Where's the love for Sullinger?

[pearljammer10]

I love that Sullinger is, hopefully, raising his trade value so that we can use him as trade bait to land a player better than Jared Sullinger.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Throughout this recent summer and preseason all the talk about the Celtics frontcourt was about how Stevens had decided that Jared Sullinger was the odd man out and that Sully was still out of shape and fat. The disdain for Jared Sullinger on this site rose to heights for a player not seen since just after Rondo was shipped out of town and admitted he hadn't played defense in a couple years.

But Sully did nothing but say he had worked hard all off season. He said nothing when it looked like in pre season he had been dubbed the odd man out of the rotation. He was been a consummate team guy thus far. Most on this site had decided Sully would be gone by the trading deadline.

Now, after 10% of the season gone, Jared Sullinger is this team's starting C/PF, he is easily performing at the best level on a per minute level in his career, he hasn't looked lazy or winded, and yet, when good things are said about how this team is performing, a quick scan of the Celtics Talk area of this site has people talking about RJ Hunter, Jordan Mickey, IT, KO, Smart, etc but little about the great impact and tremendous play of 23 year old Jared Sullinger.

Sully is averaging 17.5/13.5 per 36 minutes. He is easily the team's best rebounder. His defense is markedly better than in the past. He is playing excellent and efficient offensive basketball and just keeps showing people that the C's frontcourt rotation should be a three man rotation of him, KO and Amir. They have shown they deserve the minutes.

So for all the not so positive stuff that everyone said about Sully this past 4-5 months, how about showing this kid some love. He has played fabulously and deserves some praise

stop spreading lies.

Well, only lies if you wish to remain in ignorance bliss:
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4716750/rajon-rondo-i-havent-played-defense-in-a-couple-years

[PhoSita]

Sully's stepped up and is playing very hard but I have a hard time separating that from the fact that it's a contract year for him.  I suspect his bad habits will come back again once he's signed a deal. 

Still, helping us win is helping us win and he's definitely doing that.  So I'm glad to see it.

I agree with this.

Even setting aside the contract year, thing, it doesn't look like he's shed any really serious weight, and that worries me, because he's shown he can't avoid weight-related injuries to his feet and back if he's playing significant minutes over a full season.

Sully has absolutely been one of the Celts' best players so far this season, though, and that's both a big surprise to me and a really positive development.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Sully's stepped up and is playing very hard but I have a hard time separating that from the fact that it's a contract year for him.  I suspect his bad habits will come back again once he's signed a deal. 

Still, helping us win is helping us win and he's definitely doing that.  So I'm glad to see it.

I agree with this.

Even setting aside the contract year, thing, it doesn't look like he's shed any really serious weight, and that worries me, because he's shown he can't avoid weight-related injuries to his feet and back if he's playing significant minutes over a full season.

Sully has absolutely been one of the Celts' best players so far this season, though, and that's both a big surprise to me and a really positive development.

Although he's not where he's optimal in my opinion, nor in as good shape as I hoped, I think people have understated how bad of shape he was last year.

When people were attacking him during media day, I posted a comparison of the same pose from media day from the previous year, and the difference was quite striking I thought. So I think it's more of understating how bad of shape he was more than anything. That he still looks this fat is telling.

But just an opinion of what I've observed.

Edit:

Here it is -

I don't know what you guys are seeing, but he certainly has lost quite a bit of weight.

Compare Media Day from last season to this one:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5dpS15jANc





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km7MudaFgMg

[PhoSita]

He does look slimmer this year, but to my eye it looks like he's simply gotten closer to where he was as a rookie.  As a rookie, he was still too big to avoid injuries.

[BudweiserCeltic]

He does look slimmer this year, but to my eye it looks like he's simply gotten closer to where he was as a rookie.  As a rookie, he was still too big to avoid injuries.

I agree with that. And as I said, I thought he'd come in even slimmer. But I also understand that visually it's very hard to tell regardless, so that's why I bring up the angle of understating how out of shape he was.

For example, since a month or so ago I've lost about 15 pounds and unless there's a side by side comparison, it's hard to tell. I can easily tell because I can suddenly fit into clothes I hadn't been able to wear until now.

And let's not forget that a lot of the criticism Sullinger had last season is that he GAINED weight as the season progressed, but that declaration might have a bit of noise as it is since he lost some of it after he got injured.

[Hemingway]

Throughout this recent summer and preseason all the talk about the Celtics frontcourt was about how Stevens had decided that Jared Sullinger was the odd man out and that Sully was still out of shape and fat. The disdain for Jared Sullinger on this site rose to heights for a player not seen since just after Rondo was shipped out of town and admitted he hadn't played defense in a couple years.

But Sully did nothing but say he had worked hard all off season. He said nothing when it looked like in pre season he had been dubbed the odd man out of the rotation. He was been a consummate team guy thus far. Most on this site had decided Sully would be gone by the trading deadline.

Now, after 10% of the season gone, Jared Sullinger is this team's starting C/PF, he is easily performing at the best level on a per minute level in his career, he hasn't looked lazy or winded, and yet, when good things are said about how this team is performing, a quick scan of the Celtics Talk area of this site has people talking about RJ Hunter, Jordan Mickey, IT, KO, Smart, etc but little about the great impact and tremendous play of 23 year old Jared Sullinger.

Sully is averaging 17.5/13.5 per 36 minutes. He is easily the team's best rebounder. His defense is markedly better than in the past. He is playing excellent and efficient offensive basketball and just keeps showing people that the C's frontcourt rotation should be a three man rotation of him, KO and Amir. They have shown they deserve the minutes.

So for all the not so positive stuff that everyone said about Sully this past 4-5 months, how about showing this kid some love. He has played fabulously and deserves some praise

stop spreading lies.

Well, only lies if you wish to remain in ignorance bliss:
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4716750/rajon-rondo-i-havent-played-defense-in-a-couple-years

for about the 100th time. The quote was RR praising AB. He said that after AB came to Bos he didn't have to take the D the best O guard on the other team. You are a bad fan. Sorry but you are. This has been shown over and over. I know I'll take heat for this but the RR hate is out of control.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Throughout this recent summer and preseason all the talk about the Celtics frontcourt was about how Stevens had decided that Jared Sullinger was the odd man out and that Sully was still out of shape and fat. The disdain for Jared Sullinger on this site rose to heights for a player not seen since just after Rondo was shipped out of town and admitted he hadn't played defense in a couple years.

But Sully did nothing but say he had worked hard all off season. He said nothing when it looked like in pre season he had been dubbed the odd man out of the rotation. He was been a consummate team guy thus far. Most on this site had decided Sully would be gone by the trading deadline.

Now, after 10% of the season gone, Jared Sullinger is this team's starting C/PF, he is easily performing at the best level on a per minute level in his career, he hasn't looked lazy or winded, and yet, when good things are said about how this team is performing, a quick scan of the Celtics Talk area of this site has people talking about RJ Hunter, Jordan Mickey, IT, KO, Smart, etc but little about the great impact and tremendous play of 23 year old Jared Sullinger.

Sully is averaging 17.5/13.5 per 36 minutes. He is easily the team's best rebounder. His defense is markedly better than in the past. He is playing excellent and efficient offensive basketball and just keeps showing people that the C's frontcourt rotation should be a three man rotation of him, KO and Amir. They have shown they deserve the minutes.

So for all the not so positive stuff that everyone said about Sully this past 4-5 months, how about showing this kid some love. He has played fabulously and deserves some praise

stop spreading lies.

Well, only lies if you wish to remain in ignorance bliss:
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4716750/rajon-rondo-i-havent-played-defense-in-a-couple-years

for about the 100th time. The quote was RR praising AB. He said that after AB came to Bos he didn't have to take the D the best O guard on the other team. You are a bad fan. Sorry but you are. This has been shown over and over. I know I'll take heat for this but the RR hate is out of control.

I know he was praising AB, that he was praising AB doesn't detract from the fact that he put minimal effort defensively, so the statement while a praise for AB, still remains factual. They're not mutually exclusive.

[jpotter33]

Sullinger has been excellent this year, and many of us who were counting him out as out of the rotation should be eating crow right now.

For me, I'm just still not sure if he's a better fit and a better long-term option than KO. I really don't think we can keep both long-term, and it seems that KO is a better fit for our style of play, healthier and less injury-prone, and is making more strides both offensively and defensively right now. The only major difference is rebounding and low-post offense, but it seems that KO is starting to separate himself from Sully by his versatility alone.

[Celtics4ever]

I think he bottomed out in Europe but has played good since.   I still do not see him knocking anyone off the all star team though.

I would be cautious as I recall Mark Blount, is this just contract year hustle.   The guy could always do certain things well, he has more effort in some of the areas he was weak in, like D but he is hardly good at it.

 I am glad he turned it around, good for him.  But as for love, he SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLAYING THIS HARD ALL ALONG!

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

If Sully can pull this off for at least 90% of this season, then come back and play like this pretty much all of next season after earning a fat new contract from Danny, then I'll believe he's got his head in the right place.

[ssspence]

I love that Sullinger is, hopefully, raising his trade value so that we can use him as trade bait to land a player better than Jared Sullinger.

This. Ainge will be looking for a deal for him over the next couple of months, for sure.

[CelticPride2016]

The problem with Sully is he is for the most part a defensive liability. I believe that is because he is taking his time losing weight.

He is an incredible rebounder. He is possibly Hall of Fame if we zoom in on that. Rondo is a Hall of Famer for pg's who rebound.

Smart is Hall of Fame defense. We are hoping he can develop his driving to the hoop for layups and dish offs. He is potential greatness.

Sullinger has never proven he is great, only that he is good.

Big Baby knew how to take charges. I think if Sullinger wants to be an all-star, he needs to slim down like everyone else. I think a team can win with him as a starter but that it is no guarantee because he is always out of shape.

A guy like Bradley was never good like Sully. Bradley's only chance is to become a pro at outside shooting and maintain his defensive skills.

We have a good team. I predicted last night's win and expect us to get through this part of the schedule with not much or any damage done to our w-l record. Last year was great because we had gotten so far behind. That's not going to happen this year. Two games against Brooklyn are coming up. Maybe we upset Oklahoma in the next one. Then everyone will be back to singing 50 win tunes.

[PhoSita]

He does look slimmer this year, but to my eye it looks like he's simply gotten closer to where he was as a rookie.  As a rookie, he was still too big to avoid injuries.

I agree with that. And as I said, I thought he'd come in even slimmer. But I also understand that visually it's very hard to tell regardless, so that's why I bring up the angle of understating how out of shape he was.

Indeed.  You raised a good point.

[dwoumn]

I think the time has come to see what he can do in 30-32 minutes per game. Can he sustain his play? Can he avoid injury or fatigue?

I mean, I think we know what we have with KO, Lee, Amir and Zeller. If the Sully experiment doesn't work then we go back to the status quo as of now.

But if Sully can bump up his minutes and be this productive he's a borderline All-Star. It's time to figure out the answer to that question.

The thing is he doesn't need to play 30-32 mins. We have good depth with KO, Lee, Amir, Zeller, Jerebko, Mickey. I like the mins Sully is playing because it's showing with less mins he's more effective in the games. Plus he's been more consistent in less mins. The only down fall for less mins for Sully is when it comes time to get paid the mins will play a major role in the type of contract he gets.