JaJuan Johnson = Useless??

[celticsleyte]

I would love to see what would happen with a lineup of Rondo, Bradley, Green, JJJ, KG. Talk about potential for easy fast break buckets and I expect this unit would really defend as well. 

The idea of easy fast buckets is overblown. You can possess all the extreme team speed you want but defenses are drilled to get back and stop fast breaks.  The NBA is not that easy.

With this lineup, the dominant feature would be jumpshots.  A lot of jumpshots and mostly of the 2 point variety.  There would be very few free throws.

I think defense would be a struggle. JJJ is too weak to defend 4s, Green hasn't defended SFs well in his career and Rondo just isn't committed enough on defense anymore to be a positive defender. Last season, the Celtics offense was 1.7 points worse on offense but 5 points better on defense in the 13 games Rondo missed. 

Well if Doc puts the unit on the floor then we will know until then its all speculation and personally I would like to see it.

Part of coaching is taking advantage of your players strengths.  Even if you do not like JJJ's game and wish to trade him it would be smart to showcase a little of what he can do.  I think it absolutely plays into the strength of Rondo, Bradley, Green.

An elite fast break is still hard to defend.  I recall the league had a headache with the showtime Lakers.  I think we should give it a shot, we have the horses for the first time in ages.  

What I would not give to see a celtics-lakers finals with the roles reversed from the Bird Era.

[crimson_stallion]

I don't see any elite fast breaks with JJ...he's just as likely to bounce the ball of his foot while trying to catch it.

I really don't like this guys game..every time I saw him step on the court it made me cringe.

[Birdman]

Trade him to Houston. They need more forwards 

[bfrombleacher]

I saw that too. Kind of frustrating. But like I said, the inability to contribute with his scoring (his forte) it might have took some of the fight out of him.

I kind of know the feeling from playing pickup basketball. I'm very mediocre but it just doesn't help to have ballhog teammates (and can't create many shots with my garbage handles). The more I played the more I was like "ugh, why bother" and the more I sucked.

Not saying it's a good excuse but just saying I can see why.

On top of all that, he did well on both ends of the floor against Marc Gasol and Carlos Boozer (this is a point I keep going back to on the forum) when everyone was very injured. I'm not too worried about his ability to defend bigs. When he's playing with spunk (when he got his very few minutes of playing time), he was really active and his rebounding was okay (even got some offensive ones).

Technique can be taught.




Don't get me wrong. My expectations of him were high (like it is for all rookies), even higher when he said he gained muscle and he definitely disappointed me.

With his age, 4 years of college, somewhat of a year of NBA, it looks less and less likely he'll reach those expectations (I think he can still contribute though).

Well, he got a load of rebounds today after getting his scoring going. My theory of the feeling of being involved in the game being a factor still holds.

[Jon]

I again go back to this point: JaJuan Johnson may never have what it takes to be a star, but does he have what it takes to be a longer Brandon Bass?  I think it's quite possible. 

He hits open jumpers, he hustles, he finishes around the rim, and he at least tries on the boards and on defense.  These are are attributes of a strong role player, which players like Kurt Thomas and Brandon Bass have made careers out of. 

On the other hand, people are seeing a guy like Dionte Christmas take over some summer games, but to me, that's potentially less useful than the attributes above.  Only stars are allowed to take over games and jack up crazy shots.  The fact that a guy who (at best) will be the 15th player on this team can do it doesn't necessarily matter.  Doc will never give him those looks in the game.  What does matter is that someone like him can stand on the weakside for 20 seconds of the shot clock and then bury the corner 3 as the clock expires (see Eddie House, James Posey, and Mikael Pietrus). 

So again, I wouldn't get overly down on Johnson yet.  I don't think he'll ever be a star.  But given that he is a big man with an actual shot, has the athleticism to finish around the basket, and has decent length, I think he can succeed on this team.  He already had a couple double digit scoring games last year and many, many players have proven over the past 5 years that if you can hit the open shots given to you by playing with the many stars on this team, you can be successful. 

[33_Larry Legend_33]

Trade him to Houston. They need more forwards 

We both kinda predicted this, huh?

Good riddance... I'll take Lee over JJJ any day.  Once again, Danny works the magic of moving his "assets".  Good move...  We won't miss JJJ.

[Celtics4ever]

If this is true then indeed he was not useless.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

If this is true then indeed he was not useless.

Funny, but that was my first thought too...  Things can change on a dime, huh?

[Celtics18]

Best of luck to you, JJJ.  I, for one (and pretty close to the only one, as far as I can tell), am sorry to see you go. 

[tarheelsxxiii]

As far as JJJ goes, it's not strength.  He's actually pretty strong.  Aside from the fact that he looks lost on defense, the issue is that he has a high center of gravity.  He has a very hard time establishing and maintaining position in the post because other players can get underneath him and root him out.  On offense, he also lacks the girth to be able to block them out with his butt like Sullinger does.  Unfortunately, that's not something that can really be fixed - you can overcome it to an extent with intelligence, core strength and pure tenacity (KG does this) but it's always going to be an obstacle for him.

That's why you hear Doc and Danny talk about using him at the 3.  As a small forward, he can win battles in the post with his length, and his high center of gravity is less of an issue.  If he shortens that release on his jumper, he could also shoot right over most 3's.  So if he's agile enough to defend the position, there's a lot to like there.  He has a long way to go, though.

Very well said.

[j804]

Best of luck to you, JJJ.  I, for one (and pretty close to the only one, as far as I can tell), am sorry to see you go. 

Not so quick this whole thing may fall apart

[Celtics18]

Best of luck to you, JJJ.  I, for one (and pretty close to the only one, as far as I can tell), am sorry to see you go. 

Not so quick this whole thing may fall apart

Yeah, I just read about it.  I'll save the emotional goodbyes.  So embarrassed. 

[celticslove]

Finally a use for JJJ... well done Ainge (if deal pushes through)

[KGs Knee]

Finally a use for JJJ... well done Ainge (if deal pushes through)

Agreed!

[Edgar]

Finally a use for JJJ... well done Ainge (if deal pushes through)

Agreed!

yuo even if i am not sure about moree who was the centerpiece of that deal

we will hear a lot of empty stats there

see. GG$