Kelly shows good side
Helps C’s when he’s assertive
There are, it seems, two Kelly Olynyks. Unlike Steve Urkel and Stefan Urquelle, they both look the same, but there are serious differences in the way they play.
In the past two games, Assertive Kelly has been a significant factor in Celtics victories. After tossing 26 points Friday in Atlanta, the 7-footer went for 15 with nine rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes in last night’s 108-98 win against Charlotte at the Garden.
In a 10-minute stretch spanning parts of the first two quarters, he had nine points, five boards and three dishes. In his past five games, he has made 11-of-15 3-point attempts.
While Isaiah Thomas has press row members reaching for history books on a nightly basis, Assertive Kelly has proved a large component of how the Celtics play when they’re rubbing shoulders with their potential. Assertive Kelly is what we were seeing a lot more often before he collided with DeAndre Jordan last February. Hesitant Kelly is what we saw when he returned more than a month later, and then he had surgery on the shoulder in May.
It’s been a slow progression since he got back on the floor Nov. 9 in Washington, with shots passed up and moves not made.
Now the Celts are seeing what Olynyk can be, though in his 3 1⁄2 years in Green, we have yet to see him pound his chest. It just ain’t him. Instead, he’s been loud as a Logan runway with his play the past two outings.
“We just need him to play like that at all times,” said Thomas, who might want to offer his mate some swagger lessons. “When he’s aggressive, looking for his shot, shooting his open shots, even getting in there and getting rebounds and offensive put-backs, that only helps us as a unit. He’s been doing a great job of that the past few games.”
At times last night, Olynyk was a bit defensive about his approach to offense and whether his success is dictated by how much he looks for his shot.
“To the outside perspective, it’s that simple, I would say. The game is so different,” he said. “The game will tell you what to do. Sometimes I see the game differently than obviously you guys . . . but it’s just a matter of trying to help the team win.”
Olynyk will, however, admit his beloved passing game is more readily available when he’s Assertive Kelly.
“The whole game opens up when you’re aggressive because people have to respect you and honor you,” he said. “That’s a big thing for everybody.”
With Olynyk in this mode, Brad Stevens can push better buttons, having more shooters on the floor to space things for the likes of Thomas.
“We’re going to be better when Kelly’s playing better, there’s no question about it,” the coach said. “I think the threat of Kelly is still a significant impact when he’s on the court.”
Asked why Olynyk has played better of late, Stevens said, “Skill. I mean, he didn’t do anything for six months, as far as playing, and then you throw him into the NBA and that’s how he’s getting his feet wet again. But I think he’s a good fit with Al (Horford). I think he’s a good fit when Al’s on the bench. It’s hard not to have one of those guys that stretches the 3-point line on the floor all the time.”
Said Horford, “I think he’s gotten into a good rhythm. I don’t know if people realize, but he had offseason (shoulder) surgery, and even though he’s playing and everything, a lot of the time you don’t feel quite like yourself right away. I’ve been through that, and a lot of guys that have played, we understand that. . . . So it seems like he’s finally turning the corner. He’s starting to feel more confident.”
That’s evident when Olynyk throws up a trey because he feels he’s open instead of looking twice before crossing the street and getting caught up in hesitation hoops. Having the surgery further in his rearview mirror helps.
“Definitely it’s going to take a little while to get back into the swing of things and get comfortable playing the game again,” he said. “Just being away for so long, the more you play, the more you do it, the easier it’s going to come.”
More to the point, the harder and more aggressive Kelly Olynyk plays, the easier it comes.