This is why differing opinions matter

[Celtics18]

I agree with Tommy. 

[mctyson]

I don't think Tommy was talking about Kelly vs. Dirk in an historical sense.  I think he was saying "look - Kelly should be trying to be Dirk, every day of his life, for the rest of his career."

Further, he said it's his ceiling.  Ceilings, by definition are very high targets and almost impossible to reach.  Tommy does not think that Kelly will be that good.  But he is saying if Kelly is going to be good...then he should shoot for that ceiling.

Me - I think Kelly might be more like Sam Perkins.  Which is NOT a bad result.

[Celtics4ever]

It was hyperbole, KO is not even Dirk Lite.   Maybe Dirk every three games then disappear for two?

[hwangjini_1]

Greg "Bill Russell" Stiemsma got signed somewhere?

last i heard he was in orlando. indeed, i met him in a hotel lobby in the fall. orlando was in town to play a pre-season game. he....is....tall! plus a real nice guy, just as you might imagine him.

this is my one and only nba story, so i thought i would trot it out. 

[walker834]

Tommy if anything is a guy who knows you are as much what you make of yourself than anything. KO has talent. Maybe not Dirk talent but it's about as much mindset as anything.  I think Tommy is right that KO has a lot of potential because of his skillset but his mentality needs to be  better. I've been thinking alot about that myself where this team lacks a tom brady type leader.  Whether KO is that is something else entirely but it wouldn't hurt if someone played with that mindset.  I don't know if KO has  it in him personally but his talent level isn't really the problem.

Tommy Heinsohn wasn't the most physically gifted guy himself. He was a tough guy and played the game with that mindset.

He was a great coach for that reason too because he knew how to play a style that got the most out of his players.

I think Tommy isn't afraid to speak his mind and knows how he means it. If he said that on the internet he'd probably be called a troll when people don't know how he means it.  He actually has a good point.  A great point really.

Tommy is also a celtic and isn't about being nice or trying to motivate Dirk.  He's trying to protect his own house and knows the importance of that and trying to make the celtics a better team and what they need to do. We live in this day and age of where people are too politically correct or whatever it is.  IT's not overly motivational.  What Tommy is saying is correct. People can say what they want to say.  But he's trying to make the celtics take care of themselves and be what they can be.

Dirk came off like the hare in this instance anyways in the tortoise and the hare. Dirk is like whatever he has a long ways to go.  Maybe that should motivate dirk too and everyone is better off.

There is a lot of that in the nba during the regular season in particular. It's a marathon not a sprint but the NBA needs a kick in the butt sometimes.

[trickybilly]

Greg "Bill Russell" Stiemsma got signed somewhere?

TP. Pretty sure he is starting on a Tajikistan league roster.

[Casperian]

Good ol' Tommy, always a joke on his lips.