Starting Sullinger and Olynyk

[Chris22]

Some people here have called for starting Sullinger and Olynyk.
They looked pretty good together last night.
What do you guys think?

[tomrod]

They looked amazing actually, but I tend to think it was because of the match-up against the Hornets frontcourt. I'l wait till they keep playing like this for a stretch before I really believe it.


Im kinda worried about Sully's minutes, he plays too few, maybe because of conditioning or injury.

[BudweiserCeltic]

They looked amazing actually, but I tend to think it was because of the match-up against the Hornets frontcourt. I'l wait till they keep playing like this for a stretch before I really believe it.


Im kinda worried about Sully's minutes, he plays too few, maybe because of conditioning or injury.

First, they've been playing well together all year, so doubt this was a match-up advantage as you're alluding.

Secondly, for all of Sullinger playing too few minutes, he's the big who's playing the most minutes in our team... so... not sure what your point here is. Unless you're figuring all our other bigs have poor conditioning or are injured.

[tomrod]

They've played together 70 minutes and are just a plus 9. So I think there's not much evidence yet that they would be good enough. And I think is the first game they started together, and I just think Charlotte's perimeter oriented front court is a good match up for them. I've been hoping for the Sullynyk pairing since we drafted them, I just don't want get my hopes up before they've proven themselves, they've been teasing us for years now...

Second, I just have seen him playing too few minutes, but it could be to get other guys more playing time

[littleteapot]

If they can both start against Andre Drummond, and we can hold our own then I think they passed the test, at least for now.

[BudweiserCeltic]

They've played together 70 minutes and are just a plus 9. So I think there's not much evidence yet that they would be good enough. And I think is the first game they started together, and I just think Charlotte's perimeter oriented front court is a good match up for them. I've been hoping for the Sullynyk pairing since we drafted them, I just don't want get my hopes up before they've proven themselves, they've been teasing us for years now...

Second, I just have seen him playing too few minutes, but it could be to get other guys more playing time

I have them at 92 minutes. But your point still stands, small sample size. But even so, it doesn't detract from the fact that so far this year they've played well together. Also during that span, the team offense and team defense has been better than that of our current starting unit. Was simply pointing out that them playing well together is not anomaly.

Not to say that this will continue to do so, but there's enough evidence so far to suggest that this might be worth experimenting with, but we'll have to see more minutes vs. starting caliber players. That's the part that has been majorly untested. We can go back and look at last year, but I think this year their improved defense makes all that data inconsequential in my view.

I think the main problem is depth and Stevens wanting to give playing time to too many people. Not saying that keeping his condition optimal might not be playing some into it, but even so he's the big playing the most minutes in a team where honestly the talent gap between players haven't been all that great.

[tomrod]

They've played together 70 minutes and are just a plus 9. So I think there's not much evidence yet that they would be good enough. And I think is the first game they started together, and I just think Charlotte's perimeter oriented front court is a good match up for them. I've been hoping for the Sullynyk pairing since we drafted them, I just don't want get my hopes up before they've proven themselves, they've been teasing us for years now...

Second, I just have seen him playing too few minutes, but it could be to get other guys more playing time

I have them at 92 minutes. But your point still stands, small sample size. But even so, it doesn't detract from the fact that so far this year they've played well together. Also during that span, the team offense and team defense has been better than that of our current starting unit. Was simply pointing out that them playing well together is not anomaly.

Not to say that this will continue to do so, but there's enough evidence so far to suggest that this might be worth experimenting with, but we'll have to see more minutes vs. starting caliber players. That's the part that has been majorly untested. We can go back and look at last year, but I think this year their improved defense makes all that data inconsequential in my view.

I think the main problem is depth and Stevens wanting to give playing time to too many people. Not saying that keeping his condition optimal might not be playing some into it, but even so he's the big playing the most minutes in a team where honestly the talent gap between players haven't been all that great.

That's what I'm saying, they haven't played enough together, but it's my prefered pairing if it works.

[BudweiserCeltic]

They've played together 70 minutes and are just a plus 9. So I think there's not much evidence yet that they would be good enough. And I think is the first game they started together, and I just think Charlotte's perimeter oriented front court is a good match up for them. I've been hoping for the Sullynyk pairing since we drafted them, I just don't want get my hopes up before they've proven themselves, they've been teasing us for years now...

Second, I just have seen him playing too few minutes, but it could be to get other guys more playing time

I have them at 92 minutes. But your point still stands, small sample size. But even so, it doesn't detract from the fact that so far this year they've played well together. Also during that span, the team offense and team defense has been better than that of our current starting unit. Was simply pointing out that them playing well together is not anomaly.

Not to say that this will continue to do so, but there's enough evidence so far to suggest that this might be worth experimenting with, but we'll have to see more minutes vs. starting caliber players. That's the part that has been majorly untested. We can go back and look at last year, but I think this year their improved defense makes all that data inconsequential in my view.

I think the main problem is depth and Stevens wanting to give playing time to too many people. Not saying that keeping his condition optimal might not be playing some into it, but even so he's the big playing the most minutes in a team where honestly the talent gap between players haven't been all that great.

That's what I'm saying, they haven't played enough together, but it's my prefered pairing if it works.

It's mine as well. Honestly it's been mind-boggling how few minutes together Stevens has played them this season.

[Evantime34]

I prefer them starting to Amir Johnson or David Lee.

Olynyk plays much more aggressively when he starts, so I think moving him to the starting lineup permanently is a great  idea.

I'd always rather start guys that have a chance to be on the team long term, than veterans who could be gone next year.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I prefer them starting to Amir Johnson or David Lee.

Olynyk plays much more aggressively when he starts, so I think moving him to the starting lineup permanently is a great  idea.

I'd always rather start guys that have a chance to be on the team long term, than veterans who could be gone next year.

For the most part I've been in keeping the current starting pair as is as I think Amir/Sullinger have shown at the very least to be dependable together in the starting unit. But if we can get Olynyk to keep playing like this, risk be [dang]ed, let's have him start instead.

[LarBrd33]

Career night from Frank kaminsky

[celts55]

The first unit needs another scorer and Kelly is adding that right now. I'm okay with seeing how it goes for a while. He that what it take to get him to play consistently, well okay than.

[Tr1boy]

Sullinger and KO starting works alot better if Crowder and Smart are also starting. So they can help out with rebounding/lateral quickness overall team D.

Nice pass from Sully to KO at 03 second mark of highlights below.  These guys are good at these tick tack passes for good old school basketball finishes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NTRcmmHvTA

[Tr1boy]

at 1:50 mark. Another one of those ticky tack passes. This time from KO to Sullinger. There is cheminstry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FStK6jqrZFY

[dreamgreen]

I do like starting KO because I think it gives him a chance to get into the flow of the game and IMO he needs that. The problem with KO and Sully together is they struggle against athletic bigs.