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Celtics Basketball => Celtics Talk => Topic started by: Tr1boy on January 12, 2013, 03:47:50 PM

Title: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: Tr1boy on January 12, 2013, 03:47:50 PM
Anyone know why Sullinger who compared well to these guys in terms of size, height and gushing potential out of college has been able to do so well so far and these guys had short careers??

If Sullinger say was drafted by the bobcats or wizards, would that take a big hit in terms of his development??

Reading other team forums and draft forums, lots of people were not only worried about Sully's back issue, but how similar he compared to May and Sweetney and look where those guys are now.

I can't say danny was a genius and knew it all along. If Danny had the 10th pick, would he have taken Sully? If he had to choose between drummond and sully would he still have taken sully?  Though i read some fans cursing their gm's on passing Sully, its hard to blame the gms bc there were enough red flags attached to sully, especially the sweetney and may comparisons. I guess as of now, sully has changed the landscape again for guys like him coming out of the draft to be taken seriously.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: PhoSita on January 12, 2013, 03:57:28 PM
Well, with Sweetney my understanding is his weight ballooned out of control and that's a big reason why he never stuck in the league.

Dunno about Sean May.

I always thought those comparisons with Sullinger didn't really make sense because Jared is not nearly as "fat" as people make him out to be.  He's got 10% body fat. 

He's also got a 7'1'' wingspan, which makes a huge difference when you're talking about "undersized" bigs without great leaping ability.  He doesn't have alligator arms the way Glen Davis does.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: Who on January 12, 2013, 04:05:46 PM
Neither guy's demise had anything to do with a lack of basketball skills / talent.

Sean May lost his NBA career to injuries. He was a very productive player in the minutes he played prior to getting hurt. A real handful in the paint off the bench. One of the better backup PFs in the league his 2nd year in the league (12 and 7 in 24mpg).

Mike Sweetney ate his way out of the league. Couldn't control his weight / conditioning. Completely self-inflicted. Sweetney was pretty productive in limited minutes too. If he could've gotten his butt in shape, he would've been a really good player.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: xmuscularghandix on January 12, 2013, 04:14:01 PM
I think a big part of Jared Sullinger comes from the fact that his father is a very intelligent basketball coach. He raised him the right way, he taught him a lot... most importantly he taught him to be a good listener, respect his elders, but at the same time have pride and confidence.

Sully has the perfect balance of "I don't know anything yet, i'm just a young rookie who hasn't proven anything." and "I belong in this league, i'm not afraid of these guys i've seen on TV, i'm pretty [dang] good myself.". It's a difficult balance.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: PhoSita on January 12, 2013, 04:38:18 PM
I think a big part of Jared Sullinger comes from the fact that his father is a very intelligent basketball coach. He raised him the right way, he taught him a lot... most importantly he taught him to be a good listener, respect his elders, but at the same time have pride and confidence.

Sully has the perfect balance of "I don't know anything yet, i'm just a young rookie who hasn't proven anything." and "I belong in this league, i'm not afraid of these guys i've seen on TV, i'm pretty [dang] good myself.". It's a difficult balance.

Yes.  As Mike Gorman noted in the Rockets game, Sullinger has really great body language.  He handles himself really well on and off the court.  Seems to have a perfect attitude.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: Tr1boy on January 12, 2013, 04:44:03 PM
I think a big part of Jared Sullinger comes from the fact that his father is a very intelligent basketball coach. He raised him the right way, he taught him a lot... most importantly he taught him to be a good listener, respect his elders, but at the same time have pride and confidence.

Sully has the perfect balance of "I don't know anything yet, i'm just a young rookie who hasn't proven anything." and "I belong in this league, i'm not afraid of these guys i've seen on TV, i'm pretty [dang] good myself.". It's a difficult balance.

excellently put
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: kozlodoev on January 12, 2013, 04:49:54 PM
Sullinger is an not-so-athletic PF of average size. Sweetney and May ate themselves out of the league. There's no basis for comparison at all.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: Birdman on January 12, 2013, 04:53:43 PM
Sullinger is an not-so-athletic PF of average size. Sweetney and May ate themselves out of the league. There's no basis for comparison at all.
agree!! Plus May couldnt stay healthy
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: MBz on January 12, 2013, 04:58:59 PM
Sullinger may be close in weight to these guys, but he's not really as fat.  He's got a huge backside which obviously adds weight, but he's built more like Kevin Love then Mike Sweetney.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: TripleOT on January 12, 2013, 10:01:18 PM
Athleticism is so overrated for power forwards.  The position had the word "power" in it for a reason.  The league is littered with PFs who are ath-a-letes who stink. 

Sullinger has an incredible feel for the game of basketball.  For PFs, that is rare. He has already shown that he's an all around player (score inside and out, rebound at both ends, outlet pass, pass in the half court, play team defense).

Once Sully is allowed more than a token touch or two in the  low post, he will be a beast of a low post scorer. Then he will develop his perimeter game all the way out to the three point line. 

I see Sully's upside as more than "solid starter" because of his feel for the game, competitiveness, smarts, and work ethic.  It's a lot to put on a rookie, but the only way this roster has a chance against Miami in the playoffs is if Sullinger can make that small team pay by killing them in the paint.   
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: pearljammer10 on January 12, 2013, 10:24:21 PM
Sullinger is an not-so-athletic PF of average size. Sweetney and May ate themselves out of the league. There's no basis for comparison at all.

Yeah I dont see the comparison really either. May and Sweetney were big boys in college playing well against smaller and skinnier PFs. When they got to the NBA, they really had no athleticism whatsoever.

Sully might be "big" but he has much more athleticism them either of those guys put together.

Like someone else said, I really don't see Sully as "fat" at all. Sweetner and May. I do. and Did. Big time.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: ScottHow on January 12, 2013, 11:29:54 PM
Yeah, I don't even get the Big Baby comparison. Sully is taller, has better length, and has a better bball iq. Not to mention a better offensive game.
Title: Re: Sullinger vs Michael Sweetney and Sean May
Post by: indeedproceed on January 12, 2013, 11:37:38 PM
Who nailed it. May never got healthy, then never got in shape. Sweetney, he got real fat.