]

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.

Still real early in the development.  People love grading this guy as a finished product, but I'm holding out for another couple of years.  He's got a chance to be real good, and he's got a skill set that is often tough to find in this league.

[Celtics18]

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.

Still real early in the development.  People love grading this guy as a finished product, but I'm holding out for another couple of years.  He's got a chance to be real good, and he's got a skill set that is often tough to find in this league.

This.

[ScoobyDoo]

I'm actually shocked with how down people are on Kelly Olynyk and that he comes off soft to so many.

So he's a second year big man, who in 24.6 minutes a game:
* Scores 11.3 pts/game (has had several much bigger games)
* Rebounds at a 5.5 per game clip
* shoots over 50% from the floor, excluding 3's (36%)
* Is near  a leader ins teals and blocks per game for the team as well.
* easily one of best passers, including our guards

The kid has made "major" strides year over year on his body, actually looking someone cut this year compared to last. He works his ass off and throws his body around in the paint.

He's an "very skilled" big man -there are few other big men in the league in the league as skilled as him as passers and ball handlers. Has anyone watched some of his drives to the hoop?

To me there is a "huge" difference between being soft and being strong enough to throw people around in the paint. Kelly Olynyk is not soft at all to me, he just isn't quite strong enough to really hold his own yet in the paint, but it's not for lack of trying. And based on what he's done with his body from last year to this, as well as his coinciding aggression level from last year to this, I'm more than happy with his progress.

Kelly does not shy away from contact at all - he actually takes some pretty good shots out there and keeps coming back for more - that's toughness. He just needs to get stronger so he's more often than not the one giving some shots.

I think the sky's the ceiling for this kid - he' just needs to keep working on his body the "exact" same way he did from last year to this year. The fact that he actually put in the work he needs is a sign of toughness - mental toughness and commitment. Along those lines you know who is actually a pilsbury doughboy as far as softness goes? Jared Sullinger? Three years, hardly a change in his body... If that guy had Kendrick Perkins work ethic, or Olynyk's for that matter, he'd look like Karl Malone already. Instead he look "just about the same as he did when he entered the league..."           

[ScoobyDoo]

And I like Sullinger a lot, as much as I like Olynyk. Kelly just isn't soft to me, he just needs to keep getting stronger - there's a big difference there.

Kelly isn't soft mentally he just needs to keep getting stronger - there's a big difference.

His inconsistency and passivity on offense will also work itself out with time and inexperience and in my opinion should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness or softness - it's inexperience which often limits guys aggression levels offensively. It's o different ha with Smart right now. As this year and next year progress I expect we will see him attacking the rim more and more.   

[Evantime34]

Kelly is what the new NBA is all about, a perimeter skilled, big man. If he's soft because he doesn't score in the post, then the league is soft in general because less post offense is happening now.

Personally I think Olynyk is a better long term prospect than Sullinger because his play style fits more with the modern NBA and he has a higher upside (even though he's older, he was essentially a blank slate as a post player while Sullinger is pretty similar to what he was in college, also KO has already improved his body and Sully looks like he never will)

[Eja117]

Subconsciously it's hard for me to think of a smiling Canadian with hippie hair as hard core. It just is.
Not sure if he's trying to sorta fly under the radar on not.
If he gets some sort of military style hair cut. Possibly a tattoo. Start dating a girl that means trouble. Get a truck or something. Put some photos of himself on line at a firing range and a bowling alley. Keep working out

These soft allegations would go away a bit

[dreamgreen]

I wish he would take it to the basket stronger but other than that I'm not seeing "soft". He gets some awful calls against him and plays defense with his hands to much, which I assume he will learn not to. IMO it's just a confidence issue, once he gets past that he should be a very good player.

[Jonny CC]

I don't care if he's soft.  Not everyone can be like Rick Mahorn or some other hammerhead....and I don't expect him to be that type of player.   

[D Dub]

Ya know two guys who aren't soft?

Gorgui Deing and Rudy Gobert.


Sure hope Danny is doing his homework this time around...

[D.o.s.]

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

While being "tough" is saved for players who can't shoot and/or have marginal offensive games (see Rondo, Perk, TA).

Maybe. I think it has more to do with a willingness to seek out/refuse to shy away from contact, myself.

[PickNRoll]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI822HpKRIg

[footey]

Kelly is who he is.  Moments of greatness, separated by long stretches of weakness, tentativeness, indecisiveness.  His recent poor foul shooting reflects the lack of confidence he has of late. It also shows in his 3 point shot, which has gotten flatter, and its completion percentage has dropped.

Starting to doubt he is going to be more than he already is. He is 23, and while that is young, his motor and effort have been established, and can't recall a guy who suddenly became more driven and confident after that age. I'm sure others may have some good examples, which would be great to hear.

[celticsclay]

Kelly is who he is.  Moments of greatness, separated by long stretches of weakness, tentativeness, indecisiveness.  His recent poor foul shooting reflects the lack of confidence he has of late. It also shows in his 3 point shot, which has gotten flatter, and its completion percentage has dropped.

Starting to doubt he is going to be more than he already is. He is 23, and while that is young, his motor and effort have been established, and can't recall a guy who suddenly became more driven and confident after that age. I'm sure others may have some good examples, which would be great to hear.

Gerald green got it at like 27

[PickNRoll]

Kelly is who he is.  Moments of greatness, separated by long stretches of weakness, tentativeness, indecisiveness.  His recent poor foul shooting reflects the lack of confidence he has of late. It also shows in his 3 point shot, which has gotten flatter, and its completion percentage has dropped.

Starting to doubt he is going to be more than he already is. He is 23, and while that is young, his motor and effort have been established, and can't recall a guy who suddenly became more driven and confident after that age. I'm sure others may have some good examples, which would be great to hear.

Gerald green got it at like 27

Gerald Green specifically stands out in my mind as the latest bloomer I've seen in 30 years.