Celtics GM defends Olynyk: Love's comments 'a little bit over the top'

Facing NBA discipline for the first time in his career and feeling the wrath of long-suffering Cleveland sports fans, Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk got some much needed positive reinforcement from his general manager on Thursday.

Addressing the Boston media from the team's practice facility, Celtics GM Danny Ainge stood up for Olynyk, who was suspended one game for his role in the season-ending shoulder injury that will sideline Kevin Love for the next four-to-six months.

"I think that's a little bit over the top," Ainge said of Love's comments.

After suffering a dislocated shoulder while tangling arms with Olynyk in the first quarter of the Cavs' series-clinching Game 4 win, Love called the play "bush league," stating his belief that Olynyk intentionally injured him.

"I feel bad for Kevin Love because he's waited a long time to get where their team is right now," Ainge said of the three-time All-Star, who was playing in his first postseason. "And now he doesn't get a chance to play. But I certainly don't think that Kelly did it on purpose."

"I don't even think that that play would have been reviewed more than a foul had Kevin not gotten hurt," Ainge added. "But because Kevin did get hurt, the league does evaluate those situations, and I understand a little bit why they did it."

Ainge has a point. While Olynyk did appear to clearly yank Love's arm, it's the type of play that occurs between big men countless times over the course of a game, and it often results in nothing more than a loose ball foul, which Olynyk was assessed.

"When someone gets hurt, you're just under a little bit more scrutiny," Ainge said Thursday. "But I thought it was just a foul - two guys going for a loose ball."