Kelly Olynyk Filling in Great as a Starter

The Boston Celtics got Jared Sullinger back after he missed their last game but they were once again without Amir Johnson. Kelly Olynyk was asked to fill in as a starter against the Charlotte Hornets and once again he did not disappoint. Last game, Olynyk was the team’s leading scorer and one of their top defenders filling in as the starting center. Olynyk made it back to back games as the team’s leading scorer and he once again did it with 7-10 shooting.

Olynyk shot just 1-3 from three point range but he is proving that he is much more than a three point shooter. Olynyk is doing a masterful job of taking advantage of the matchup issues with being a stretch five and he is using a great shot fake to get inside on defenses. Olynyk has been one of the Celtics’ most efficient players this season and that is because of how few shots he will force. Olynyk once again took what the defense gave him and never hesitated to finish his opportunities.

Olynyk also came in as a solid rebounder. He was behind Jae Crowder and Sullinger but his 9 rebounds went a long way in winning that battle. The Celtics have known that Olynyk can be a top offensive option but his most significant area of improvement this season is on defense. Olynyk is sporting a career best 98 defensive rating and he is proving that he will no longer be a liability on the defensive end.

Out of the Celtics’ front court, Jared Sullinger’s defensive rating of 96 is the only one who tops Olynyk. Johnson has been one of the stronger interior defenders for the Celtics but he comes in at a mark of 99. Even the players that get minimal playing time are behind him. Tyler Zeller has a defensive rating of 102 and Jonas Jerebko is at 103.

The Celtics have found a way to be one of the best defensive teams in the league without an athletically imposing interior defender. The Celtics do not have an incredible interior athlete (although Jordan Mickey may change that soon enough) but their bigs are feeding off the defense of their back court and even if the interior is one of their weaker defensive areas, they are much better than expected.

Olynyk is showing signs of becoming one of the most complete players on the Celtics and he is doing it because of how well he plays in Brad Stevens’ system on both ends. Defense has always been the question mark for him and against the Hornets, the Celtics had one of the better defensive games on the inside. The Celtics gave up just 34 points in the paint and Olynyk is a huge reason why.

Dec 10, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) drives to the basket and shoots as he is defended by Boston Celtics center forward Kelly Olynyk (41) and guard forward Evan Turner (11) during the first half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Olynyk has become more than just a capable defender for the Celtics and while Johnson has done a solid job of playing strong interior defense all season, he is not the dynamic offensive threat that Olynyk is. It will certainly take more time before Olynyk can take over Johnson’s job as the starter but he has left Stevens no reason to believe that he cannot be strong on both ends of the court.

The biggest problem with Olynyk starting in losing him on the second unit. Ever since Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas joined forces on the starting unit the second unit has often lacked the spark that often carried them. Olynyk has been the biggest reason the Celtics have been able to continue to get an advantage on the second unit and taking him off of it could do a lot of harm.

Olynyk is a matchup nightmare and other than a brief slump at the beginning of the year he has carried the second unit while it lacked it’s top offensive option. Putting Olynyk into the starting unit would take away the dynamic offense threat from the second unit but things could change down the line.

Once Marcus Smart returns to the lineup the Celtics will get one of their two top offensive options back in the second unit and losing Olynyk will not threaten the second unit’s impact.

Olynyk has always been one of the most dynamic players for the Celtics and with the amount of time he has now spent with Brad Stevens there is no doubting that he has become a product of Stevens’ system and it is finally bringing out the best of him on both ends. Olynyk has learned to be a strong defender without leaning on his athleticism and Olynyk has learned how to have a solid impact with more than just his three point shot.

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One of the most efficient offensive options is emerging as one of the stronger interior defenders and if Olynyk continues to excel on both ends it will become more and more difficult for Stevens to ignore the potential of having Olynyk on the starting unit.