Ryan Kelly: Avoiding the Sophomore Slump
By Jacob Rude
Consider it a myth or a fact, but the term sophomore slump is often tagged along with any player who struggles in the 2nd year. Last season we saw players like Harrison Barnes and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who, if not regressed, certainly failed to improve on their rookie seasons.
It’s a challenge for rookies who, after spending a year in the league, are more familiar to opponents and become possibly even comfortable in their own roles, resulting in a failure to improve their skills.
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All of this problems will present themselves for Ryan Kelly. The Lakers late second round draft pick in 2013 was one of the few bright spots in last year’s disastrous season. Playing in 59 games, he averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and shot 33.8% from deep.
His brightest spot came in Cleveland where the Lakers infamously won despite having just four eligible players due to injuries and multiple players fouling out.
However, Kelly will be addressed with a new problem this season, as will the rest of the roster, with a new coach. Part of the reason Kelly was successful last season was his ability to fit into Mike D’Antoni‘s offense as a stretch four. Aside from injuries opening up minutes, the Duke graduate was able to find time on the court because his skill set was catered perfectly by D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense.
This season, Byron Scott will run anything but an up-tempo offense. His early indication is a heavy defensive philosophy and more than likely a slow-down offensive style. This presents a challenge for Kelly.
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Kelly is a tweener. He doesn’t have the weight to bang with fours, doesn’t have the speed to stay with threes, doesn’t have the size to guard fives. He has a mix of everything. His challenge is finding that speed, that strength, or that size to stay on the floor. A consistent shooting stroke would go a long way.
Last season, 61.7% of his shots were within the three-point arc, a relatively low number for a player his size. Of those shots, he finished with a field goal percentage of 47.6%. That would need to rise, but the fact is, Kelly is a three-point shooter. His 33.8% from the field won’t cut it this season.
The other problem surrounding Kelly is the logjam surrounding him at power forward and center. This off-season, the Lakers added Ed Davis, Carlos Boozer, and Julius Randle to the fold and returned Jordan Hill and Robert Sacre, putting Kelly at the near bottom of the totem pole.
All the cards are stacked against Kelly. But he’s never been one to succumb to the odds. During his senior year at Duke, with his season in jeopardy due to a foot injury, Kelly pulled off an improbable comeback to return at the end of the season, then did the impossible by scoring 36 points in his first game back in nearly two months.
The point is, don’t count Kelly out. He’s got all the odds stacked against him, which may be right where he wants it.