KO Rust or is he a Bust?

[Green-Bananas]

I know it’s only a couple games since his return from the sprained ankle.  Maybe I shouldn’t expect his timing to be in synch, game speed, RUST or whatever you want to call?  But, that’s not really the issue is it?

I like his hustle; I mean anyone can see he’s trying.  But I don’t see much improvement.  There was a short stretch this season, (before the injury) when he looked like he might be worth his draft position at 13.  And it was really just a flash.

IMO he plays soft.  More than once I’ve watched him stop for a missed pull up three when there was only one defender to beat.  I don’t buy this argument that he draws defenders away from the basket.  It’s pretty obvious he doesn’t.  He just doesn’t hit that shot consistently enough to pull defenders away.  He also missed two easy layups from Smart, in last night’s game because he was playing weak. 

At this point in his development I expect to see more aggressive play closer to the basket.  Use that big frame to take up space, gobble up rebounds, learn some low post moves, or get to the line.  If any of KO’s friends reads this post, do him a favor and tell him he’s playing like a girl.  “Hey KO, enough with the timid little rookie syndrome.  It’s your second year, grow a set!”

My head really wants to call him a BUST now.  But my heart keeps saying, “Give the kid a chance.”  Whatever, if it’s RUST he needs to grind it off and do what other NBA bigs are supposed to do.  Play closer to the rim, get rebounds, block shots and get to the line.  Let the SF, SG & PG’s jack up the threes, you get their misses.

[Cman]

Frankly I'm with you. I think we are trending more towards Bust. But I'll give him more time.

[coco]

More of a steal than a bust if you take into account the Draft Class and being taken at 13 instead of say....5th.

I mean, how much "worse" is he than say...MCW, Oledipo or Noel? I can't say, KO is so much worse.

So, if you were expecting a franchise player - then he is falling short, I understand.

If you were expecting a rotation guy, then I would call it a good pick.

Personally, I think he will stay in our rotation until we find something better. 

[bopna]

He is not a bust from where he was picked at. If he was a top 5 pick then perhaps yes, but he already is serviceable IMO, and his performance last night certainly was screaming RUST because he was out for a month for cryin out loud..getting his legs underneath him again. I expect to see around 12 pts/ 5 reb in the next couple of games for him.  He will come around again into shape.

So if Bradley comes back next week and goes something like 2-15, does that mean a bust?

[saltlover]

He is not a bust from where he was picked at. If he was a top 5 pick then perhaps yes, but he already is serviceable IMO, and his performance last night certainly was screaming RUST because he was out for a month for cryin out loud..getting his legs underneath him again. I expect to see around 12 pts/ 5 reb in the next couple of games for him.  He will come around again into shape.

So if Bradley comes back next week and goes something like 2-15, does that mean a bust?

No, it means that Danny never should have given him that contract and it's only going to get worse from here.  And it means he's probably untradeable, so we should give him and Olynyk to Sacramento for Cousins.

[Kuberski33]

I'm not much of a KO fan, but he really looked rusty to me last night.  Actually I'm real curious as to how he plays with Thomas.  I noticed they ran the pick and roll a few times and it was effective, save for KO's lack of finishing.  He's got a few traits that I don't like, but when healthy he generally finishes pretty well.

Was anyone surprised that he got more minutes than Zeller?

[Green-Bananas]

So if Bradley comes back next week and goes something like 2-15, does that mean a bust?

We know AB brings more to the table then just his FG%

[LHR]

I personally thought the offense ran much better when he was in the game last night. It helps having a good passing, high post big man.  Even if he's not a threat shooting the ball and he certainly wasn't last night.

Regardless, I'm not sure he's a fit of what this team is trying to do.  Moving forward, the energy that Bass and Jerebko provide, even though they're older, is just more akin to a successful second unit.  Not only that, that feistiness is becoming the identity of this team.  Olynyk doesn't really fit that mold.

I'll touch upon this in my column on CLNS Radio tomorrow. Lord knows I won't have anytime on the show tomorrow - with so many games.  Hah.  But I wouldn't mind seeing the Celts move on from both Olynyk and Sullinger this summer.

[rollie mass]

rust,rust ,rust-and just last week his ankle after practice was iffy-does anybody remember kelly when he first was getting court time last year and how he finished season-he may not be your cup of tea but far from a bust-now a bust would be drafting evan turner  number two, a bust is all of those GM's that didn't take isiah or that drafted rivers

[clover]

I personally thought the offense ran much better when he was in the game last night. It helps having a good passing, high post big man.  Even if he's not a threat shooting the ball and he certainly wasn't last night.

Regardless, I'm not sure he's a fit of what this team is trying to do.  Moving forward, the energy that Bass and Jerebko provide, even though they're older, is just more akin to a successful second unit.  Not only that, that feistiness is becoming the identity of this team.  Olynyk doesn't really fit that mold.

I'll touch upon this in my column on CLNS Radio tomorrow. Lord knows I won't have anytime on the show tomorrow - with so many games.  Hah.  But I wouldn't mind seeing the Celts move on from both Olynyk and Sullinger this summer.

Yes--it always does. And he's getting simultaneously bigger, stronger, and more active on D. Yeah, he's still learning, but he's a second year big still learning the center position.

I used to see him just as a stretch 4 playing out of position, but he's starting to look better as a C now too, and IMO he's unquestionably the best center on the team right now. I see him starting by the end of the year--perhaps with JJ at the 4.

[Evantime34]

Ko did look rusty last night 1/9 isn't a typical night for him. That being said, he was consistently in the right spot (whether it be in the pnr or spotting up).

If he had hit a normal percentage of his shots he scores 15 and this thread doesn't get created. Last night he clearly helped the offense which is why Stevens started him in the second half.

[SHAQATTACK]

Sure he is rusty and needing to regain confidence in his ankle .  That explains poor,shooting somewhat .

His lack of finishing effort at the rim is horrendous .....it's glaring .....

Your seven feet tall ,  tossing the ball lackadaisically at the rim with in two feet is really concerning.

His willingness to play correctly around the rim ,  effort to finish a play at the rim would cause me to,bench him FOREVER ......I don't think he d ever get out of my doghouse as a coach.

He has a good shooters touch from outside .

Everything else is totally screwed up when it comes to offense.

He hesitates every time he gets the ball......this is maddening .......catch and react is so slow ...so pretty much anything he does around the rim isn't going to,work .  He gives the defenders too easy time defending.

He has Zero skills with his back to the basket .

KO let's his man seal him off way too easy .

The lack of "nads" around the rim the most glaring to me.

He looks like a 14 year seven foot girl .  Playing like he is afraid he'll get cooties or something 


This young man may not be cut out for the NBA , if he doesn't tuff en up .

Right now ....I d trade him to move up in the draft.

[nopassbass]

He has had some great games this season. He had some good plays yesterday. They won. I like the direction this team is headed.

[rollie mass]

i thought kelly looked thin and tired when he got hurt,his shot had flattened and i think the trading of rondo and green and the disruptive changes of players took its toll -kelly looks like he put weight back on and is pushing bac kAnybody who has severely sprained their ankle knows how tentative and disruptive it is at first and he is 7ft and 250lbs-he wasn't leaving his feet rebounding at one point there were two many feet to come down on-

[positivitize]

It's always been confidence with KO. He'd just missed 18 games and I bet the game was moving a bit fast for his comfort level.

He was 1-9, but the shots he took were good shots, they just didn't fall in. It actually looked like there was a lid on the basket when KO shot cause he missed so many bunnies.

And he did what good players do when their shot isn't falling. He got to the line at a decent rate and concentrated on other aspects of his game. He'll have better games soon, and then Celticsblog will post a thread about how KO was a steal at 13.