Rich’s Take: Boston Celtics Rookie Watch, Round Two

With almost 25% of the Boston Celtics’ schedule in the books, it’s time to take a second look at how the trio of rookies on Boston’s roster are doing!

Kelly Olynyk

Dec 3, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) stands on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Olynyk was really starting to make the Celtics Rookie of the Year competition a laugher . . . until he suffered an ankle sprain that has already sidelined him for about two weeks.   He was averaging right around 22 minutes per game, often as a starter, and his contributions to the Celtics’ offense (7.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 16. assists) were solid.  Better still, Olynyk was showing improvement on the defensive end, which is where a lot of the criticism against his game was focused.  I noticed Olynyk was moving his feet better and was not fouling quite as often as he had been his first few games, a sign that coach Stevens’ lessons were sinking in.  Even with his injury, Olynyk is probably going to wind up having the best year out of Boston’s three rookies . . . provided he doesn’t get injured again.

Vitor Faverani

While Faverani’s offense has not been anything to write home to Brazil about (he is only scoring 5.7 points per game, after all), there is no denying that Faverani has the potential to be an impact-player for Boston.  Faverani’s offensive and defensive rebound rates are 11.4 and 21.7, good for third-place and second-place, respectively, among all rookies.  Despite the fact that he averages only 16 minutes per game, his player efficiency rating and value added measures both rank him seventh among NBA rooks, so it’s safe to say that the Celtics struck gold when they drafted Faverani.   I have to believe Faverani’s offensive numbers will receive a nice boost if he ever gets the chance to play with a point guard who runs the pick and roll, so how soon Rajon Rondo returns (and the level he is capable of playing at) could be the decisive factor in whether Faverani can top Olynyk for Boston’s Rookie of the Year.

Phil Pressey

Nov 30, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Boston Celtics guard Phil Pressey (26) drives down court past Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight (11) in the 2nd quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

This is the second rookie report I have written so far this season . . . and this is the second time I have little to say about this young man.  He’s seen action in 17 of the 20 games the Cs have played, to the tune of less than 12 minutes per contest.  His field goal percentage is terrible – 25.5% – and his value added measure is -8.1   How fair it is to even be looking at those numbers, though, when Pressey isn’t being given the chance to really work his way into the flow of the game?   Whereas Faverani should be chomping at the bit at the thought of Rondo coming back, Pressey should be dreading that day, as he’ll pretty much become a DNP from that point forward.

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