PF Jared Sullinger (2x 1st Team ALL B1G & All American, Anyang KGC, S.Korea)

[Buckskin86]

Sullinger using smarts and hustle
July, 25, 2012
By Greg Payne | ESPNBoston.com

Jared Sullinger wrapped up a productive week of Las Vegas summer league play with steady averages of 11.2 points and 8.6 rebounds, as he solidified himself as a candidate for Celtics head coach Doc Rivers' rotation next season.

Sullinger consistently displayed several attributes of his game that validated Boston's decision to select him with the 22nd overall pick in last month's NBA draft, most notably a dedication to rebounding, and an ability to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line. Sullinger hauled in double-digit rebounds in three of his five games in Vegas, including a week-high 14 in a win over the Chicago Bulls. Even more encouraging was Sullinger's willingness to crash the offensive glass, as nearly a third of his total rebounds (13) came on that side of the ball -- an area in which the Celtics would like to drastically improve after they finished dead last in offensive rebounding percentage last season.

Garrett W. Ellwood/Getty Images
Jared Sullinger's willingness to crash the glass and ability to get to the free-throw line will help in his quest to make the Celtics' rotation next season.

"That's part of my game, rebounding," Sullinger said after the Celtics' final summer league game on Sunday. "As long as you rebound, you're always going to have a job around here. That's my whole goal, is to keep my job, my occupation, so rebounding is going to be the mainstay around here."

Sullinger's hustle on the offensive glass undoubtedly contributed to his many trips to the free-throw line. In three of the Celtics' five games in Vegas, Sullinger attempted at least six free throws, and he shot a week-high of 12 (making 10 of them) as part of a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double in a one-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks last Saturday.

"Free throws, they're free for a reason, so I've just got to keep battling down there," Sullinger said. "As long as I keep battling, I think I can get to the free-throw line."

cont...

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4696595/sullinger-using-smarts-and-hustle

 

[Buckskin86]

How good can Sullinger be? Someone compared him to Jeff Ruland. That is not very good. Can he be a better version of Corliss Williamson? Did Adrian Dantley have hops? He was an inside scorer. Who among past or present stars does he compare to? What is his best upside, like 15 points and 8 rebounds per game? How bad are his defensive skills? Lastly, why Melo? He has very limited offensive skills. What did the Celtics see in him? -- Anonymous, New York City Wow, that is quite the barrage of questions. Here goes nothing. Sullinger can be an immensely productive NBA player, if he stays healthy. The concerns over his back, which Sullinger says are unfounded, were all that kept Sullinger from being a top-14 draft pick. As for Ruland, that is either very, very good or really bad, depending on whether the comparison is based on the level of play or the brevity of the career. Ruland was an excellent player for three seasons with the Bullets and made the 1984 All-Star team as the leading scorer for a playoff contender in Washington. His career was essentially over two years later, though, when nagging knee injuries caught up with him. So if Sullinger eventually averages 22.2 points and 12.3 rebounds, as Ruland did in his prime, combined with Williamson's longevity, the Celtics would be thrilled. The comparison of Sullinger to Dantley only goes so far. Dantley was also criticized for being too small and overweight, but unlike Sullinger, Dantley was a 6-foot-5 guard/forward with a good outside shot and explosive first step. He scored in the post thanks to clever moves and a knack for getting fouled, which is precisely what Sullinger will need to do to score effectively inside against bigger defenders. For the upcoming season, Sullinger's upside would be somewhere around six points and four rebounds per game, in my opinion. That may not seem substantial, but taking into account Doc Rivers' traditional reluctance to play rookies and the fact that Brandon Bass and Chris Wilcox likely will begin the season ahead of Sullinger in the rotation, that is a realistic mark. We cannot honestly project anything for Sullinger long-term until we see how he reacts to the pro game, how the Celtics intend to deploy his skills and how his body holds up. As for Melo, the Celtics do not care about his offense right now. He was drafted to be a defensive presence, and that area of his game is the first thing the Celtics will address.

Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/07/jared-s...l-fallacies-and-lebron-james-as-nba-all-.html

Beyone the Arc- Jared Sullinger

 

[Buckskin86]

Jared Sullinger on role with Boston Celtics: 'I've got to get ready for rebounding'
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012
By Jay King, MassLive.com

(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Boston Celtics' Jared Sullinger (7) passes the ball around Detroit Pistons' Andre Drummond during an NBA summer league basketball game, Thursday, July 12, 2012, in Orlando, Fla.

Rebounds have been water in the desert for the Boston Celtics for years, and last season they even regressed on the glass.

Only the Charlotte Bobcats and Golden St. Warriors, two of the NBA's worst teams, rebounded a smaller percentage of available caroms than the Celtics did during the 2011-12 regular season.

Rookie Jared Sullinger wants to help solve Boston's weakness, and he told CSNNE's Jessica Camerato that he understands what his role will be in Boston.

After averaging 11.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in the Las Vegas Summer League, Sullinger received feedback from the Celtics coaches. They don't expect him to be a star, at least not immediately. Actually, according to an interview Sullinger had with CSNNE, the team's focus seems to be on training Sullinger not to consider himself a star.

?[The coaches] just said I played really well and there are certain things I?ve got to get better at,? Sullinger said. ?Pick-and-roll defense, understanding the offense a little more, understanding that there?s a lot I?m not going to be getting due to having Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo out there on the floor, and obviously Jason Terry. There?s a lot of shots I won?t be normally taking, so I?ve got to get used to it ASAP.? ...

?I?ve got to find other opportunities to score,? said Sullinger. ?Like I tell everybody, rebounding is one of my strong suits of basketball. I?ve got to get ready for rebounding. Hopefully you don?t miss a lot, but if you do, hopefully I?m there to clean it up.?

cont..

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2012/08/jared_sullinger_on_role_with_b.html

Sullinger willing to give up his shot to help Celtics
August 16, 2012

Jared Sullinger knows how to be a dominating scorer. He also knows his role is about to change this season.

While some rookies enter their first year determined to establish themselves as an offensive presence, the Boston Celtics forward is prepared to make the necessary adjustments to fit into the team?s system.

?As long as we get a number put on to the left side instead of the right side, I?m going to be happy,? Sullinger told CSNNE.com in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

After getting his first taste of the NBA in the Orlando and Las Vegas Summer Leagues last month, where he averaged over 12 points per game, Sullinger has returned home to Ohio. He felt he rushed some of his shots and is working toward getting acclimated to the speed of the NBA game. The 20-year-old is applying the feedback received to his training before the start of the season.

?[The coaches] just said I played really well and there are certain things I?ve got to get better at,? Sullinger said. ?Pick-and-roll defense, understanding the offense a little more, understanding that there?s a lot I?m not going to be getting due to having Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo out there on the floor, and obviously Jason Terry. There?s a lot of shots I won?t be normally taking, so I?ve got to get used to it ASAP.?

cont...

http://www.csnne.com/basketball-bos...ve-up-his-shot-to?blockID=757817&feedID=10424

 

[Buckskin86]

Celtics' Sullinger promises to stay tattoo-free
September 5, 2012

Jason Terry inked a championship-inspired Boston Celtics logo on his arm this summer. Kevin Garnett also got new artwork while in Canada.

Tattoos are a popular form of expression among professional athletes. But don?t expect Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger to join the trend.

Sullinger, 20, has vowed to stay tattoo-free. He made the promise to someone he wouldn?t dare cross.

?No tattoos,? he recently told CSNNE.com. ?I promised my mother. You know if you break a promise, you?re not going to be living for the next days (laughs). I want to live as long as I can, so I?m not going to break that promise.?

That?s not the only promise Sullinger, the youngest of three brothers, made to his mother, Barbara.

The ink he wants to show her will be on his college diploma. Sullinger left Ohio State after his sophomore year and plans to complete his degree online. He took one course this summer while preparing to start his NBA career.

?I want my degree in sports management,? Sullinger said. ?I go back to school because I promised my mother I would finish. Again, you know how that goes with mothers. You promise, you better fulfill.?

http://www.csnne.com/basketball-bos...llinger-promises-to-stay-tatto?blockID=768109

 

[Buckskin86]

Over/Under: Jared Sullinger
September, 11, 2012
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

Nick Laham/Getty Images
Despite falling to Boston on draft night, big things are expected of rookie Jared Sullinger.

Each weekday for a three-week span, ESPN Boston colleague Greg Payne and I are playing a game of over/under while trying to predict the potential production for a Celtics player during the 2012-13 campaign. Today's target: rookie first-round pick Jared Sullinger.

Minutes per game: 15.5

* Forsberg: Over. Sullinger showed enough this summer to believe that Doc Rivers will have confidence to throw him into the fire (particularly since Boston's frontcourt isn't overflowing with depth). Sullinger's rebounding talents alone will allow him to make an immediate impact at the NBA level. It's on him to show that he can meet the team's defensive standards while carving out a role to keep him on the floor in larger doses as the season goes on.

* Payne: Over. Assuming Chris Wilcox serves as the top backup center and Jeff Green plays primarily (but not exclusively) at the small forward spot, Jared Sullinger is Doc Rivers' best option behind Brandon Bass at the power forward position. It'll likely be a give-and-take scenario for Rivers, as the things Sullinger does well (rebounding, getting to the free throw line) will have to outweigh the headaches any rookie will cause a coach. Sullinger seems to have a strong basketball IQ, but he'll likely have his share of stumbles when it comes to mastering the schemes on both sides of the ball. He'll need to overshadow the speed bumps with production in the aforementioned areas to see the court consistently.

Field goal percentage: 50

cont....

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4697285/overunder-jared-sullinger

 

[Buckskin86]

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012
Kidd-Gilchrist, Sullinger, Two Others Sign to Jordan Brand
by Tzvi Twersky | @ttwersky

Days after Michael Kidd-Gilchrist announced via Twitter that he was aligning with Jordan Brand, the company is ready to confirm that?and more. Per a press release sent by Jordan Brand today, Kidd-Gilchrist as well as three other rookies, Kendall Marshall, Jared Sullinger and Jeffrey Taylor, are all officially new members of the exclusive JB family. From the Jordan release:

?We are thrilled to add these four great athletes to the Jordan family,? said Michael Jordan. ?We feel like the work ethic and commitment to excellence that each of these young men personify is a perfect fit for what we stand for. We are looking forward to what they can accomplish on the court and in their respective communities.?

http://www.slamonline.com/online/ki...st-sullinger-two-others-sign-to-jordan-brand/

 

[Buckskin86]

Rookie Sullinger says the gang's all in
September, 27, 2012
By Greg Payne | ESPNBoston.com

BOSTON -- Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger got his first real dose of live action with his veteran teammates last week in Los Angeles during a series of team scrimmages organized by Rajon Rondo.

"That was fun. We had great team bonding," Sullinger said prior to taking a duck boat tour of Boston on Thursday. "Everybody went out. Everybody had fun, played ball. We never saw nobody go one-on-one. Everybody all went as a group. So, we just developed team chemistry."

That sense of camaraderie has stuck out to Sullinger ever since he participated in two summer leagues this past July. While those teams grew close over the two-week span in Orlando and Las Vegas, Sullinger said he can tell a difference between those bonds and the current ones developing between his teammates.

"I think summer league is more hectic. It's not as controlled," Sullinger explained. "Because everybody's out there fighting for a job. Everybody wants to be signed. Everybody wants to try to make it to the NBA. So it's a little more hectic. It's a little faster, got a little more one-on-one. So you step in and you leave summer league behind you and you've got your team. I think it's more team basketball, so it's not much one-on-one."

cont...

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4697503/rookie-sullinger-says-the-gangs-all-in

 

[Buckskin86]

CELTICS NOTEBOOK: Rookie Sullinger puts back issue in the past
By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Oct 01, 2012

WALTHAM ?

Doc Rivers was going down the list of key moves by the Celtics over the summer when he came to rookie Jared Sullinger.

The stock of the All-America forward from Ohio State dropped in the NBA Draft when reports of a back ailment surfaced last June, and he landed with the Celtics at No. 21.

?In the middle of last college season, I don?t even think we looked at film because we thought there was no chance to get him,?? said Rivers. ?Then Danny (Ainge, the team?s president of basketball operations) released the health report on him and he fell to us.??

As members of the media laughed, Rivers assured that he was indeed only joking, that Ainge didn?t leak any such false information to give the Celtics an edge in landing Sullinger.

Teams, however, were scared off by the back situation of Sullinger, but he made it through summer leagues in Orlando and Las Vegas without any problems and worked out throughout September at the team?s training facility with no setbacks.

Sullinger, who is battling for time at power forward, took part in both training camp practices over the weekend and has put the back issue in the rear-view mirror.

?It?s great,?? he said. ?I feel great. That?s in the past now. I can?t wait to get the season started.??

Sullinger grew wearing of all the talk about his back last June, but he said dropping to No. 21 is not serving as motivation for him.

?I?m not really determined to prove everybody wrong about personal numbers or personal stats,?? he said. ?It?s more of a team thing with me. I want to win. That?s my main goal, to win. Once we win, I?m fine.

?Everybody was knocking me for the back problems, all this crazy stuff. I could care less. Like I tell everybody, ?If I drop to the Celtics at 21 and I can go back and redo everything and me not getting hurt, I?d get hurt again and slide down all the way to 21 just so I can be with the Boston Celtics.? I?d redo it.

?It?s a great organization, great veterans, great team. You can?t ask for nothing better.??

Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/sport...ger-puts-back-issue-in-the-past#ixzz282xhQB11

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwWEjEvMy6o"]Jared Sullinger's Celtics Media Day interview - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Roster focus: Jared Sullinger
October 3, 2012
By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

We're profiling every player on the Celtics roster before the season begins. Today it's Jared Sullinger.

Jared Sullinger
Reserve forward
6-feet-9-inches, 280 pounds, 20-years-old
2012/13 salary: $1.3 million

Strengths: Sullinger has excelled at every level of basketball. He was a two-time All-American in two years at Ohio State after being one of the best high school players in the country. Scoring and rebounding ability highlight Sullinger's strengths. He can post up, face up, and knock down jump shots. He has a nose for the ball on the glass that the Celtics have lacked in recent seasons.

Room to improve:It's simplistic to say Sullinger would be better if he were taller and slimmer. He isn't. Where Sullinger will have to get better in the NBA is on defense. He needs to be able to defend his own man, and he needs to fit into Boston's complex defensive schemes. He'll also have some work to do against bigger, stronger NBA players. The days of him overpowering his defender and easily getting his own shot should be over.

Projections for 2012/13: 67 games, 6.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 22 minutes/game

Outlook:I think Sullinger's going to get some run this season, which would go against Doc Rivers's usual strategy of not playing rookies. Sullinger is a better backup option than Fab Melo, Jason Collins, and Darko Milicic. Chris Wilcox is theoretically ahead of Sullinger on the depth chart, but Wilcox admitted Friday he was only at 90 percent following heart surgery. Look for Sullinger to be a major part of the rotation.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2012/10/roster_focus_ja.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omx5Sb4rwSE"]Jared Sullinger Video Blog - Day 1 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Jared Sullinger makes strong impression
By Mark Murphy
Saturday, October 6, 2012

ISTANBUL ? First impressions can be varied when a player joins a team, but Jared Sullinger?s initial work has highlighted one very specific quality for his older teammates to see.

And it?s not his most obvious strength as a rebounder and post player, though those talents certainly stood out in Sullinger?s team-high 16-point, eight-rebound performance during the Celtics [team stats]? 97-91 loss to Fenerbache Ulker last night in their exhibition opener.

?His IQ is very high,? Kevin Garnett said of the rookie power forward. ?I watched him a couple of times while he was (at Ohio State), and we saw a little of what he can do skill-wise. When you play with him you can actually see the IQ.?

Paul Pierce landed on the same spot.

?I think he has a great basketball IQ,? he said.

Neither player was asked about Sullinger?s basketball intelligence. No leading questions here.

And now Sullinger, and possibly even raw fellow rookie Fab Melo, has a chance to break a longstanding trend on Doc Rivers? teams.

Like Glen Davis and Leon Powe during the 2007-08 championship season, he could find a place in Rivers? big man rotation. Sullinger can swing between power forward and center, though early in training camp his primary work has come in the former position.

?I guess so. He has a chance,? Rivers said of Sullinger. ?There are definitely open minutes at that spot. Jeff (Green) is going to play the 4, too, so that will take away some of the minutes. But it?s an open competition.

?He?s been good, he?s been up and down,? Rivers added. ?I don?t think anyone is jumping off the screen, and that?s fine. It?s been very competitive for the most part, and Jared has had his stretches. You also have to understand that he?s playing more with the second unit, almost exclusively. He hasn?t had a chance to blend in with the starters, and that?s what happens in the games. He?ll have a better chance. You?re going to look better if you?re playing with Rondo, Kevin and Paul than with others, and that?s a fact.?

cont...

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports...s_strong_impression/srvc=home&position=recent

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XncO_fHsNrc"]Jared Sullinger Video Blog - Day 2 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zpmRFiea_k"]Jared Sullinger Video Blog - Day 3 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH7T_rqtgDQ"]Postgame Wrap Up - Oct 5, 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Doc trying not to paint Sullinger into box
By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook
Sunday, October 7, 2012

MILAN ? Jared Sullinger?s ability to burrow his way into the paint for 16 points and eight rebounds Friday night, including five offensive boards, highlighted the big rookie?s ability to carve out space with his considerable bulk.

But the Celtics [team stats] coaching staff is also looking for ways to get Sullinger the favorable matchups he will need. As a player with limited lift, some have predicted that Sullinger will have trouble scoring and rebounding against longer defenders.

So coach Doc Rivers is attempting to institute a protection plan. He wants to make sure that Sullinger is never the biggest Celtic on the floor. That way he won?t automatically draw an opposing center in the paint.

Otherwise, he could follow in the footsteps of Glen Davis in one particularly hazardous way, as the Celtic most likely to get his shot blocked.

?We try to protect him so that won?t happen,? said Rivers. ?The reason we played him with Kevin (Garnett) in the second quarter is because the bigger guy was always guarding Kevin. We got the matchup that way.

?Sometimes you have to create the matchup. Some teams don?t have two bigs like that, they only have one. So when you?re playing with Darko (Milicic) or you?re playing with Kevin, you really don?t have that problem. The good thing is that for a long stretch he was guarding a 5. Early on I thought they were taking advantage of it, but as the game went on I thought he got better at it.?

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/..._sullinger_into_box/srvc=sports&position=also

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbQMvOhPuZ0"]Jared Sullinger Video Blog - Day 4 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Celtics getting very comfortable with rookie Jared Sullinger
By Gary Washburn
Globe Staff / October 7, 2012

MILAN ? The confidence and comfort level in Jared Sullinger is rapidly increasing, as evidenced by his insertion into the starting lineup Sunday night as the Celtics concluded their European trip against Emporio Armani Milano at the Mediolanum Forum.

It was Sullinger?s second professional game, and there he was, being introduced alongside Pierce, Rondo, Garnett, and Terry. And Sullinger handled the responsibility well, scoring 9 points and adding seven rebounds in the Celtics? 105-75 win over the Italian League team.

After a rather listless effort Friday in a 97-91 loss to Fenerbahce Ulker, the Celtics came out in front of a sellout crowd of 10,672, many of them Celtics fans, and disposed of their opponent after a first-quarter struggle.

In the final three periods, EA7 converted just 16 of 64 shots for 44 points after going 10 for 19 for 31 points in the first quarter. Celtics coach Doc Rivers wanted to see an overall defensive effort from his club and it delivered, outrebounding EA7, 54-35.

Sullinger, who played 18 minutes, manned the paint against the bigger Ioannis Bourousis, who is listed at 7 feet, 270 pounds. While he struggled with Bourousis?s length at times, Sullinger was relentless and seemingly always around the ball, a skill Rivers has quickly noticed.

?Sullinger is just one of those guys, as you can see, he just finds the ball,? Rivers said. ?I don?t know how he gets it. He doesn?t look very athletic. But he has a way, he knows where the ball is going. I thought he was wonderful again. It?s great to see him play with a different unit and have no problems with it.

?He?s just a smart kid, way smarter than his age, and he doesn?t act like a rookie. That?s good for our team.?

cont...

http://www.boston.com/sports/2012/1...d-sullinger/PFwgSWk5Ig7CzvFkhh9slK/story.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq3MQIY9zL0"]Jared Sullinger vs Fenerbahce - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Sullinger's IQ
October, 11, 2012
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

Nick Laham/Getty ImagesCeltics rookie Jared Sullinger has distinguished himself with his basketball IQ.

The Jared Sullinger hype machine has been spinning out of control after two solid overseas performances to start the preseason and Celtics coach Doc Rivers did little to slow it down Wednesday when he admitted that he'll consider utilizing Sullinger as a starter (at least at times) this season.

The buzzword attached to 20-year-old Sullinger and his ability to make an immediate impact at the NBA level is "IQ." Rivers and Celtics players can't mention Sullinger's name without mentioning his court smarts.

Said Kevin Garnett: "Sully is very intelligent player. Very, very high IQ basketball."

Rivers echoed that sentiment when asked to pinpoint what has allowed Sullinger to distinguish himself early in camp: "His IQ. He doesn't think like a rookie, he thinks like a veteran. He plays at great pace, he?s one of our best rebounders, he can pass the ball -- so he does a lot of things that help our team."

But the biggest compliment might have come from point guard Rajon Rondo.

"[Sullinger is] probably the smartest rookie we've had since I've been here," said Rondo. "He's very intelligent, high basketball IQ, and he's very unselfish. He doesn't need a play called for him. He's been getting his points just off the little dirty work."

Sullinger started Sunday's game in Milan and, at the end of practice Wednesday, was running with the first team during skeleton drills. Rivers said he'd start Sullinger again later in the preseason as the Celtics tinker with lineups trying to find the best fits for when the games really matter.

As for his basketball smarts, Sullinger credits his family.

cont...

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4697795/sullingers-iq

Jared Sullinger's High Basketball IQ Lauded by Celtics Coaches, Teammates Alike, Whether or Not He Starts
by Ben Watanabe on Thu, Oct 11, 2012

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Only three days removed from a solid professional starting debut, Jared Sullinger might have been feeling pretty good about himself. The rookie out of Ohio State had been impressive in the Celtics' preseason victory over AC Emporio Armani in Milan on Sunday, and by Wednesday there was talk of him cracking the starting lineup more often, if not permanently. Rajon Rondo has watched more seasoned teammates like Kevin Garnett praise and then demur on the skills of young players -- including Rondo himself -- in the past. The Celtics point guard interrupted the tributes to Sullinger after practice when it was mentioned that Sullinger, in addition to having an instinctive knack for getting in good position for rebounds and understanding the team's offensive concepts, seemed to have "good hands." "Seems like it," Rondo said, as though he was unconvinced. "It's preseason, though." Jared SullingerStill, Rondo could not hide how impressed he was with the rookie's play during the Celtics' week abroad. He called Sullinger the smartest rookie the Celtics have had since -- well, since himself, to be honest. And Rondo lauded Sullinger's basketball IQ, a term that coach Doc Rivers also described as the Sullinger's most impressive quality. "He doesn't think like a rookie," Rivers said. "He thinks like a veteran." College players, even the stars, often have to go through a maturation phase before they are accepted on veteran teams. The rare rookie who makes an impact on such teams is often the one people least expect, like Kawhi Leonard starting 39 games last season for the Spurs. Sullinger, at only 20 years old and with only two seasons of college basketball to his credit, might not seem like the most likely candidate to crack the Celtics' rotation -- or possibly the starting lineup -- in his first year. Yet while running through offensive sets with the Celtics' "green" team of potential first-unit players on Wednesday, Sullinger meshed easily with Rondo, Garnett and Paul Pierce. The most noticeable blunder made by that group during the portion of practice reporters were allowed to watch was when Sullinger screened off the ball for Rondo, who swung underneath the screen as Pierce's pass to the unoccupied wing sailed out of bounds. It was obvious the mix-up was between the two veterans. The rookie had done exactly what he was supposed to do. Knowing what is going on is paramount, of course, especially on the Celtics. Garnett has never been mistaken for an easygoing teammate, but he has said he feels comfortable with many of the newer players on this year's team because they seldom screw up, and when they do, they know why. "It feels good to have more guys that are not just talented, but have high IQs," Garnett said. "They know how to play basketball. You don't have to point-blank tell them things, 'This is white, this is black.' They know how to play the gray areas and respond to it and just play basketball." Two preseason games were not enough for Sullinger's veteran teammates to anoint him, but they did notice him, and they are curious to see what else he has to show them.

Read more at: http://www.nesn.com/2012/10/jared-s...s-teammates-alike-whether-or-not-he-star.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABSExenE_Ao"]Jared Sullinger: 'We're trying to get banner 18' - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ1vDggXnWY"]Celtics Jared Sullinger Video Blog 2012-13 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po4atZMiK0Q"]Rajon Rondo: Jared Sullinger 'smartest rookie we've had' - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Sullinger has smarts
October 11, 2012

The Celtics are barely two weeks into the preseason, but the accolades are already coming fast and furious for rookie Jared Sullinger. Most recently, the focus has been on Sullinger's basketball IQ, with Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett both pointing out how well the rookie knows the game, and yesterday at practice, Rajon Rondo taking it to another level, saying that Sullinger is "probably the smartest rookie we've had since I've been here."

Before we get too carried away, let's take a second to remember the rookies who have played on the Celtics since Rondo joined the team: Gabe Pruitt, Glen Davis, J.R. Giddens, Billy Walker, Semih Erden, Lester Hudson, Luke Harandogy, Avery Bradley (smart, but was a nervous wreck as a rookie), E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson.

Right. So it's not like Sullinger has much competition. But more important than comparing him to past rookies, is the fact that Rondo thinks Sullinger has a strong IQ at all; strong enough to give his public blessing.

With guys as smart as Rondo ? or who fancy themselves as smart ? sometimes the hardest thing to do is give someone else credit for being smart. Guys like Rondo aren't easily impressed by other people's intelligence. And the fact that he felt the need to speak on the issue is an unbelievable sign. Because let's face it, with rookies, the game is just as much mental as it physical. Without the mental aspect, physical skills don't mean a thing. So at the very least, it's nice to know that Sullinger has that going for him. That after a mere two weeks, he's already earned the respect of the three most important guys in that locker room.

As for the physical? Sure looks like the kid can play the game as well as he understands it, but we'll find out more on Saturday in Hartford, when he gets his first taste of NBA competition.

http://www.csnne.com/blog/standing-room-only/post/Sullinger-has-smarts?blockID=787645&feedID=10424

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib7EP4swcHY"]Molly McGrath e Jared Sullinger dei Boston Celtics intervistati a Milano - YouTube[/ame]