When the Boston Celtics traded up in the draft to grab Kelly Olynyk, fans and media had mixed opinions. Some thought Olynyk was a true 7-footer with rare touch on the inside, others thought Olynyk was a step too slow, a bit too weak and overall not athletic enough to play in the NBA

Then the beginning of the season happened... In a new season with a new coach and on a new team, Olynyk looked lost on both ends of the court. The so called "rare talent" on offense could barely hit the rim from outside of the paint, and as expected on defense, Olynyk was weak with his footwork and rotations. All that being said there is good news: as this tanking season for the Celtics progresses, Kelly Olynyk is showing progress on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, it is difficult to measure Olynyk's impact on the game because he is not a rim protector, but Olynyk has made strides with his awareness on the defensive end, allowing for better positioning. Olynyk will likely never be able to match up against the better scoring big men in the league like Greg Monroe or Al Jefferson, as evidenced by his poor performances against these players this month. However, he is a capable defender against the average power forwards and centers in the NBA. Using his length, Olynyk has been able to recently hold his own against players such as Paul Milsap and Henry Sims, showing there is hope on that side of the ball.

Turning to Olynyk's offense, which all hoped would be more polished than it is, Olynyk has shown a scoring touch as of late. In April, Olynyk is averaging 15.6 points per game in 25 minutes of work, including a 25 point game against the Cavaliers on the 12th.

Olynyk isn't just scoring on easy finishes at the rim but is extending his range at an efficient rate. Hitting two-of-five from deep on April 12th against the Cav, and shooting 35% from beyond the arc on the season, Olynyk is finally starting to look like the stretch big the Celtics hoped for when they drafted him.

Shooting 53% from the floor in April and 80% from the costless throw line, Olynyk looks to have great offensive talent for many years to come.

Many fans were skeptical of the Olynyk draft pick, but after his efficient ending to the season, the rookie from Gonzaga looks like a true asset to the team for many years to come, as well as a unique scoring option inside at 7-feet.

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About the author
Robert Hyland
Love the Boston Sports Teams and love writing about them.