Hot Olynyk gets boost
Strong play helps confidence
Kelly Olynyk generally is a bright guy, except on the subject of Kelly Olynyk.
In a league in which everyone, it seems, has an inner LaVar Ball to feed their ego and overflow their sneakers with self-esteem, the versatile Celtics forward needs regular convincing of his worth.
After hitting 5-of-6 shots in last night’s 109-100 dispatching of Indiana, Olynyk is shooting 63.3 percent in his past eight games. He’s averaged just 9.9 points (with a scoreless game in Denver included) and 5.4 rebounds in that span, and yet the 7-foot Canadian still doesn’t get how good he is.
And the fact this isn’t the first time we’ve dribbled down this subject lane this season shows it’s an ongoing issue.
“I think everybody just needs to play to their strengths and to do what they do best,” coach Brad Stevens said. “And I think sometimes Kelly sells himself short on all the great things he does.
“His ability to space the floor, his ability to drive the ball, his ability to make the right basketball play is really good, and we need him to do that for us to be the best version of ourselves. So I’m really encouraged by the way he’s played, and we need him to continue to do so.
“I just want him to know that I think he’s a really good basketball player.”
If you’ll excuse the cheap humor regarding a 7-footer selling himself short, that it’s so true in this case can have his teammates shrugging.
Presented with Stevens’ “sells himself short” line on Olynyk, Avery Bradley was quick with his response.
“I don’t think he does,” he said. “Kelly’s a very good player. We always tell Kelly when he’s thinking that as a basketball player, you just have to go out there and play. You can’t think the whole time on the floor. Kelly’s very capable of scoring high numbers and making plays for our team. He’s a very smart player, and it’s our job as his teammates to continue to encourage him. And it’s his job to continue to work and go out there and play his game.”
As for the idea that Olynyk is two vastly different players when he gets after it and when he doesn’t, Bradley said, “I don’t feel like it’s my place to say that, but like I said, it’s my job . . . to motivate him all the time because I know how good Kelly is. I know how good he can be. We just have to continue to keep him positive and tell him to go out there and play his game. You saw him tonight. That’s Kelly Olynyk.”
That Kelly Olynyk had eight rebounds and four assists in addition to his 11 points and a plus-12 rating (second only to Jae Crowder’s plus-16) in his 31 minutes.
“Yeah, I think it might be a confidence thing with him,” said Isaiah Thomas, who never lacks for it. “When his confidence is high, when he’s very positive with himself, he usually plays well. And we need him to be like that, especially in the playoffs. He’s a guy that spaces the floor, not just for myself but for everybody. And when he’s knocking down shots and feeling good, we usually play well.
“When he’s feeling it, he’s a hell of a player to stop.”
So could Isaiah maybe lend Olynyk a little of his attitude?
“Mine is a little different, so it’s hard to give him that,” Thomas said. “But my job is to continue to remain confident in him and give positive feedback at all times, even if he’s not playing too well.”
The Celtics are hoping Olynyk will light his own fire when the playoffs get here. While the postseason rotation is certain to undergo regular changes depending on matchups, Stevens has to be able to count on Olynyk, Marcus Smart and even rookie Jaylen Brown.
Last night, Tyler Zeller was first off the bench and played 10 minutes, fewest in what was a nine-man run. Jonas Jerebko got his second straight DNP, and Terry Rozier got his first since Jan. 16.
“That’s not easy from their standpoint, and I respect that,” Stevens said of the latter two. “And that’s hard. But we’re going to need all those guys, and we’re going to need them to be playing great. And Terry went through not playing a couple of games in December, and it didn’t affect how he played when he came back, and obviously Jonas is a terrific pro and I don’t think it’ll affect him. He’ll be ready to go.
“But this team was bigger,” he added of the Pacers. “The rebounding was a scary thing. Obviously they hurt us on the glass big-time in the second half, and I wanted a little bit more size.”
Kelly Olynyk has size, and he can be big for the Celtics. If he doesn’t sell himself short.