Your Morning Dump… Stats show Olynyk is an average defender!

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

There are more encouraging numbers in regards to Olynyk’s defense, however. The team’s defensive rating with him on the floor is essentially in lockstep with Boston’s season average, suggesting he’s not having a particularly negative impact. But maybe most interesting is that the league’s player tracking data suggests that opponents shoot only 0.9 percent higher than their season averages against Olynyk. He’s holding those opponents to 59.4 percent shooting inside of 6 feet, which is only 0.3 percent above those players’ averages. For numbers inside of 10 feet — and 2-pointers overall — Olynyk is holding players below their season marks.

ESPN Boston

I’ll be honest, I expected the defensive stats to be much worse. While Olynyk doesn’t have the quickness or instincts to ever be a dominant paint defender, he can work his way  into the solid category.

Here’s the real rub with Olynyk – the fouls. His knack for picking up fouls quickly force him to the bench, which disrupts his rhythm on offense – where his real value lies.

There are a few feature stories this morning on Olynyk’s counterpart – Marcus Smart. Who would have guessed that the rookie actually learned something from Jameer Nelson during his short stint in Boston.

“He wasn’t playing, but he’s still in there trying to talk to us, pointing out what we need to do to win games,” said Smart. “Just shows how much he loves the game. Although as a competitor you want to play ­— and I’m sure he wants to play — he’s able to stay focused. It just shows the leadership that he has. That’s why he’s been so long in this league.”

[On his confrontation with DeMarcus Cousins] “I’m glad Jameer grabbed me,” said Smart. “He was just kind of telling me, it’s not worth losing money over it, man. You’ve worked too hard to get that money. There’s no reason for you to give it back. Just don’t retaliate. You did what you were supposed to do. You played hard. (Cousins) couldn’t take it, you got under his skin, and you got him off the court just by playing hard. Don’t let that affect you. Just keep playing. (Nelson) was telling me stay away from it, no matter what goes on on the court.”

Money is the universal language.

Smart seems to have the right attitude for a rookie, and it’s one that doesn’t quite jive with what we heard about him in college. The one extremely frustrating tidbit in Mark Murphy’s story – Smart didn’t tape his ankles on the night he suffered the severe sprain.

Related – Globe: Smart’s development encouraging

On Page 2, quite possibly Rajon Rondo’s best ball fake.

Poor Thaddeus Young. He’s still looking for the ball.

(h/t Mavs Moneyball)

The rest of the links:

Herald – Stevens in think mode | WEEI – Ainge’s sabermetric manifesto | Celtics.com – C’s hope to be refreshed after 4 days in LA | CSNNE – NBA tweaks format for Rising Stars