What Can We Expect From Amir Johnson?

[Csfan1984]

I think AJ is better as a PF as he has decent mobility still and has good size for the position. I don't want to be undersized even more at Center than we already are. Also think if C's copy Grizz offense Zeller and AJ could be effective in the offensive roles of Gasol and ZBo.

What offensive center is the East makes this problematic?  I think Amir can guard virtually ALL the centers in the Eastern conference.  Out West, there are more issues, but thankfully we don't play these teams but twice each.

Smitty77

Agreed. Also, I'm not sure 6'11 is "undersized" and he's athletic enough and long enough to do just fine at Center.

First off he is listed at 6'9
And for Smitty77, are you kidding me Raptors, Nets, Magic, Pistons, Wizards, Bobcats, Cavs, Bucks, Bulls, Heat all have Centers that will crush AJ in the post and on the boards. Then add in 76ers with Noel and Hawks with Hordford in at Center. That is almost every team in the East.  Also add in scrappy Robin Lopez is now in NY. AJ just can't compete at Center long stretches as a starter. Maybe going small ball 20 mins a game here or there but not even that can be too often.

His listed height was when he was 17-18 years old. Johnson is most definitely at least 6'10" out there and no shorter than players like Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, or DeAndre Jordan.  There has been plenty of speculation and articles written about this very topic as it relates to Johnson. He is definitely not 6'9".

Also, why would you add Raptors to that list? Amir started at PF for the Raptors, but he was actually their best center last year (just talk to most Raptor fans) by the eye test and advanced statistics on both the defensive and offensive end. Really not seeing how Johnson is going to get killed out there while playing center. He is ridiculously athletic, long, and has enough height.

Regardless, the Celtics don't seem to pigeonhole players like that anyway. They classify players as guard, swings, and bigs. Regardless of position, Amir will probably see time with Sully, KO, and Lee. Not one of those three can cover the paint, roll to the rim, or set picks/screens like Amir can. If those three are PFs, then Amir is a C, and even if KO or Lee are actually listed as "centers," Amir will likely be the one covering the paint and defending the opponent's best post player. Then there is Zeller also. These are the two guys who will be covering the opponent's best offensive post player and covering the paint.

He is what he has been his whole NBA career though a PF. People are dying for a center so bad they want to project AJ to that spot. And AJ was not the best center for the Raptors. Taking a sample size of like 8 mins per game doesn't project to a starting center. He has good strengths vs other PFs why move his position and weaken him? C's need a legit Center or to keep developing Zeller those are the answers not AJ out of position.

[Evantime34]

What to expect from Johnson
1. Most of his minutes at center
2. Him to shoot a career high number of 3's to drag opposing 5's out of the paint (thus a higher usage rate than he had in Toronto)
3. Better rim protection than anyone on the team in the last 2 years.
4. The best screen setter in Boston since KG
5. One of the highest +/- pm the team.

[DarkAzcura]

I think AJ is better as a PF as he has decent mobility still and has good size for the position. I don't want to be undersized even more at Center than we already are. Also think if C's copy Grizz offense Zeller and AJ could be effective in the offensive roles of Gasol and ZBo.

What offensive center is the East makes this problematic?  I think Amir can guard virtually ALL the centers in the Eastern conference.  Out West, there are more issues, but thankfully we don't play these teams but twice each.

Smitty77

Agreed. Also, I'm not sure 6'11 is "undersized" and he's athletic enough and long enough to do just fine at Center.

First off he is listed at 6'9
And for Smitty77, are you kidding me Raptors, Nets, Magic, Pistons, Wizards, Bobcats, Cavs, Bucks, Bulls, Heat all have Centers that will crush AJ in the post and on the boards. Then add in 76ers with Noel and Hawks with Hordford in at Center. That is almost every team in the East.  Also add in scrappy Robin Lopez is now in NY. AJ just can't compete at Center long stretches as a starter. Maybe going small ball 20 mins a game here or there but not even that can be too often.

His listed height was when he was 17-18 years old. Johnson is most definitely at least 6'10" out there and no shorter than players like Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, or DeAndre Jordan.  There has been plenty of speculation and articles written about this very topic as it relates to Johnson. He is definitely not 6'9".

Also, why would you add Raptors to that list? Amir started at PF for the Raptors, but he was actually their best center last year (just talk to most Raptor fans) by the eye test and advanced statistics on both the defensive and offensive end. Really not seeing how Johnson is going to get killed out there while playing center. He is ridiculously athletic, long, and has enough height.

Regardless, the Celtics don't seem to pigeonhole players like that anyway. They classify players as guard, swings, and bigs. Regardless of position, Amir will probably see time with Sully, KO, and Lee. Not one of those three can cover the paint, roll to the rim, or set picks/screens like Amir can. If those three are PFs, then Amir is a C, and even if KO or Lee are actually listed as "centers," Amir will likely be the one covering the paint and defending the opponent's best post player. Then there is Zeller also. These are the two guys who will be covering the opponent's best offensive post player and covering the paint.

He is what he has been his whole NBA career though a PF. People are dying for a center so bad they want to project AJ to that spot. And AJ was not the best center for the Raptors. Taking a sample size of like 8 mins per game doesn't project to a starting center. He has good strengths vs other PFs why move his position and weaken him? C's need a legit Center or to keep developing Zeller those are the answers not AJ out of position.

I don't think you understood what I was getting at. It doesn't matter what they are labelled as in the stat sheet. Amir has played the role of a help defender style center ever since he joined Toronto. He basically does all the little things centers do in the modern NBA, and he does it well. He protects the paint. He sets great screens. He rolls very well to the rim. The Celtics don't really care about pigeonholing their players, and it doesn't matter if Amir has been entered as a PF in the computer. He doesn't really do PF-type things. He will be covering for Sullinger, Olynyk, and Lee throughout the season as a pseudo-center just like what he did in Toronto.

Also, players move positions all the time as they get older. Pierce has actually seen quite a bit of time at PF the last couple seasons. KG switched over to center for his last couple years with Boston. Duncan also switched. There are several role players out there that have switched positions as their career moved on. Maybe Amir will continue to have the "PF label," but if he is playing most of his minutes with players like Sullinger, Olynyk, Lee, and Crowder, he definitely won't be playing the role of PF...just like most of his career anyway.

[Smitty77]

I think AJ is better as a PF as he has decent mobility still and has good size for the position. I don't want to be undersized even more at Center than we already are. Also think if C's copy Grizz offense Zeller and AJ could be effective in the offensive roles of Gasol and ZBo.

What offensive center is the East makes this problematic?  I think Amir can guard virtually ALL the centers in the Eastern conference.  Out West, there are more issues, but thankfully we don't play these teams but twice each.

Smitty77

Agreed. Also, I'm not sure 6'11 is "undersized" and he's athletic enough and long enough to do just fine at Center.

First off he is listed at 6'9
And for Smitty77, are you kidding me Raptors, Nets, Magic, Pistons, Wizards, Bobcats, Cavs, Bucks, Bulls, Heat all have Centers that will crush AJ in the post and on the boards. Then add in 76ers with Noel and Hawks with Hordford in at Center. That is almost every team in the East.  Also add in scrappy Robin Lopez is now in NY. AJ just can't compete at Center long stretches as a starter. Maybe going small ball 20 mins a game here or there but not even that can be too often.

This from John Hollinger in 2009:

John Hollinger claims he's closer to 6-11 or 7-0.

    2007-08 season: Remind me again why this guy didn't play more? Johnson shot 55.8 percent, had the second-best rate of blocks in basketball, ranked in the top third of centers in rebound rate, and lost his minutes in the postseason to Theo Ratliff. Really.

    Sure, he's a bit raw. Johnson was mistake-prone, with 10 offensive fouls and six illegal defense violations in just 769 minutes, and he wasn't always in the right spots on D. But he was also devastatingly effective, ranking 14th among centers in PER. There is absolutely nothing in his track record to suggest this was a fluke either -- his numbers from his previous two D-League seasons and his scraps of NBA time have all been outstanding.

    Scouting report: Johnson is listed at 6-9 because that was his height when he turned pro out of high school, but he now appears to be 6-11 or even seven feet. He has a thin frame and still needs to add muscle, and he has no perimeter game to speak of -- last year he was 5-for-26 on shots outside the immediate basket area.

    However, he's a freak of an athlete. Johnson has made at least one crowd-wowing play every time I've seen him perform, whether it be a flying swat or a soaring follow dunk, and despite his slender frame he's a superb rebounder. Right now his biggest issue is his propensity for turnovers, but otherwise he appears to be one of the game's top big man prospects, a Marcus Camby in the making.

    2008-09 outlook: Johnson unquestionably needs to play more, but it's hard to see how he'll crack a rotation that includes Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell, and Kwame Brown. OK, scratch that last part, but the first three guys will be difficult to displace. Somehow, the Pistons need to get this kid (he's still only 21) at least 20 minutes a night to let him develop, because game experience is probably his biggest need and he's shown he can run with the big boys.

    Most similar at age: Andris Biedrins

[CelticsFan166]

I think AJ is better as a PF as he has decent mobility still and has good size for the position. I don't want to be undersized even more at Center than we already are. Also think if C's copy Grizz offense Zeller and AJ could be effective in the offensive roles of Gasol and ZBo.

What offensive center is the East makes this problematic?  I think Amir can guard virtually ALL the centers in the Eastern conference.  Out West, there are more issues, but thankfully we don't play these teams but twice each.

Smitty77

Agreed. Also, I'm not sure 6'11 is "undersized" and he's athletic enough and long enough to do just fine at Center.

First off he is listed at 6'9
And for Smitty77, are you kidding me Raptors, Nets, Magic, Pistons, Wizards, Bobcats, Cavs, Bucks, Bulls, Heat all have Centers that will crush AJ in the post and on the boards. Then add in 76ers with Noel and Hawks with Hordford in at Center. That is almost every team in the East.  Also add in scrappy Robin Lopez is now in NY. AJ just can't compete at Center long stretches as a starter. Maybe going small ball 20 mins a game here or there but not even that can be too often.

This from John Hollinger in 2009:

John Hollinger claims he's closer to 6-11 or 7-0.

    2007-08 season: Remind me again why this guy didn't play more? Johnson shot 55.8 percent, had the second-best rate of blocks in basketball, ranked in the top third of centers in rebound rate, and lost his minutes in the postseason to Theo Ratliff. Really.

    Sure, he's a bit raw. Johnson was mistake-prone, with 10 offensive fouls and six illegal defense violations in just 769 minutes, and he wasn't always in the right spots on D. But he was also devastatingly effective, ranking 14th among centers in PER. There is absolutely nothing in his track record to suggest this was a fluke either -- his numbers from his previous two D-League seasons and his scraps of NBA time have all been outstanding.

    Scouting report: Johnson is listed at 6-9 because that was his height when he turned pro out of high school, but he now appears to be 6-11 or even seven feet. He has a thin frame and still needs to add muscle, and he has no perimeter game to speak of -- last year he was 5-for-26 on shots outside the immediate basket area.

    However, he's a freak of an athlete. Johnson has made at least one crowd-wowing play every time I've seen him perform, whether it be a flying swat or a soaring follow dunk, and despite his slender frame he's a superb rebounder. Right now his biggest issue is his propensity for turnovers, but otherwise he appears to be one of the game's top big man prospects, a Marcus Camby in the making.

    2008-09 outlook: Johnson unquestionably needs to play more, but it's hard to see how he'll crack a rotation that includes Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell, and Kwame Brown. OK, scratch that last part, but the first three guys will be difficult to displace. Somehow, the Pistons need to get this kid (he's still only 21) at least 20 minutes a night to let him develop, because game experience is probably his biggest need and he's shown he can run with the big boys.

    Most similar at age: Andris Biedrins

TP for digging this up. Interesting to read.

[Csfan1984]

I think AJ is better as a PF as he has decent mobility still and has good size for the position. I don't want to be undersized even more at Center than we already are. Also think if C's copy Grizz offense Zeller and AJ could be effective in the offensive roles of Gasol and ZBo.

What offensive center is the East makes this problematic?  I think Amir can guard virtually ALL the centers in the Eastern conference.  Out West, there are more issues, but thankfully we don't play these teams but twice each.

Smitty77

Agreed. Also, I'm not sure 6'11 is "undersized" and he's athletic enough and long enough to do just fine at Center.

First off he is listed at 6'9
And for Smitty77, are you kidding me Raptors, Nets, Magic, Pistons, Wizards, Bobcats, Cavs, Bucks, Bulls, Heat all have Centers that will crush AJ in the post and on the boards. Then add in 76ers with Noel and Hawks with Hordford in at Center. That is almost every team in the East.  Also add in scrappy Robin Lopez is now in NY. AJ just can't compete at Center long stretches as a starter. Maybe going small ball 20 mins a game here or there but not even that can be too often.

This from John Hollinger in 2009:

John Hollinger claims he's closer to 6-11 or 7-0.

    2007-08 season: Remind me again why this guy didn't play more? Johnson shot 55.8 percent, had the second-best rate of blocks in basketball, ranked in the top third of centers in rebound rate, and lost his minutes in the postseason to Theo Ratliff. Really.

    Sure, he's a bit raw. Johnson was mistake-prone, with 10 offensive fouls and six illegal defense violations in just 769 minutes, and he wasn't always in the right spots on D. But he was also devastatingly effective, ranking 14th among centers in PER. There is absolutely nothing in his track record to suggest this was a fluke either -- his numbers from his previous two D-League seasons and his scraps of NBA time have all been outstanding.

    Scouting report: Johnson is listed at 6-9 because that was his height when he turned pro out of high school, but he now appears to be 6-11 or even seven feet. He has a thin frame and still needs to add muscle, and he has no perimeter game to speak of -- last year he was 5-for-26 on shots outside the immediate basket area.

    However, he's a freak of an athlete. Johnson has made at least one crowd-wowing play every time I've seen him perform, whether it be a flying swat or a soaring follow dunk, and despite his slender frame he's a superb rebounder. Right now his biggest issue is his propensity for turnovers, but otherwise he appears to be one of the game's top big man prospects, a Marcus Camby in the making.

    2008-09 outlook: Johnson unquestionably needs to play more, but it's hard to see how he'll crack a rotation that includes Antonio McDyess, Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell, and Kwame Brown. OK, scratch that last part, but the first three guys will be difficult to displace. Somehow, the Pistons need to get this kid (he's still only 21) at least 20 minutes a night to let him develop, because game experience is probably his biggest need and he's shown he can run with the big boys.

    Most similar at age: Andris Biedrins

He is shorter than PJ3 by a few inches no way is AJ 7'.

[GetLucky]

I think the fact that Johnson went 5-26 outside the paint in his first pro season and is now shooting threes at an average (off the top of my head) rate speaks volumes about his work ethic.

[oldtype]

I expect to see what he's shown for his entire career: really good play, pretty subdued numbers.

[KG Living Legend]

I think Stevens and Amir mesh really well. He will be the first player in NBA history to go from 9 pts and 5 rebound to avg 30ppg 15rpg and 5 bpg. He wins MVP of the league and we win the title.

[Csfan1984]

I think Stevens and Amir mesh really well. He will be the first player in NBA history to go from 9 pts and 5 rebound to avg 30ppg 15rpg and 5 bpg. He wins MVP of the league and we win the title.

Well he did go from 6'9 PF role player with the Raptor to 7'  Center and key force for the C's on this very thread so why not?

[hpantazo]

I think Stevens and Amir mesh really well. He will be the first player in NBA history to go from 9 pts and 5 rebound to avg 30ppg 15rpg and 5 bpg. He wins MVP of the league and we win the title.

Well he did go from 6'9 PF role player with the Raptor to 7'  Center and key force for the C's on this very thread so why not?

Yep, under CBS he will be the next Bill Russell.

[DarkAzcura]

I think Stevens and Amir mesh really well. He will be the first player in NBA history to go from 9 pts and 5 rebound to avg 30ppg 15rpg and 5 bpg. He wins MVP of the league and we win the title.

Well he did go from 6'9 PF role player with the Raptor to 7'  Center and key force for the C's on this very thread so why not?

I still don't understand why you are holding onto that 6'9" number so tightly. Most people have accepted that he has grown an inch or two at most since entering the NBA. Regardless, I also still don't get why you can't see that it isn't about labels or whatever. Amir provides a skillset to this frontcourt that no one else has on this team. Whether he does it listed as a center or power forward is moot.

[Tr1boy]

Basically a Smart/Crowder Pf/C version. Plays with alot of heart that influences the team the right way. Will put his body on the line

[vjcsmoke]

He is what he has been his whole NBA career though a PF. People are dying for a center so bad they want to project AJ to that spot. And AJ was not the best center for the Raptors. Taking a sample size of like 8 mins per game doesn't project to a starting center. He has good strengths vs other PFs why move his position and weaken him? C's need a legit Center or to keep developing Zeller those are the answers not AJ out of position.

KG made the transition to center.  I don't see why Amir Johnson can't play Center for us.  The days of traditional bruising 5 centers is dying out.  Most modern centers are just long 4's anyways.

[Big333223]

I just watched the Warriors win a championships with Draymond Green playing big minutes at center. I think Amir Johnson can play center.