Olynyk.JPG

By adding some extra muscle, Kelly Olynyk may be able to score more efficiently around the rim.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

One of the more entertaining media day themes is #MuscleWatch, a hashtag coined by NBA.com writer Lang Whitaker. #MuscleWatch documents which players come into training camp claiming to have lost 15 pounds or gained 15 pounds of muscle. The results, as you might imagine, are generally pretty vast and often give very little true indication as to which players will actually see an uptick in their productivity.

That being said, perhaps the most visually notable #MuscleWatch improvement for the Celtics during Monday’s media day was Kelly Olynyk’s. The sophomore’s shoulders were both bigger and more defined, and his frame looked generally larger overall.

“I feel like I’m moving well up and down the floor laterally and vertically,” he said. “I definitely got stronger. I got a better pace, now I just have to put it all together.”

Last season, Olynyk appeared to struggle with the NBA’s physicality at times. The physical transition from college to the NBA is tough for every rookie, not only because of the longer schedule and the more talented competition, but also because of the pounding NBA players take on a nightly basis. Playing center for much of the season, Olynyk found himself taking even more of that pounding while banging with opposing bigs. In preparation for his second year of this abuse, Olynyk bulked up.

“You kind of know what to expect is the main thing,” he said of returning for his second year. “(Rookie year) is like preparing for a test when you’ve never taken the class. Now you’ve been through a whole year of the NBA, and you know what to expect. You know not only how to prepare, but what to prepare for nutritionally, mentally, sleep-wise, travel-wise, what to do, what not to do. You just learn as you go.”

How much that extra bulk helps remains to be seen. Olynyk was able to space the floor by knocking down 3-pointers in 2013-14, a skill set which will certainly continue to be a part of his role in the offense. He shot 35.1 percent from deep last year, better than league average, and an offseason of work from the NBA 3-point line is likely to help.

Around the rim, Olynyk was solid, shooting 65.3 percent from 0-3 feet per Basketball-Reference. According to NBA.com, Olynyk shot 63.4 percent in the restricted area. That's a solid number, but around the basket is where Olynyk's new-found bulk could help him the most. If he is able to absorb contact around the rim and still score, he'll be even more effective as an offensive option in the post.

“I wanted to improve as much as I could in as many areas as I could,” Olynyk said. “Offensively, definitely defensively, movement-wise, functionally, in the weight room getting stronger, quicker, faster. This game is played at a high athletic level. For me, I was banged up a little last year, so I’m just trying to get as high as I can that way.”