When South Kam grad Kelly Olynyk begins the NBA Finals in Orlando his family will take a break from a camping vacation on the Island to watch the action.
“We’ve been a little out of touch with the games because we are in a remote area on the Island, but we plan to head into Courtenay to watch game one against the Lakers,” said a proud dad Ken Olynyk – the longtime Athletic Director at Thompson Rivers University.
Ken says he has talked to son Kelly on the phone about the whole ‘bubble’ playoff experience.
“[Kelly] says it’s been great for the team to build chemistry and bring the team together. He says the teams that are the toughest mentally are the ones doing well. Disney World is right out their window, of course they can’t go. They are just focused on the job,” Ken added.
Olynyk is in his third season with the Miami Heat. He recently saw his minutes decrease on the floor and didn’t play in two games against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Final. Dad Ken says Kelly is staying positive despite the decreased role.
“We always tell kids when they’re coaching them to not judge their contribution by the minutes on the floor,” he said. “It takes an entire team, everybody contributes.”
And Ken is confident Kelly will see plenty of action against LeBron James and the Lakers in the championship series, but dad knows it will be a tough series.
“The Lakers play big guys, they rotate three big centres. Kelly has done well against L.A. in the past. He’s looking forward to making a difference,” said Ken.
“It’ll be a very strategic series. They have two big weapons in Lebron and Anthony Davis. You have to limit those two and not allow another player to come out of nowhere to put up big numbers. It’ll be interesting to watch. It’ll be the Super Bowl of basketball”
Game one of the best-of-seven-series is tonight at 6 p.m.