If you REALLY want to get excited about Sullinger and the Celtics' future, read this.

Celtics size up their big additions

By Frank Dell’Apa

Globe Staff / July 3, 2012

Fab Melo and Jared Sullinger were involved in their first training session with the Celtics Monday. It was just the start of an accelerated program in an attempt to prepare them for significant roles next season, according to president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.

“Everybody knows we lack size on the interior and guarding the rim is one of our weaknesses,” Ainge said during a news conference at the Jackson Mann Educational Complex in Allston. “And big guys usually do take more time to develop than guards. But we’re going to put these guys on a speed course and get them ready to play.”
There are questions about how Melo and Sullinger will transition to the professional game. Melo lacks experience, having grown up playing soccer in Brazil. Sullinger produced significant numbers in two years at Ohio State, but his stock fell after tests revealed a herniated disk.

“I think it’s a blessing in disguise, honestly,” Sullinger said of falling to 21st in the draft. “To come to a great organization like the Boston Celtics and just be a part of a team like this, with a winning tradition, means a lot to me.

“Honestly, I don’t have any back problems. I’m just playing basketball, I finally have a job and, so, it’s time to take the next step.”

After Kendrick Perkins sustained a knee injury in 2010, the Celtics attempted the fill the center gap with Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal. Now, they are going with young, unproven candidates.

“Jared is going to have to learn to play some center,” Ainge said. “I think there’s not that much difference between the center and power forward positions in the NBA. And Jared is smart, he’s versatile, and he’s strong. So I just think as he matures and gains more knowledge of the NBA game that he’ll be versatile enough to play both positions.

“He rebounds well enough to be a center, and he has the ability to play both positions, for sure. Jared has been a winning player at every level he’s played and, we believe, a winning person. And we’re glad to have him as part of our organization.”

Said Sullinger: “It’s not how big you are, it’s how big your heart is. And, to me, I feel like I play like I’m 7 foot, with my passion for the game and rebounding and being physical. So, even though I’m 6-9, I’d be willing to play center if Coach asked me to.”

Sullinger believes his game is suited to the pros.

“With collegiate defenses, they can pack it in,” Sullinger said. “So, I really had to deal with what the defense asked to me to do — double- team by forcing me to the baseline. And pretty much all I had was back-to-the-basket, because there really was no place to move.

“I can shoot the outside shot, I can face up, I can go off the dribble and drive — things I couldn’t do at the college level because of the collegiate defense. So we’ll see how that goes.”
Melo, Sullinger, and second-round pick Kris Joseph are expected to participate in summer league contests in Orlando and Las Vegas through July 22.

Melo said he already has been contacted by Kevin Garnett.

“I heard from him and I want to learn from him, too,” Melo said of Garnett. “He’s an energy guy and I have a lot of energy. Just his passion — he said he’s excited to teach me, and I’m excited to learn.”

Melo grew up in Juiz da Fora in Minas Gerais state and, despite his size, was a midfielder in soccer before moving to Florida and concentrating on basketball in high school. But Melo mostly played zone defense at Syracuse.

“I think I’m good at doing what Coach wants me to do — get rebounds, play defense,” Melo said. “Whatever he wants me to do I will do.

“I’m a very coachable guy. I think if they show me what to do I will do it. My reaction on defense is pretty good and I can protect the basket, I’m not worried about that — just show me how to do it and I will do it.”
. . .
Jeff Green likely will return to the Celtics next season, according to his agent, David Falk. Green, an unrestricted free agent, missed last season after undergoing heart surgery.

“He wants to be back and we want him back and we’re working to make that happen,” Ainge said. “When I sat with Jeff through the medical process, to see four different specialists about his heart, it was pretty clear that Jeff would return and Jeff would be better. He would be in better condition, better shape, his heart, after this procedure.

Everything has gone great. Obviously, not having played basketball for a year, there’s going to be a little bit of an adjustment. But he’ll be out on the court going full tilt very, very soon. He’ll play a lot of basketball, have a great training camp, and exhibition games to sort of get the rust off.”

Ainge considered using Green in summer league games.

“I don’t know if that’s needed,” Ainge said. “I’ve actually contemplated that, if that would be beneficial. Because we have a full training camp and eight exhibition games, I’m sure that’s sufficient.”

Sam

And here's a video on Feb Melo to help whet your appetite:

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

Sam

Sam

A certain red head played a pretty good center for us a few years ago.....and he was only 6-9ish too.

we may well indeed have gotten the steal in this draft.

beat

PS wonder if he can drive a cab??

Sully has said everything you could ask him to say. Great attitude for someone who was projected as a lottery pick just a few weeks ago. His comments about the differences between the college game and the pros highlight his IQ. Love that! The biggest difference between college and pros is the 4" muscle between the ears, and it sounds like Sully's got that. If he thinks being drafted by a class organization is good now, wait until he's in the locker room and HOFers Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn walk in and tell him that all they ever wanted to do was play their entire career with the Celtics.

The fact that KG has already reached out to Melo is fantastic! If that doesn't get Melo to get with the porgram, I don't know what will. Excuse me while I buy Rosetta Stone, English and re-learn the language...

bob


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More, from the rookie intros:

Ainge playfully chided Sullinger when he failed to introduce super-agent David Falk when asked to identify his family and friends in attendance at Monday's event. The oversight didn't stop Falk from gushing about Sullinger and suggesting that he should use the draft slide as motivation.


"I told him I hope he doesn't have a chip on his shoulder, I hope he has a boulder," said Falk, who suggested there's an "inherent bias" against players with Sullinger's undersized body type at a big-man spot.


"I think Jared is a triple-A bond," Falk added. "He's going to provide value every night. He's going to get better. He may not have the upside of players, but he doesn't have the downside either. That's why 50 percent of the players drafted in the top 10 fail. And why only nine teams in 32 years have won championships. It's because [general managers] make the same mistakes, year after year, in evaluating players.


"Jared is not a sleeper. I'm thrilled he's here. Between playing for Doc Rivers and having a chance to play with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, he'll get a post-graduate education as a rookie."

My Note: It's hard to like a sports agent, but David Falk is growing on me.


bob


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The news is coming fast and furious on the rooks.

The Boston Celtics didn't waste any time inking their three selections from last month's draft.

One day after introducing the rookies, Boston formally announced it had reached an agreement with first-round picks Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo and second-round pick Kris Joseph.

Terms of the deal were not announced, but the base salary for first-round picks was slotted at $1.089 million for Sullinger (21st overall pick) and $1.045 million (22nd). First-round draft picks can be inked at up to 120 percent of that base salary, which the Celtics have done in each of the past two seasons, giving first-round picks Avery Bradley (19th in 2010) and JaJuan Johnson (27th in 2011) a slight bump.

Second-round contracts typically check in at the minimum, which for next season is $473,604.


bob


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sam wrote:And here's a video on Feb Melo to help whet your appetite:

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

Sam

Oooh boy, he is raw.

First drill: jump without bringing the ball down. The way he brings it down now, he's gonna get it stripped a LOT.

Second drill: block shots without swiping down at the ball so that he doesn't foul out in two minutes.

Third drill: block the shot inbounds. He doesn't have to be Bill Russell and turn a block into an outlet pass, but he does need to learn to blocking a shot into the cheap seats doesn't always help the team.

Actually, forget that, and make the first, second, and third drills about rebounding. With that body, he should be getting twice as many rebounds. And as important as KG's tutelage should be, Stiemsma may be an even better influence if he can help Melo learn what he learned this season.

Time will tell.

Outside

Guy blocked 10 shots against seton hall................

4 of them in one 5-6 second flurry

Well that tells me 2 things right off. Seton Hall has players that have no clue around the rim and that Melo hangs around the rim (ala the middle of the 2-3 zone)

I took a little time yesterday pouring over the SU box scores from last season and it was sort of as expected... the Fordam's Manhattens, SUNY Albany, Colgates, E Michigan's Bucknell's Tulanes, Marshall's ect ( by the way they were almost ALL HOME GAMES. Melo did OK, twice got double digit points. Never got double digit rebounds. Had 4 blocks agains 3 of these teams.

Some of those programs have OK programs some not so much.

Melo struggled against middle of the road talent I just wonder how much even the guidance of Doc and KG is going to help.

Project is putting this nicely.

Glad to see he's working out now and we will have a full summer and training camp to work with. Fingers crossed he "gets it" in a reasonable period of time'

At least Sully's package comes with "batteries included."

beat

bobheckler wrote:My Note: It's hard to like a sports agent, but David Falk is growing on me.

Bob, you do know about Falk's long, sordid history, don't you?

Sullinger is going to be a beast. He has a chip on his shoulder, he has a great motor, he has high IQ, good jump shot, best of all a good attitude and very coachable.

Great pick.

Outside wrote:

bobheckler wrote:My Note: It's hard to like a sports agent, but David Falk is growing on me.

Bob, you do know about Falk's long, sordid history, don't you?

outside,

I said he could grow on me. So could mold, if I stay still long enough.

"What have you done for me lately, David?". The answer to that is he's doing a good job of priming Sully's pump.


bob

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The Celtics will be ANYTHING but Mellow when cleaning up the EAST with FAB (Melo, not the laundry detergent)! (LOL)

MD!