Stevens Looking For Olynyk, Big Men to Space The Floor

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2013/10/boston_celtics_training_camp_2_4.html



Boston Celtics training camp 2013: Brad Stevens looking for Kelly Olynyk, big men to space the floor
kelly olynyk training camp.jpg
Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk, center, celebrates winning a team drill with teammates Phil Pressey, left, and Courtney Lee during their NBA basketball training camp at Salve Regina University, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, in Newport, R.I. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Print Jay King, MassLive.com By Jay King, MassLive.com
on October 02, 2013 at 10:26 PM






NEWPORT, R.I. – At the Orlando summer league in July, Kelly Olynyk shot a lot.

He didn’t have the itchy finger of, say, Kobe Bryant or Carmelo Anthony, but he attempted more than one field goal every two minutes, enough to finish fourth in the league in scoring.

Still, the Boston Celtics coaching staff never stopped reminding him to abandon all shyness. Whenever he passed up an open look, a chorus of voices encouraged him not to do so again. Just days into his new job, head coach Brad Stevens implored Olynyk to keep shooting, saying, "I just think he has such a smooth stroke, it could really become a great weapon for him."

Months later, in training camp this week at Salve Regina University, little has changed. Stevens still wants Boston’s lottery pick to take full advantage of his diverse skill set.

“I think that’s the way he likes to play,” said Olynyk. “He really likes to space the floor and open it for other people, and be able to draw defenses different ways, and be able to dictate how defenses play us, rather than the defense dictating how we’re going to play. I think that’s something he likes in a player and in a team, and hopefully I can bring that to the team.”

Olynyk demonstrated some ability to hit from outside during a three-year college career, but he didn’t do so as often as you’d expect. According to DraftExpress.com, he actually attempted fewer jump shots per game (1.6) than the average top-15 draft-eligible power forward (as ranked by the website). During his senior year, he connected on just 9 of 30 3-pointers (30 percent) – so he didn’t take or make an impressive amount.

But the Celtics have made no secret about wanting to use Olynyk differently, so one main offseason goal was becoming a better marksman.

“It’s definitely a focus,” he said. “I’m just trying to get it a lot more consistent, get into where I feel it’s a good shot and it’s going in every time.”

“I used it a little bit here and there at Gonzaga, more my sophomore year,” he added. “If it’s in the flow of the offense and it’s a great shot, then I’m going to take it. Sometimes coaches want other stuff, are looking for other stuff in the offense. The only thing about floating out there is it puts you out of position for rebounds and stuff like that. It depends what coaches want, and what coaches are looking for, and what the flow of the offense is.”

Since Olynyk exercises plenty of skill closer to the basket, Stevens probably won’t utilize him like Steve Novak. But the coach does envision using his big men farther from the basket. Olynyk and Jared Sullinger possess polished offensive repertoires, Brandon Bass is lights out from midrange, and Kris Humphries – who spent time after practice Wednesday with a group of guards, working diligently on 3-pointers – is said to have improved his range. Throw in Jeff Green at power forward when the Celtics go small, and Vitor Faverani, the Brazilian center said to have a nice outside touch, and Stevens should have plenty of versatile options in the frontcourt.

“It’s important to me that we take advantage of that,” the coach said. “I think it’s one of our strengths, I think our bigs need to all work to become the best shooters they can be. And we’ve got a lot of guys that can make baskets and make shots. They need to stretch the floor for us to be the best we can be. That’s pretty obvious when you look at the strengths, and when you start thinking about how you’re going to score against the best teams.”

During one drill Wednesday, Stevens split the Celtics into two groups and told them only corner 3-pointers counted in a competition between the two sides. The moment seemed like it might hold major significance – over the past several seasons, Boston has too often eschewed efficient looks (like corner 3-pointers) for inefficient ones (like midrange jumpers).

Asked if he would like to change the Celtics’ shot profile, Stevens said, “I think a good shot is one that goes in, and a bad one is one that misses. So I don’t want to overdo it because I don’t want to take people away from their strengths, but you do want to – if there’s a difference between being on the line and behind it, you want to be behind it.”

Sometimes, and maybe often, Olynyk will step behind the line. But he won’t abandon all the inside work he did last year, which helped make him one of the NCAA’s most efficient and productive offensive players.

“I think it’s definitely a mix,” he said. “(Stevens) does a good job of putting you in positions where you’re going to be successful, so I think he’s going to look at our games as a collective whole, and see where he can position each guy so they can all be successful.”




bob


.

This is just Stevens using what he has. I'd be worried if he said he wanted Olynyk and Faverani to spend all their time down on the block.

Outside wrote:This is just Stevens using what he has. I'd be worried if he said he wanted Olynyk and Faverani to spend all their time down on the block.

outside,

I agree. I'm very glad to see the amount of flexibility of thought that's coming out of this guy so far. A lot of coaches say "it's my way or the highway". They have a system and they try to force the round pegs they currently have into their square holes (I don't want to mention any names but, Mike D'Antoni). Stevens is trying to figure out the best way of making lemonade. Ah, the joys and enthusiasm of youth!

I have confidence in him here. What will be interesting to watch, and where I'm sure we'll see him struggle vs veteran NBA coaches, is with game-time adjustments. That's where "been there, done that" comes in handy.



bob


.

What Stevens is doing is really a blend of instilling his system and adapting it to compensate for the players' strengths and weaknesses. That seems like a no-brainer to me, but like you say (D'Antoni), not everyone does that.

I'm most interested to see how they do on the defensive end. Considering that they don't have a defensive leader like KG in the middle and several of their bigs have challenges defensively, working within a team concept will be crucial. They may have a rough start defensively, but if things go well, I'd expect to see significant improvement in their defense by the end of the season. That's where I think Stevens has the greatest opportunity to shine.

Another question is whether someone will emerge as the defensive leader. Their best defenders are guards, but it's usually a big man who serves as the defensive leader, mainly because you can survey the whole floor from back there and you serve as the last line of defense. Sullinger or Bass could do it, but I don't think that's likely because Sullinger is coming off back surgery and neither one of them may be on the floor enough to serve that role. Maybe Gerald Wallace can become that guy. It's not a requirement to have someone assert himself as a defensive captain, but it's definitely a plus, especially with a group that must rely so heavily on the team defense concept.

I think it would be interesting if Rondo asserted himself in that role despite being a guard. He has the temperament for it, but he's strayed into bad habits the past couple of years, going for steals too often and playing matador defense. Becoming the defensive captain might be a way for Rondo to get his mojo back on that end of the floor.

Outside,

I doubt Rondo could become a defensive quarterback because he spends so much time on the perimeter. Obviously, Vitor wouldn't fit in the role because no one could understand him. Personally, I like the idea of developing defensive leadership instincts in Olynyk and Sully because (1) when the dust settles on the coming season, I expect both of them to be seeing considerable floor time, (2) the respective defensive positions are usually favorable ones for seeing the entire floor, (3) they both seem to have particularly high basketball IQs, and (4) although neither is thought of as a defensive specialists, I believe a leadership role might accelerate their skills on that end of the floor.

I guess it's find to use a big to spread the offense on an occasional basis and to cross up the offense by getting freed up for a long ball. As long as it's the exception and not the rule. I prefer big men to be in good position to block out or grab rebounds. Images of Reaf LaFrentz keep passing before my eyes.

Sam

When you think of Olynyk, instead of picturing Raef LaFrentz or a guy like Rashard Lewis who is allergic to the paint, picture someone like LaMarcus Aldridge or Chandler Parsons. Those guys aren't dominant offensively in the post, but they have a nice mix of inside and outside capability which causes matchup problems, and they're effective rebounders. Aldridge in particular has always been good on the offensive boards.

Not that Olynyk is anywhere in the same class, but Larry Bird was a good offensive rebounder until he hurt his back, and Bird did a pretty decent job spreading the floor. They're not necessarily mutually exclusive.

One encouraging sign is that Olynyk got one third of his rebounds at the offensive end last season.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kelly-olynyk-1.html

Outside,

Bird had exceptional timing in knowing when to move in from the perimeter to contest the boards. If Kelly can develop that kind of anticipation (which his mind seems fully capable of grasping), the Celtics could really have something. I'd also take the equivalent of Aldridge or Parsons.

Sam