That's because Satch keeps insisting on his delusional claim that his son is packing the pounds because he has to play center. Well, he didn't really have to play center last season (and he won't next season), and nothing has changed.
Agree, when you can't run up and down the court, does it matter what position you play? I find both Sully and his Dad are great at the excuses. "My body does not react to food like others" is a great example instead of manning up and admitting he was unprofessional. Everything that happens there is always a reason for them and the reason is never them.
"Whole career" which includes 1) His rookie season, in which he actually played good defense for us, 2) A second year in which he was recovering from his back surgery, and 3) Last year which there was no excuse for, but hopefully fixable explanations.
1) At no point did he play good defense, most guys are going to look better playing next to KG. but he was never a shot blocker, steal machine and he is a guy that other teams target because they know they can score when he is in there. 2) True enough, but isn't this always a thing with the excuses. Rookie year, it was his back in the predraft that affected his physical tests (which were bottom five for that draft), then he was shut down to have back surgery. Last year, it was out of shape Sully, and having to take time off again. Don't you get tired of the broken record and littany of excuses. 3) Agree, If he would learn to play within himself, and commit to D, get in shape he would be a better option than what many are tossing around on this posts. I just do not see it happening. I think he has character defects in that he thinks he is above such things as playing D, getting in shape. Too big for his own breeches.
1) False, it's like you've only watched Sullinger play this past year and that's it. As I mentioned in my prior post, his value was when subbed in for Garnett off the bench and the defensive stability he brought with him. That's when our season started to turn around in 2012. His value wasn't when he was playing with Garnett (though they were a good tandem), but when he managed to hold the fort once Garnett went to the bench. Had the best team +/- if I recall correctly while we're at it.
You don't have to take my word for it, here are a few articles from back then to refresh your memory, heck even some from the beginning of the 2nd year when Sullinger was still playing some "passable" defense for us:
http://www.celticslife.com/2013/01/the-more-jared-sullinger-plays-more.htmlhttp://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sullija01/on-off/2013/http://www.celticslife.com/2013/01/jared-sullinger-world-class-defender.htmlhttp://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8833272/for-boston-celtics-jared-sullinger-kg-brotherly-push-pays-offhttp://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2013/11/jared_sullinger_already_anchor.html2) Well, you know, back surgery is a bit of an acceptable excuse I'd say.
3) Not worth discussing much more, since I agree he had a poor showing defensively last year.
But it's not as you've claimed, "his whole career".
Our team had actually begun to play better BEFORE Sullinger went down, and that occurred just prior to the influx of talent starting with Isaiah Thomas. But of course, we should ignore that stretch because it doesn't jive with the narrative of "Sullinger the useless player".
Our D got better after he left is what I said. Prior to his season ending you may recall CBS using him less at the end of games. You are not going to debunk that one. A lot of the win streak Sully was sitting the fourth or out. I admitted that IT was a part of it, I think your discounting the impact of not having a slow guy that does not care out there on D and our ability to have guys who actually stood in front of their man.
The roster was quite different from the day Sullinger went down, like the trade occured right for the next day, so anything meaningful that can be gleaned from Sully being there or not is a bit superficial. But the point still stands, the team was already showing improvement with their play, including defensively. Much of that occurred when the defensive sieve of Rajon Rondo and the replacement of Green with the better Crowder. Also, if not mistaken, improvement in our defensive game was also seen when Olynyk went down... so take that for what you will. But I've already agreed that his defense last year was bad. I just don't think much can be attributed to him being there or not considering that the replacement players were also not that good defensively either. Jerebko changed that a bit when he joined the team, which to me means that the gains defensively could've also occurred with Sullinger around.
When I said "whole career" I was meaning this was a problem for him during college as well. People harp about James Young lack of D, at least the kid is clueless. Sully has a decent basketball IQ, as evidenced from his passing. He knows he should be playing D, but he does not care.
See the first points I made above.
He has talent. I love his rebounding, hands and nose for the ball. I think he should go in the post more as his talent lies there. But he thinks the sum of his talent is so much, that he can not run, play D, or worry about coming into shape. CBS said he did not want Robert Upshaw because of the impact he might have on young players, that makes me wonder if Mr. LackofMotivation days might be numbered as well.
To each his own, I think it would be a mistake to just get rid of him right now. Also, CBS was quite complimentary when Sullinger returned, so we'll see how that goes. But it's also a bit telling that in the playoffs Stevens had to sit his binky Olynyk, in favor of playing this supposed bad influence of a guy, and rusty while at it... our best big of the playoffs all told in Sully. We'll see, not much to argue in this regard one way or another.
Fall will prove, whether he got in shape or not. Then we will see, how he pans out. I think even in shape and that video shows it, that his athletic base is poor. He will still be slow, lethargic but if he helps us I would not mind being wrong, BudweiserCeltic. I think a lot of his problems like James Young are between the ears.
I would love to see him get in shape, but personally it's not a deal breaker for me. I think he's a useful player even then, it might matter though in my willingness to trade him for better value or the price tag I'd be willing to pay to keep him, but that's about it for me personally in all honesty.
As you mention, the biggest problems are within the ears, but I see it more as a focus/motivation thing more than anything. And I don't mean motivation to get in shape, but motivation to play the game as he should, particularly when we're losing. But at the same time we saw improved play from our team once we got rid of Green and Rondo, so there's some hope yet on that regard.
We'll see.
