KO Rust or is he a Bust?

[Eja117]

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.

You can't say KO is so much worse than MCW or Oladipo? Wow.

[Eja117]

We got our hopes up. He's a fine backup energy guy. He'll probably replace Bass or something. 

Not a great rebounder or defender. Kinda soft. A stretch four.  He's just sorta competent. Not a bust. We just got our hopes up for a lot more, like a legit NBA starter (yes I am starting to snicker a bit at the Dirk comparisons. Not saying I never liked him. I'm somewhat guilty).

[Redz]

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.

I was hoping and praying that he'd make one early to get his mojo back.  With Sully out it's a huge opportunity for Kelly.  Like you said, he found a way to get some points last night.  He was during in well with the offense, keeping the ball moving, and sitting when open.  He was putting in the effort on D with the rest of the team.  If the team can sustain its positive run, it will be very telling to see how Kelly plays.

[clover]

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.

KO's FG% from 0-3' is .735. On the team, only JY's miniscule sample is better, and third is Jerebko at .667.

[Sketch5]

It's absolutely idiotic to judge him on the last two games after being away for over a month. It will take a week or two to get his legs back under him. Then the shot will come.

Now if we want to talk about the over all body of work if he's a bust or not, now thats reasonable. Bottom line is, KO is a Big PF, a finesse player, good play maker, average defender, slightly below average athlete, above average shooter(when he takes them) when hes conedent he looks like a top 10 pick, when he's not, he looks like a second rounder.  Oh and he's a big in his second year, and has improved since last. Maybe we should see were hes at next year before we say bust. 

He's a great off the bench player, that I think teamed up with IT could be a nice offensive duo where KO can stretch his big away for IT to get tot the hoop.

[Donoghus]

I guess the idea of "bust" is all in the eye of the beholder.

If a guy ends up being drafted as a late lottery pick and goes on to play a decade or more as a rotational player (which I believe is the role he'll ultimately settle into), can you really label him a bust?

As much as you'd like to see "starter on a contender" aspirations for him, I'm beginning to think more & more than his role will ultimately lie as a first or second big off the bench.  However, the way things are shaping up, I think I'd rather keep him for down the road than Sullinger.

[jambr380]

Bust is a bit harsh. Prior to his injury he was selected for the young stars game during all-star weekend. He is not your typical seven footer so it can be frustrating to watch him not muscle people out of the way, but he brings so much more to the game because of his PG background - things we just take for granted.

It's easy to forget what somebody brought to the table when they're injured (or right when they return). In a few games we'll be calling Sully and AB busts.

[Celtics4ever]

He is not nor was prior to the injury even remotely athletic.  I think most who followed college ball knew this and the guys who are not athletic that play well are rare.    He has always been a liability on D.

As much as you'd like to see "starter on a contender" aspirations for him, I'm beginning to think more & more than his role will ultimately lie as a first or second big off the bench

I think this is fair and realistic.  Let's hope that he develops his range so he can cause mismatch problems and keep working out in the weight room.

[colincb]

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.

2 games back from a long injury, but you couldn't wait to label him a bust. Give the kid a chance, but tell him he plays like a girl?

He's a big with a year an a half of NBA experience picked outside the top 10. Don't see how that makes him a bust given his production. He'll need 4 years to get up to speed like most other bigs and we'll know what we have then if Danny doesn't flip him for aome other asset.

[GratefulCs]

I vote rust


He's a very smart player with size


When he gets it going, he's a great player for this system

[GratefulCs]

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.

2 games back from a long injury, but you couldn't wait to label him a bust. Give the kid a chance, but tell him he plays like a girl?

He's a big with a year an a half of NBA experience picked outside the top 10. Don't see how that makes him a bust given his production. He'll need 4 years to get up to speed like most other bigs and we'll know what we have then if Danny doesn't flip him for aome other asset.

TP colin


It took jermaine oneal like four or so seasons until he was actually good

[PAOBoston]

I don't get how you could label a player who's beenough in the league 1.5 years a complete bust. Olynyk isn't a star and will likely never be a star in this league. But you're  trying to tell me that he can't make it as a serviceable role player in the NBA? He's still a 7 footer and he's got a nice shooting touch to stretch the floor. He'll never be a physical presence under the hoop. He's a finesse player and there isn't really anything wrong with that. He's never going to be that back to the basket brute down low. He never was that in college. His game is just not tailored to that style. So those who just assume that because he's a 7 footer he should be physical down low will be left disappointed. He's not a bad player. He'll never be Dirk, a comparison unfairly given to him by media types and hopeful fans, but he can be a serviceable player and help the Celtics.

[gpap]

Bust.

[jpotter33]

Oh, how fickle our minds are.

It was definitely rust. KO is such a confidence guy it's not even funny. I knew he'd be like this his first couple of games back, but it did look like the offense ran much smoother with him in there. I think he'll form a terrific PNR duo with IT.

Don't get me wrong, he is a bit soft at times and definitely needs to work on that. But I'm still holding out hope that he can be a starting-caliber stretch 4 next to a bigger defensive-minded and athletic 5. CoughCauley-SteinCough  That'd put two legitimate 7 footers on the court together.

[DarkAzcura]

Bust? Geez. KO is so underrated by Celtic fans it's not even funny. Always propping up a guy like Sully even though KO takes a higher percentage of his shots at the rim at a better rate. Who's really soft here? Look past the hair guys.

KO was averaging 50/35 shooting before his injury with a good TS%. The guy increased his at rim FG% by 10% from his rookie year. His FG% from 10-23 feet has increased by 5% from his rookie year. And here we are asking if KO is a bust even though he is performing better than half the players drafted ahead of him.

Okay.

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.

Yeah, you should really do some research on this before you post silly things like this. It's not even up for opinion.