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

[Buckskin86]

For Jared Sullinger, a chance to go beyond the comparisons
November 7, 2012
By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

It's been three games, but it's already obvious: Jared Sullinger can ball. Undersized and at times a step slow, Sullinger is going to be fine as a player. He takes charges, uses his backside to carve out space, and has a nose for the ball under the rim. On the occasions when his shot gets blocked by a taller opponent, Sullinger sticks with the play and often puts in his own miss. He makes up for any physical deficiencies with an extraordinary amount of skill. Sullinger is challenging for a starting job, and his stellar play may be the most exciting development for the Celtics in the early season.

The substance is all there. But there's something bothersome about the style of Sullinger's early NBA play. By the eye test, Sullinger plays much like a former Celtics draft pick whose stock fell on draft night, a great college player who projected lower as a pro. In fact, plug in the name "Glen Davis" for "Sullinger" in the first paragraph above and it still rings true. The comparison is bothersome not because Davis isn't a good NBA player, but because Sullinger can be so much more.

cont...

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2012/11/for_jared_sulli.html

Sullinger: KG praise means a lot
By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook
Wednesday, November 7, 2012

WALTHAM ? Jared Sullinger has not summoned up memories of Kendrick Perkins [stats], except for the one Celtic who would know better than any other.

When Kevin Garnett plays and practices next to Sullinger, something about the rookie?s approach and decisions shouts ?Perk.?

?I thought he did a great job,? Garnett said of Sullinger?s first start during the Celtics [team stats]? win in Washington last Saturday. ?He?s a no-nonsense guy. Not that I?m shooting down the other guys, but he?s a young fella, he comes in and does what you tell him. He?s a great rebounder. His IQ is incredible.

?He reminds me a lot of Perk, man. Not the defender Perk was, but his IQ moving the ball and being unselfish is the same.?

cont...

http://bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/20221107sullinger_kg_praise_means_a_lot

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvl5-SoBkPQ"]Jared Sullinger reminds Kevin Garnett of Kendrick Perkins - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0olKUe5bFUY"]Doc Rivers on Jared Sullinger and Rookies Overall - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Jared Sullinger in early, but not late for Celtics
By Frank Dell'Apa
| Globe Staff
November 08, 2012

Jared Sullinger, 20, who became one of the youngest starters ever for the Celtics last week at Washington, made his second successive start in Wednesday?s rematch against the Wizards.

But the Celtics went with veterans in crunch time as they took a 100-94 overtime victory over the Wizards.

Brandon Bass, who started the first two games of the season before being replaced by Sullinger, broke a 92-92 tie with 5 points over a 1:44 span as the Celtics closed out the game.

The Celtics went with a lineup of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry, and Bass in overtime.

?I thought [Terry] was terrific,? Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ?And, you know, it?s funny, we left Jason in because he was playing great defense. That may be a first in his career that that?s ever been said about Jason Terry. But he was terrific. I thought the ball pressure, and he did a lot of good things, defensively. And when he does that, with his shot, we keep him on the floor, because he gives you a shooter?s chance all night.?

Sullinger had 4 points and 4 rebounds in 24 minutes.

?I do like Jared, he gives us a rebounder and another passer,? Rivers said before the game. ?Right now, at this point in his career, he?s not looking to score but he will score. Scoring happens for him and it?s a good fit.

?It?s been proven if you?re a great rebounder in college, you?re usually a great rebounder in pros, or anywhere. It?s almost an instinct. If you?re a rebounder you?re a rebounder. He?s good at it, the ball hits his hands, it sticks.?

The Celtics selected Sullinger with the 21st pick in the draft.

?Character is really important,? Rivers said of evaluating draft-eligible players. ?If that?s the reason I would say most of the time we would pass. But it wasn?t a character issue with Jared. It was health.?

http://bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/...nst-wizards/UJHfmISOaC2tntZM6b5eHI/story.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Sullinger taking charge
November, 9, 2012
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Jared Sullinger's ability to rebound and draw charges is a big reason he's in the starting lineup.

BOSTON -- Even as a young hoopster, Jared Sullinger understood the value of taking a charge.

?Freshman year [at Northland] High School [in Columbus, Ohio], playing against this [rival] team called Beechcroft High School," explained Sullinger. "We were up by one, guy came down the lane, I took a charge -- we won the game off of that and so I just understand what charges do for a basketball team. One, it?s a turnover; two, it?s a personal foul; three, you get the ball back, so you?ve got to sacrifice your body in this game.?

The Celtics have employed some of the finest charge-takers in the game in recent seasons (Glen Davis, Jermaine O'Neal) and it appears Sullinger will carry that giving-up-your-body torch.

In four games, Sullinger has drawn a team-high three charges (of seven overall taken by Boston) and he probably deserved at least one more if not for rookie whistles in Washington. Sullinger has been getting it done with the help of some trickery that dates back to his high school days.

"When people see somebody -- at the time I was maybe 6-7, 6-6, 6-5, around there, and guys would always see me as a shot-blocker," said Sullinger. "I don?t know why, but they would always see me as a shot-blocker, so what I did was, I acted like I?m going to go block the shot, I?d just stop and take the charge.?

That move is still working in the pros, where Sullinger leans on his basketball IQ to make up for the size he gives up. Does he worry about wear-and-tear from giving up his body, the type that sidelined Davis and O'Neal at times during their Boston days?

"I think I?ve got enough cushion on my body to take that, so it doesn?t really hurt me," said Sullinger. "I don?t know about the other [players], but it doesn?t hurt me.?

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4698693/notebook-sullinger-taking-charge

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pap53vhfNFo"]CelticsHub: Jared Sullinger Postgame - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Jared Sullinger of Boston Celtics indicates he works on pick and pops with Rajon Rondo every day, and a better midrange game would be quite helpful
Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012
By Jay King, MassLive.com

It's not correct to say little is expected of Boston Celtics rookie forward Jared Sullinger, because head coach Doc Rivers demands plenty from his subjects.

But there are certain aspects of Sullinger's game the Celtics don't yet expect him to translate to the NBA level.

Chief among them: scoring.

Through seven games with Boston, he has scored just 3.6 points per games, attempting just 21 total shots while playing 17.0 minutes per game. According to NBA.com's statistical database, just five of his attempts have come from outside the paint -- four of them have been missed midrange jumpers, and the other was a 3-pointer he drilled as time expired on the third quarter Monday night against the Chicago Bulls.

But Sullinger's working on expanding his offensive repertoire, a move that could pay big dividends later this season or perhaps later in Sullinger's career.

cont...

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2012/11/jared_sullinger_of_boston_celt_1.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Jared Sullinger doesn?t get mad, gets even
By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook
Sunday, November 18, 2012

Jared Sullinger had one of those defining angry moments Thursday night in Brooklyn. The Nets crashed for 15 offensive boards in the first half, and Sullinger was one of the first leaks in the wall.

Doc Rivers? hook quickly found the rookie, who in turn got mad at himself. Then came the Celtics [team stats]? 107-89 win over Toronto yesterday, when Sullinger made restitution with his first NBA double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.

?I just had to channel my energy toward (yesterday?s) game,? Sullinger said. ?Understand that even though I don?t play a lot, there?s still a lot of things I can do to help the basketball team. I wasn?t upset that I didn?t play a lot. I was just upset that we lost. My main priority is to win.?

The people who matter understand.

?Sully does small things like rebound the ball ? the way he gets guys open,? said Kevin Garnett. ?His dives, his rolls, him getting (Jason Terry) open looks. Things that aren?t going to show up (on paper). The small things he does that makes us better. In order for us to be better, everyone has to do those small things. Overall, Sully, along with Chris (Wilcox) and the other guys are doing the small things that are helping us come out of this funk we?ve been in.?

And this time Rivers left his hook alone.

?I thought he really did a great job overall,? the Celtics coach said of Sullinger. ?You know, they got a couple but I thought he was aggressive. But he just knows how to play. He has a calming effect at times when you put him in, and I don?t think I?ve ever said that about a rookie.?

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/..._gets_even/srvc=sports&position=recent_bullet


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6pmc1kdN9U"]ESPN Boston: Jared Sullinger postgame vs. Raptors - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdIYgxikd_s"]CelticsHub: Jared Sullinger post game interview - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtsmJhmalH0"]The chip on Jared Sullinger's shoulder - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Sullinger rebounds from benching
Updated: November 18, 2012
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

The Brooklyn Nets had already hauled in 14 offensive rebounds against the Boston Celtics over the first 19 minutes of Thursday's game in Brooklyn when Boston rookie Jared Sullinger got caught out of position. He hedged too high on a pick-and-roll and was scrambling to get back to his man, who had set up shop under the glass.

Fearful of giving up another offensive board, Sullinger pushed Kris Humphries from behind, drawing a whistle that gave the Nets the ball back without even having to fight for the rebound.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers had seen enough. Sullinger, a rookie whose calling card is cleaning the glass, didn't just get the hook, he spent the rest of the night on the bench.

"I just told all the guys: If you get an offensive rebound on you, you're coming out and [Sullinger] was the first," explained Rivers.

It was a little bit of a tough love for a young player. Rivers wanted Boston's top pick in this year's draft to learn a lesson that game, but was also interested to see how he'd respond.

Sullinger bounced back Saturday by posting his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds over 26:23 in a 107-89 thumping of the Toronto Raptors. He followed it up on Sunday by being maybe the Celtics' best player on the floor -- at least in the fourth quarter -- when he scored a team-high 16 points in a 103-83 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

"He kind of knows where to go, he knows his place," Rivers said. "I think he wasn't happy about not playing against Brooklyn. ? He just knows how to play. He has a calming effect at times when you put him in -- and I don't think I've ever said that about a rookie. It's nice to have that."

Sullinger admitted he was anything but calm after Thursday's benching. Asked if he was upset, Sullinger immediately answered, "Yup." But he clarified later that he was angry at himself for giving Rivers a reason to pull him from the game. Couple that with Boston losing in Brooklyn, and Sullinger wasn't a particularly happy camper.

cont...

http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/8651116/boston-celtics-jared-sullinger-rebounds-benching

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO0pZ3sw-aI"]Kevin Garnett: "Sullinger Does the Small Things" - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynzl0LDsYHc"]Jared Sullinger 12 Points/11 Rebounds Full Highlights (11/17/2012) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Jared Sullinger, under Kevin Garnett's wing, blooms for Celtics
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY SportsShare

Playing for his dad in high school was not always easy, but Boston Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger still worried about getting yelled at by Celtics vet Kevin Garnett. Turns out, the two have bonded.

November 20. 2012 - Boston Celtics rookie forward Jared Sullinger had a preconceived notion of what playing with veteran big man Kevin Garnett might be like.

He braced for the worst ? Garnett yelling at him, Garnett embarrassing him, Garnett cussing him out like only Garnett can.

"I was just mentally being prepared to not cry on the bench," Sullinger said.

Turns out, Sullinger hasn't cried (at least that he has admitted publicly), and the experience has been rewarding for him after his two years at Ohio State.

"I learned early it's not how loud he says it, it's what he's saying. Thanks, Pops," said Sullinger, whose work with Garnett is helped through the lessons learned from his dad, Satch, who coached him in high school. "I was blessed to have an angry coach."

HEALTHY: Back issues resolved to Celtics' satisfaction

Garnett mentors Sullinger, and they have bonded ? the old man and the rook.

"His basketball IQ is very high," Garnett said. "He gets it. He understands what we're doing here. He's bought into what we preach here."

Wise for a rookie, Sullinger relishes the unique opportunity to work with and learn from Garnett, and in the process, the 6-9, 260-pound 20-year-old has worked his way into a part-time starting role in coach Doc Rivers' revolving lineup.

"He's still got a lot of work but he does a lot of good things," Rivers said. "He has a veteran mind. He does not play like a young guy, except he makes rookie fouls. He's just a good spirit, and it's good to have him in the locker room."

cont...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...llinger-finds-perfect-home-in-boston/1716759/

Sullinger's play reassures Celtics about his bad back
Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY SportsShare
Back issues cost Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger a lottery spot in the draft, but he was a good risk to the Celtics

November 20. 2012 - Before the 2012 draft, NBA doctors medically red-flagged Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger because of his bad back history. He went from potential lottery pick to No. 21 overall, slipping to the Boston Celtics.

As falls go, that's a soft landing: a job with one of the best organizations in the league.

Instead of ending up on a team that didn't make the playoffs, Sullinger joined a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season and is expected to push the defending champion Miami Heat again this season.

The Celtics had concerns about Sullinger's back but weren't discouraged enough to pass on him.

"The way I look at it, there's risk in every player for one reason or another," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge told USA TODAY Sports. "There's very few players who are no risk. There's all kind of different risks.

"One risk is, are they good enough? One risk, are they healthy enough? Another risk is, do they have character? Another risk is, do they fit in with our system and with our personality? So you're always risking something with most players.

cont...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ed-sullinger-boston-celtics-bad-back/1717891/

 

[LitlBuck]

Rookie Jared Sullinger and veteran Kevin Garnett have bonded, and the union is paying off for the Boston Celtics.

?His basketball IQ is very high,? Garnett said of the former Ohio State All-American in an interview with USA Today. ?He gets it. He understands what we?re doing here. He?s bought into what we preach here.?

That shouldn?t surprise anyone in Columbus; Sullinger played for his dad, Satch, at Northland, and also earned praise from OSU coach Thad Matta for his coachability.

?When you?ve got Kevin Garnett in your ear, I?m learning every day,? Sullinger said. ?It?s like that every day. Kevin is constantly moving his hands, talking. ? As you see what he sees, the game slows down tremendously.?

Sullinger had 12 points and 11 rebounds against Toronto, then scored a career-high 16 points against Detroit.

?He still has a lot of work to do, but he does a lot of good things,? Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. ?He has a veteran mind. He does not play like a young guy, except he makes rookie fouls.?

Rumblings

 

[Buckskin86]

Jared Sullinger seeing red
Draft slide drives rookie
By Mark Murphy
Sunday, November 25, 2012

Photo by Matthew West
EXTRA MOTIVATION: Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger is proving that his draft status may not be equal to his game.

Jared Sullinger wears his red flag with honor.

Tagged during last June?s draft as a player with chronic back trouble and less athleticism than some of the other available power forwards, the Celtics [team stats] rookie slid like a toboggan down the draft chart.

He landed with a coach notoriously reluctant to give opportunities to young players ? especially a 21st draft pick ? yet still managed to earn a place in Doc Rivers? rotation.

Most of all, many of his teammates know what it?s like to slide. Paul Pierce [stats], the 10th pick in the 1998 draft, carries that like a grudge. And he has a running conversation with Sullinger on the subject.

The Celtics captain tells Sullinger to look at the draft chart, and especially at the centers and power forwards who were taken before No. 21.

?(Pierce) asks me, ?How many of those guys do you think are better than you? How many guys are helping their organization win?? ? said Sullinger. ?I said, ?Not a lot,? and he told me to keep playing, keep doing my job.

?He tells me about his situation all the time.?

Sullinger admittedly pays attention to the other guys, though his interest is not entirely the result of draft envy.

?Yeah, I keep track, but honestly, some of these guys are my friends,? he said. ?I?m always cheering for them. There?s no hate. I?m supporting them.?

It?s still entertaining, though, to compare. And after his first month as an NBA player, Sullinger has statistically held his own against the big men taken ahead of him in June.

Through Friday?s games, Sullinger ranked 10th among NBA rookies in rebounding with an average of 4.3 boards per game. Only four bigs from last June?s draft class, however, were ahead of him in this category? New Orleans? Anthony Davis (first, 8.3 rpg), Cleveland?s Tyler Zelle (fourth, 5.3), Detroit?s Andre Drummond (fifth, 5.2) and Milwaukee?s John Henson (sixth, 5.2).

cont...

http://bostonherald.com/sports/bask...ullinger_seeing_red_draft_slide_drives_rookie

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxiIAqCjJ-w"]Kevin Garnett to Jared Sullinger - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Posting Up blog: A whole new world
By Jared Sullinger / Posting Up Blog
Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Celtics rookie forward Jared Sullinger begins a regular blog for bostonherald.com today, relating his experiences from his first NBA season. In today?s blog, Sullinger reflects on his first month in the league.

The first thing that struck me over the last month was the traveling. Everyone talks about the traveling, but how much it takes a toll on your body is something you have to pay attention to. All of the things you have to do, like eating right, staying hydrated and getting your rest so you can get up the next day to perform at your peak level, are important.

We had one incredible stretch when we played seven games in 10 days, and I had never been through something like that, unless you count AAU ball. It was rough for me because it was my first time doing a stretch like that. I had to find out what works for me, what doesn?t work for me, what to eat, what not to eat, should I go with more Gatorade or more water. I had to find my niche to stay comfortable through that stretch.

cont..

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...n+Celtics+-+Celtics+&+NBA+-+BostonHerald.com)

 

[Buckskin86]

Posting Up With Sully: The Buckeye weighs in on OSU football
By Jared Sullinger
Tuesday, December 4, 2012

I didn?t just go to Ohio State, I grew up there, in Columbus, Ohio.

You have to love Ohio State and the Big Ten when you?re from there. Football, basketball. We have two pro teams in Columbus ? the Columbus Crew and the Columbus Blue Jackets. But everybody loves the Ohio State Buckeyes.

A lot has been said about the football team going undefeated. Some think the team should be able to compete for a national championship, although we can?t because we?ve been penalized by the NCAA.

I don?t think we should. We have to pay our dues. We did a couple of things wrong and we got caught doing it. So at the end of the day you have to pay for it. Those guys understood that they have one season where there?s no post-season play.

cont...

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

No settle in Sullinger
December, 4, 2012
By Greg Payne | ESPNBoston.com

Geoff Burke/US PresswireJared Sullinger has put together a solid start to his rookie campaign.

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Part of the reason why Jared Sullinger has delivered such a solid rookie campaign through the Celtics' first 17 games is because he hasn't settled on accepting the successes he has had up to this point.

Merely fitting in and not looking like a rookie among a host of veteran players has been an accomplishment in itself, but factor in the production -- he's averaged 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds on 48 percent shooting over his last five games, for example -- and it's clear that Sullinger is steadily finding his NBA legs.

Ask him about hitting an early season stride, though, and he'll quickly brush aside the suggestion. He's more interested in discussing the things he can still do better.

"I'm making strides, but at the same time, I'm a rookie," Sullinger said after Monday's practice. "As a rookie you always have ups and downs. A lot of people think I'm playing well, but there's things I can do a lot better to help this basketball team out.

"I've still got to play with more confidence. Sometimes I'm hesitant. Sometimes I go back to things that I did in college that doesn't work at this level, and [head coach] Doc [Rivers] always reminds me of that. And so, I've just got to get better at being a pro."

cont...

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4699703/no-settle-in-sullinger

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZm_laBbEb4"]Jared Sullinger - Boston Celtics - 2012/2013 - Offensive rebounding - [HD] - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzF150gU9Zs"]Jared Sullinger 3 blocks - Highlights vs Milwaukee Bucks 12/1/2012 - [HD] - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Sickness can't slow Sullinger
December, 6, 2012
By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

BOSTON -- Celtics coach Doc Rivers said rookie Jared Sullinger played sick during Wednesday's 104-94 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sullinger contributed seven points, seven rebounds, and two blocks over a mere 18 minutes. While he downplayed his illness, Sullinger is now the third Boston player to deal with a virus that's invaded the team locker room.

"Sully was great tonight," said Rivers. "Sully was sick, I think. It?s going around in each player, I guess. I called for him and said, ?C?mon now.? I won?t tell you what I called him -- jokingly. But he came out and played great. I don?t know if we?ll have him for the next two games, but he?s not feeling great, I can tell you that."

Sullinger said it doesn't matter how he feels. When you step on the court, you're considered healthy.

"I was just trying to give the team all I had," said Sullinger. "Once you step inside those lines -- sickness and injuries and whatever people have -- goes out the door. There are no excuses."

Sullinger's effort on the glass helped the Celtics outrebound the Timberwolves 45-41 overall. It didn't hurt that Boston shot 52.6 percent, limiting available defensive caroms.

As for that illness? Said Sullinger, "I?ll be fine."

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4699786/sickness-cant-slow-sullinger

 

[Buckskin86]

Rookie Jared Sullinger comes up big for Celtics
He rises to the occasion in Boston against Sixers
By Amalie Benjamin
Globe staff / December 8, 2012

Jared Sullinger?s 363 minutes in the NBA is a far cry from Kevin Garnett?s approximately 51,000, regular season and playoffs. So on the second night of a back-to-back, a night when 76ers coach Doug Collins made an issue of those minutes, Sullinger knew he had no excuses.

He?s a rookie. His legs were fresh.

?I?m young,? Sullinger said. ?I have no excuse to be tired.?

It was a night when the Celtics? veterans provided enough scoring to win the game, but not enough rebounds, the combination of Garnett and Jeff Green putting up 35 points but zero boards. Sullinger picked up the slack in that area, as the Celtics dominated Philadelphia for much of a 92-79 win Saturday night at TD Garden.

The Ohio State product collected nine rebounds (three offensive) to tie Rajon Rondo for the team lead, four of them coming in his 10-plus minutes of play in the fourth quarter. It was the second-biggest rebounding performance of his young career, after Sullinger had 11 against Toronto on Nov. 17.

?He was good,? said coach Doc Rivers. ?He rebounds. I don?t know what he has in his hands, but it?s amazing. When the ball touches his hands, for the most part, it sticks. Maybe he has Stick ?em, I don?t know. He?s just a terrific rebounder.?

Sullinger added 7 points on 3-for-8 shooting and a made free throw.

?I think I did all right,? Sullinger said. ?I could have done a bit better. Should have got the one at the end, turned out to be a fast-break layup. That always happens like that, sometimes, but it is what it is.?


cont...

http://www.boston.com/sports/2012/1...for-celtics/I0q211P5NZhqB0C7y6R7qJ/story.html

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJvk2b-PRxw"]Jared Sullinger's Video Blog December 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Didn't watch it, but Sully with an impressive stat line in the first half today...3-3 from the field, 4-6 from the FT line, 6 boards and 10 points!