JaJuan Johnson

[ScoobyDoo]

Like someone else said on the board, I liked Rondo, Bradley and Perkins early on - and I like Johnson as well. Jon did a nice summary on him - I'll add my take.

Positives:
1. Good jump shot already
2. Decent finisher around the rim once he gets a step on his guy
3. Can use the left hand around the basket fairly well already.
4. Is no moose but doesn't shy away from contact
5. Cat quick for a 6'10" guy - laterally and on the jump
6. His lateral quickness bodes well for team D once he gets the rotations
7. Fast up and down the court
8. Long arms, and again a quick leaper - good for rebounding and shot blocking.
9. Excellent motor

He has an unusual combination of speed, length and quickness for a big man.

Negatives:
1. Inexperienced
2. Slow getting schemes - thus far...
3. Really thin

Projection:

If the kid can add about 20 pounds of muscle and strength and if he is as wiry as they say, once he gets the schemes and rotations - I think he is going to suprise a lot of people.

Summary: I am bullish on JuJuan Johnson - either off the bench or if he has a Bradley break through - I think he'll be a great addition to a high octane Rondo lead team - which is probably exactly why Ainge drafted him - he can fly with Rondo.

Look who Ainge is adding these days:

Jeff Green, Bradley, JuJuan Johnson...all can run

[feckless]

The only guy who did not dress during the play-offs?  Knucklehead Williams, who joined the team at the very end of the year, was ahead of JJJ?

Yes Doc doesn't play rookies but last year he did say that AB was tearing up practices and could play NBA defense.

I have never heard a positive comment, from Doc, about JJJ.

You JJJ fans have little tangible NBA evidence to go on.  We should know soon --he better show something in the summer league or he is gone.

[saltlover]

What's so tough with Johnson is that he still looked completely lost, even at the end of the season.  You just don't expect that with a guy who stayed in school.

That is both a good and bad sign.  On the bright side, it really does give me hope that its not just a matter of him being overmatched, and there is a chance that, once the head figures it out, the body will be there.  And where he does have the excuse of the fewer practices, and shortened training camp of the shortened season, there is enough reason there not to completely write him off. 

But, on the other side, it really makes me question whether he will ever get it enough to be a quality NBA player.  I don't think he is talented enough to make it on his talent alone.  He needs to be able to think the game, and so far, that has been a big issue.

I haven't seen a player as lost, for as long as Johnson has been since Leon Powe (who was completley lost for his first year and a half...and even beyond that was slow on his rotations).  Powe eventually figured it out, and maybe Johnson will too.  But, unfortunately, I don't think we will know what we have with Johnson until he figure it out.

It was an abbreviated training camp with very few in-season practices.  Knowing where to go on defensive assignments takes repetition, which he simply couldn't get.  Also, interior defense is harder in this system than perimeter defense -- knowing when to stay with your man vs. leave and protect the paint requires instant decision-making and quick reactions.  I was disappointed that JJJ couldn't pick it up as quickly as we needed him to, but I'm very confident he will net year.

I also think he'll be a 4.  All that talk about he's a 3 is just DA and Doc politely telling him that he's too soft right now in a public forum.

[TA9]

I remember reading that the reason Jajuan didnt get playing time was that he didnt know the defensive schemes well enough (He sure didnt perform really well defensively), which was a huge shock to me given the fact that he was a really good defensive player in college, and the fact that he came from a really good defensive program (Purdue).

[snively]

I remember reading that the reason Jajuan didnt get playing time was that he didnt know the defensive schemes well enough (He sure didnt perform really well defensively), which was a huge shock to me given the fact that he was a really good defensive player in college, and the fact that he came from a really good defensive program (Purdue).

He wasn't a very good defensive player in college - blocked quite a few shots (and garnered accolades as a result), but was an easy mark for post-ups even from dramatically undersized bigs like Draymond Green and exhibited very inconsistent focus and defensive intensity (too much attention to the offensive side of the ball).  

E'twaun Moore was a more impressive collegiate defender than JJJ (guarded multiple positions, gave great effort, rebounded his position well) and he's a downright liability in the NBA.  JJJ's got better physical tools for NBA defense, but the mentality/focus hasn't been there.

Hopefully a year in the dochouse (hehe) has disabused him of his offensive mindset and he comes into next year determined to put his defensive tools to work.

[TA9]

I remember reading that the reason Jajuan didnt get playing time was that he didnt know the defensive schemes well enough (He sure didnt perform really well defensively), which was a huge shock to me given the fact that he was a really good defensive player in college, and the fact that he came from a really good defensive program (Purdue).

He wasn't a very good defensive player in college - blocked quite a few shots (and garnered accolades as a result), but was an easy mark for post-ups even from dramatically undersized bigs like Draymond Green and exhibited very inconsistent focus and defensive intensity (too much attention to the offensive side of the ball).  

E'twaun Moore was a more impressive collegiate defender than JJJ (guarded multiple positions, gave great effort, rebounded his position well) and he's a downright liability in the NBA.  JJJ's got better physical tools for NBA defense, but the mentality/focus hasn't been there.

Hopefully a year in the dochouse (hehe) has disabused him of his offensive mindset and he comes into next year determined to put his defensive tools to work.

Haha that made me laugh quite a bit TP!
Yeah you are right, but I really expected more from him since he won the Big Ten defensive player of the year. Just hope he pulls his **** together and starts producing on the Defensive end!

[ScoobyDoo]

Well, there are certain things we don't have access to. If, in fact, JJJ is lazy on D or if he has a general motivation problem, then that is another whole story.

From a skills perspective and from an athletic perspective, there is no reason he shouldn't be productive.

But again, if he's a slacker on D, that won't cut it with Doc.

[Atzar]

I think JaJuan is very much a tweener at the NBA level.  He doesn't have the bulk to be PF, but he's not quick enough to be SF.  Unfortunately, he doesn't look to have the frame to put on enough weight.  He's fairly strong already, but battling in the post is as much about mass and center of gravity as it is about strength, and he's just not thick enough.  

We'll see how he develops.  If he becomes a good help defender and a passable man defender, then he'll probably score enough to be a net positive in his time on the court.  There are certainly a lot of things to like about his offensive tools, and 6'10" players with his athleticism aren't common.  So let's hope he figures it out and contributes next year.  

[LooseCannon]

I have sincere doubts about JaJuan Johnson being able to add more bulk.  He is a 23-year-old with a more mature body, not some skinny teenager, and he already reportedly added 15 pounds between his junior and senior seasons.

If JJJ has maxed out on his body weight, what kind of role can he play?  Next season, I think the team should really consider sending him to the D-League and asking him to work on taking threes.

[Celts Fan 92]

i remember 2 games in particular the Memphis Game when Bass was out nd the game against Chicago where he scored in double figures nd crashed the boards it seemed like his confidence was soaring then we didnt see him get any more rotation minutes at all. Due to how wrong a majority of us was on Avery I'ma give him another year nd watch him closely in da summer league, hope he's lifting weights also cuz his post defense is horrendus for da most part. I wouldnt mind seeing Doc take a flyer on Johnson at da 3 he wont be startin so it shouldnt effect us on defense

[mctyson]

I don't know why people are freaking out about JJJ and his weight.  Last time I checked, we have one of the best PF's in NBA history on our team and he's pretty dang skinny.

[CFAN38]

I call BS that JJJ is benching 330lbs, I would be shocked if he can even squat 330lbs. 15 rebs at 185 does not equal a player with a 330 lbs max.

[SHAQATTACK]

I call BS that JJJ is benching 330lbs, I would be shocked if he can even squat 330lbs. 15 rebs at 185 does not equal a player with a 330 lbs max.

I second this notion.  I'd have to see it to believe. 

[TA9]

I call BS that JJJ is benching 330lbs, I would be shocked if he can even squat 330lbs. 15 rebs at 185 does not equal a player with a 330 lbs max.

You know what they say..
Never judge a book by its cover.
JaJuan may look weak but he sure isnt. Buy you got a point I also find 330lbs too much..

[Mr October]

When I look at Johnson, I see a lot of Walter McCarty. And thats not a bad thing. Walter was a skinny, jump shooting, athletic gazelle who was fairly effective as an energy guy at SF. He was terrible as a 4.

I can see Johnson pushing his range and become McCarty-esque. But I think Johnson has a frame with a little more bulk potential than McCarty. I hope he can become an efficient dynamic 4. Here's to a good summer, Jajuan. Cheers.