Rookie Kelly Olynyk Wows Celtics With Hoop Smarts

Love coach's kids...


http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2013/10/rookie_kelly_olynyk_wows_celtics_with_hoop_smarts


By Steve Bulpett:

On Friday night, the Celtics dressed in the locker room of the University of Delaware’s women’s volleyball team. Kelly Olynyk hung his clothing in a place that, according to the nameplate, is generally reserved for someone named Katie.
On Saturday, the Celts used the room of the American Hockey League’s Manchester Monarchs, and the rookie changed in the spot used by a left winger named Andy. Olynyk felt much better — and not because Kelly minded being Katie or anything.

“This is hockey. I feel at home,” said the Canadian 7-footer.

More to the C’s interests, Olynyk is feeling even more comfortable when he leaves the dressing quarters. Four games into his first NBA preseason, he has shown himself to be basketball wise beyond his 22 years.

Like last year’s top draftee, Jared Sullinger — himself just 21 — Olynyk is impressing his teammates with his IQ for the game.

“From practice and the first games, you can see he’s got a good feel for the game,” said Brandon Bass, a veteran who will battle for time in the rotation with Olynyk. “Some guys are just basketball savvy, and I think he’s one of those guys. It’s still early. We’ll see how it goes.”
Swingman Courtney Lee has learned already to stay aware when Olynyk has the ball. If he finds an open space, there’s a better than average chance that the kid, if he has the ball, will find him.

And it’s this quality that will endear him further to his mates as the season progresses. In the course of the 82-game marathon, players hate when their successful cuts go unrewarded.

“He has a good feel for the game,” said Lee, echoing the theme that always seems to arise, even in separate conversations. “We’ve got sets in now that allow everybody to showcase their ability. He’s comfortable, and he’s capable of making those plays.
“The more we get used to this system and get used to each other and playing with each other, it’ll go even better. But he’s showing he’s good.”

Thus far, Olynyk has shot just 43.8 percent from the floor, but some of that can be attributed to orientation issues. The Celtics know he has a clean stroke from the outside, and they fully expect it to bear fruit.

“It’s always good to play with a good-passing big man,” said Lee, “but he’s also a big man who can shoot, so he’ll be able to stretch the floor for us. Him, Sully, BB and (Kris) Humphries are big men that can shoot, so that opens the floor up and makes everything easier.”
Humphries knows his way around the NBA block after nine years, and he’s tempering his clear appreciation for the rookie’s game with patience.

“Kelly’s got a good feel for the game,” Humphries said. “He’s made some nice passes and done some good things out there. But, like anything, the NBA is different, so it’s going to take some time to really get your feet wet and figure out how you’re going to play and what you’re going to do out there.

“But he’s shown us some nice things throughout the time I’ve seen him, so I look forward to more from him. He’s made a couple of real nice plays that you don’t see rookies make. He has a knack for passing the ball, and we’ll see what else we can get from him out there.”
The additional quickness Olynyk gets is based on instinct, so it is expected that things will grow smoother as he commits all that is being thrown at him now to his internal computer chip.

“It’s all part of the learning process, thinking and analyzing the game,” Olynyk said. “At this level, you’ve got to learn and do all the little things to get to where you want to be at.”

After four games in six days, he’s grasping the changes that need to be made on his higher hoop level.

“There’s definitely a difference,” Olynyk said. “It’s a step up, just like summer league was a step up from college. You just try to get in the flow and play your game. We’ve got a lot of people here to teach you how to play and teach you how to do the right things the right ways.

“If you listen to learn and learn to listen, then you’re going to be fine.”

Katie and Andy couldn’t have said it better.



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