SQ14 #54 Sullinger: Weight Loss, Check; Conditioning, ?

Judging by the photographic evidence, Jared Sullinger has indeed dropped some weight.  The next questioning, unlikely to be answered before training camp, is has he substantially improved his conditioning?  If so, not only could he mesh well with a running team and a motion offense, but take some large strides toward fulfilling his considerable upside.

Going by how Kelly Olynyk took the bit in his teeth in last season’s final few games, when his minutes climbed into the 20’s and 30’s rather than the teens, I see him pushing Sullinger for minutes this season.  It will be interesting to see how each responds to this competition.  My own feeling is that each will raise the level of their play and each player as well as the team will benefit.  The fact that each brings quite different strengths to the court bodes well for the flexibility of playing them together or apart.

While Sullinger’s comments have mostly pertained to his staying on the court more minutes, if the Celtics actually commit to the running game, I think each of the four big men in “my” rotation are going to get all the action their lungs will support.  One of the things I have noticed in reviewing some of the Celtics’ play last season is Jared going from the 3-pt line to under the basket while a shot is in the air--this is not the play that a winded or tired, player makes.  Running, both offensively and defensively, begins with immediately breaking into a sprint when the ball changes hands.  While it all starts with a personal and team commitment to running, it is much easier for a player with fresh, or at least not “dead,” legs to produce the effort. 

Commentators often remark about tired legs being the root of erratic shooting.  It has to impact a player’s ability, and motivation, to go get rebounds or loose balls.  It is a key to being able to stay in front of your defensive assignment and to boxing out your opponent’s second and third moves/efforts.  Fatigue in general saps attention, focus, and awareness.  The Boston Celtics of the 60’s and 70’s used the running game to whittle away the oppositions’ ability to play at a high level, and often pulled away in the fourth quarter as the opponent’s stars gave in to exhaustion.  I am eager to see that reborn.

The “relative” depth of this year’s squad can be turned into a real advantage by pressing home the running game and a relentless motion offense.  If so, we can be confident that Brad Stevens will be sensitive to keeping fresh legs on the court.  If Sullinger has built up his conditioning, he can be a leading asset in these efforts (after all, the fast break starts with taking control of the ball--a Jared speciality.)  If not, he can still be an asset, but perhaps for closer to 20 rather than 30 minutes per game. 

One final note, Sullinger has been a real workhorse on the boards.  This is a very high-energy-expenditure activity and to do it consistently will require him to be in peak condition.  Similarly, powering up follow-up shots requires bursts of energy.  To run hard end-to-end and still perform prodigious feats of effort at both ends will mean he must attend to not only his conditioning this off season but also maintain good rest, eating, cardio, and lifting habits throughout the season.  It will be interesting, and I hope fun, to see him conquer these challenges required of a high-order professional athlete.

Be optimistic, but watch for the first signs of hands-on-hips or tugging shorts during the preseason games.  Hopefully he has addressed the areas in which he needs to improve in order to have a breakout season; if so, this is going to fun to watch.

Only 10 more days until the start of training camp.[Discuss on CG Forums!]