As a second round draft pick, very little was expected of rookie Ryan Kelly in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries have forced him into a major role for the Lakers and he has taken advantage of it by playing some very solid basketball as of late.
Even still, Kelly knows that he must continue to improve if he plans on etching out a long-term place in the NBA. In the Lakers 109-102 loss to the Miami Heat, Kelly shared the floor with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, and Pau Gasol, all of whom are probable Hall of Famers. He expressed, on Time Warner Cable SportsNet, what he takes from playing against, and with, these guys nightly:
Ryan Kelly said he noticed the greats were letting “the move come to them,” being “patient” (on @twcsportsnet)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) January 24, 2014
The greats rarely force their moves, rather they see what the defense is giving them, and take advantage of the holes they see. Kelly is noticing that and is looking to add that element to his game. He expounded upon his observations of the superstars on Time Warner Cable SportsNet:
Kelly also said he realized he gets “a little excited for [his] move,” versus, LeBron, Bosh, Pau who let the move come to them (on TWC)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) January 24, 2014
As Kelly grows, and adds to his game, these things will come to him more naturally. Right now, Kelly is still forcing, and looking to do too much when he gets the ball, which can lead to rushed shots and turnovers. The fact that Kelly is intelligent enough to notice these things, and learn from them, is a great sign for his future.
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