Cup of Joe. Sullinger & Olynyk health updates


Sullinger out for the foreseeable future, Olynyk still not ready

Celts announce Sullinger has left forefoot stress injury. He's returning to Boston. No timetable set. (Doesn't sound encouraging.)
Source: Steve Bulpett

Kelly Olynyk did not practice Wednesday as his teammates reconvened in Sacramento after an extended All-Star break, and coach Brad Stevens suggested he's "very unlikely" for Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings.
Source: Chris Forsberg, ESPN

So I know he's a little undersized, but if I'm wondering if Thomas might be able to take some of the minutes at power forward? Like, you know, not against the starters or anything - but maybe if there's a particularly non-menacing lineup out there? No?

It's good, bad and ugly news for the Celtics. Olynyk is participating in practice, but it doesn't seem like he'll play of the next few games. Worse, is not only Sullinger out indefinitely, but there doesn't seem to be a shred of optimism regarding the severity of this injury.

Start Your Morning Off With... TIMMAY!


Also, DeAndre Jordan through down the long-toss on Marco Bellinelli if you're into that sorta thing.

Vintage WTHHT: What the Hell Happened to... Theo Ratliff('s expiring contract)

Along with Raef LaFrentz he might be the guy whose name you associate most with "Expiring Contract." If you followed the NBA just a few years back you absolutely remember the player we remember in this WTHHT go-round, Theo Ratliff.

Ratliff is from Alabama (Demopolis HS) and played his college ball at the University of Wyoming, making him the third Cowboy we feature in this segment after Kenny Sailors and Charles Bradley. Coming into the 1995 draft Ratliff was rated as the 16th best power forward according to scout Craig Simpson. Yes he was labled a "power forward" back in 1995, long before the days of positions being eliminated. [TB tangent: look at the list of centers for the same draft. I mean just look at it. Rashard Griffith rated #1 who amazingly never played a minute in the NBA. Bryant Reeves retired since forever. Constantin Popa, Loren Meyer, Eric Meek, Cherokee Parks. Reeves was quality but injuries limited him. I'm still surprised Parks didn't have a better NBA career. Was the writing on the wall for the center position to be phased out because of lack of quality big men? Perhaps. Am I pleased with this development? Absolutely not].