JaJuan Johnson - Do Not "BULK UP"

by danny's protege on Jun 24, 2011 12:58 AM EDT

First of all, Danny did a great job with this year's draft. JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore are wonderful players and both have an enormous amount of potential to be key contributers even as early as next year, having played 4 years in college, not to mention together at Purdue. They're coming to Boston with chemistry and will be able to support each other and learn from the veteran. I can definately see the two of them taking the advice from Paul, KG and Ray seriously and growing in to All Stars.

Now, I'm tired of hearing everyone and I mean everyone say that players need to "BULK UP" to be able to play in the NBA. KG was skinnier that Johnson and has been a dominant Power Forward throughout his career and he didn't need to "BULK UP". KG got stronger but he didn't put on the excess fat that everyone wants. Last time I checked, Dirk Nowitski isn't such a shabby player and he hasn't needed to "BULK UP" (get fat) in order to play in the NBA.

Think about it, Yao Ming was extremely dominant when he came into the league, then all of the experts pushed him to "BULK UP" and he did. Well, that extra weight ended his career. Another example??? Does Shawn Kemp ring a bell?? He was an All Star Power Forward, but again everyone felt that he should "BULK UP". Well he did, and his career ended in ugly fashion.

Need I say more? Who's going to push him around? Bosh? Boozer? Anyone that insists that a JaJuan Johnson needs to "BULK UP" is ignorant to the game of basketball and should follow Sumo Wrestling instead.

Here are the benefits of remaining slim

"BULK UP" = Bad Knees, Bad Back, Bad Ankles and Early Retirement.

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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Comments

Bulk up=add muscle not fat

Where did you get this idea that bulking up=add fat? Shawn Kemp didn’t bulk up, he just let himself go. Basically what Big Baby Davis did this season. If johnson can add muscle he will get better, KG added muscle slowly over his career. Yahoo lists KG as 253 right now, he came into the league at closer to 230 maybe even lower. Of course it all depends on how his body works, some people can’t add a lot of muscle even if they lift a ton and eat the right foods.

by kg2128 on Jun 24, 2011 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

KG weighed in at 217 at his pre-draft

he’s listed variously from 220 to 255 in various listings right now.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jun 24, 2011 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions

cool thx for info

by kg2128 on Jun 24, 2011 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Bulk up = Injuries

I remember that Shawn Kemp was consider too skinny and started putting on weight. His career went down hill from there, then he really got obese.

I agree, he should follow KG’s career and not try to get on some crazy weight gaining program to gain weight fast. Right now, Johnson is able to block shot, get to rebounds faster, drive past slower"bulkier" players and dunk over others because of his body type.

by danny's protege on Jun 24, 2011 1:35 AM EDT reply actions

I LOVE this Draft

I can’t remember the last time I was this pleased with the picks from a draft

How about you guys? I am really thinking here…………………

by danny's protege on Jun 24, 2011 1:38 AM EDT reply actions

If u are pleased in taking a 2nd round talent in JuJuan in the 1st... than i guess it went okay.

by businessbmw on Jun 24, 2011 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you kidding? JaJuan was projected to go higher than the 25th pick.

by RyNye on Jun 24, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Nevermind, I was getting him confused with someone else

by RyNye on Jun 24, 2011 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

JaJuan Johnson and A'Twaun Moore

They are both really quality players and have 4 years of playing experiance together. Danny and company really did a great job!!!

by danny's protege on Jun 24, 2011 1:40 AM EDT reply actions

Jermaine O'Neal was also a victim of "bulking up"

Apparently Pacers management asked him to gain weight in order to play as a center instead of PF. He blames this for his knee problems.

Even if you gain muscle instead of fat, it is still extra weight for your joints to handle. Many bodybuilders’ joints are shot to hell, and they didn’t have to run and jump carrying that extra mass.

by rav123 on Jun 24, 2011 2:26 AM EDT reply actions

Kevin Durant anyone?

KD is so skinny and agile but he looks just fine to me…

"No I’m not KG. Not at all, but I’m Big Baby Glen Davis from LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m not the Big Ticket. I’m the Ticket Stub. Don’t count the Ticket Stub out. You might need the ticket to get in the game, but you leave with the ticket stub, because you’ll never forget this game."

by bopna on Jun 24, 2011 4:22 AM EDT reply actions

good point

I love watching KD’s highlights – seems like a great kid and an amazing talent. And I’m always surprised when I see how lanky he is.

JJ will be fine.

>Hoosier by birth, Boilermaker by the grace of God
>Don't cry for me, MSU --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycDSLYHJHwo

by sea.of.white on Jun 24, 2011 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions

The only thing he has in common with Kevin Durant is body fat percentage

Otherwise he has as much in common with Kevin Durant as he does with Rajon Rondo

by BigRedDog42 on Jun 24, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

he needs to bulk up unfortunately.

220 pounds would be easy to be pushed around in the block. However, he needs to do it slowly say 2-5 pounds every half year. That way his body can easily adapt the added weight. But 5 lbs wouldn’t make a difference so here’s hoping he can be strong enough.

by Yoki R on Jun 24, 2011 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

After looking at as many pictures as i could find

He simply dosent have the frame to just put on 20 or 30 pounds in a years time. He will add muscle just because he is going to be pushed harder, his work outs will become more demanding now that he has got to the NBA. Not to mention how his body will have to react in order to deal with going up against guys like KG, and JO in practice. He will get stronger, between the workouts and going up against KG in practice his mind will tell his muscles we have to do something to be able to handle this, and he will get bigger and stronger. He dosent need to put on 20 or 30 pounds right now, his frame will not allow it and he will be hurt before next season starts. He will probably step on the court next season ( if there is one) with 10 to 15 pounds of muscle put on. He dosent need to bulk up all of a sudden, he dosent have the frame for it. He is never going to be a big broad shoulder kind of guy. Look at KG is he bulky? Johnson will do fine as long as his mind is strong. He needs to get right mentally and come in with the right amount of confidence first.

by CoachBullins on Jun 24, 2011 1:12 PM EDT reply actions

agree

His body will probably naturally add 10-20 lbs over the next 2-3 years anyway, just through natural maturation for a human male.

He doesn’t play ‘weak’ anyway – he banged inside a ton this year and both blocked a lot of shots and scored on a lot of put-backs. He may not be heavy, but he is strong already.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jun 24, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

He put on 10-15 pounds during the course of his last season, and looks bulkier now than he did even during the season. I am not worried.

by RyNye on Jun 24, 2011 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t want JJ to “bulk up” either. Continue to work, get stronger, stay agile and quick. He’ll be fine.

I’ll say again, you need a “cruiser” and a “bruiser” at your 4/5. Johnson is your classic cruiser…and a good one. Don’t try to make him a battleship, it won’t work. JO and Shawn Kemp really are good example of what happens when you try.

However, now the C’s need to go find their bruiser, a big, strong, center…like Perkins (yeah, I know, but he’s the prototype for what they need now) to play center. Who that is and how they get him, I don’t know, but that’s their most pressing need now.

by erisred on Jun 24, 2011 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

cruiser and bruiser

’Completely agree.

With lanky, horizontally-focused PFs like KG (and hopefully JJJ), the perfect complement is a big, bruising, vertical post defender. Shaq, Perk, JO – all were great for that.

With no Shaq or Perk, we need at least one and preferably two more big bodies to stick in the post to share minutes with JO.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jun 24, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea, no need to change JuJuan`s body....

He`ll do just fine in the paint against :

Love
Griffin
Z. Randolph
Amare
Dirk
Aldrich

by Title 18 on Jun 24, 2011 6:42 PM EDT reply actions

im with you danny's protege!

by farias on Jun 24, 2011 7:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I think...

J.J. does need to add some more muscle to his upper body if he wants to be able to bang with the bigger power forwards (and some centers) in the NBA he will be asked to defend and rebound against.

One of the knocks on J.J. in college from some was that he did get pushed out a bit by bigger players, when trying to defend and rebound in the low post.

Since he will be dealing with even bigger bigs in the NBA, if he wants to improve his in the paint one on one power defense and rebounding, I think adding some more muscle bulk to his frame will do no harm and he will still maintain his quickness.

As long as J.O. does not over do it and does not bulk up to the point where he looks like Shaq or Baby I think he will be fine…lol

by fordescort on Jun 24, 2011 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry...

meant to say J.J. above in my last sentence and not J.O..lol

by fordescort on Jun 24, 2011 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

well...

how many times have you actually watched the Celtics play halfcourt defense. They don’t just bang bodies, there is a ton of movement in the rotations and a guy like Johnson is perfect for it, He will add some weight, but I think his mobility and length are why he is a Celtic, not because of a need to be the bruiser that Perk was.

by Winger44 on Jun 28, 2011 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Marcus Camby

There’s another guy who’s been successful with the lanky body type..

by Kelvin Upshaw on Jun 24, 2011 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

Confused

I have no idea how anybody can expect this kid not to bulk-up and be able to be any sort of presence on defense, besides help side.

I like the kid, and I think he has potential. But who in the league can you compare him to at his build.

Who is an effective 6’10 220 pound(soaking wet) “4/5” post presence? Can he get position for a rebound?

I only watched him play a hand-full of games over his college career, so I certainly don’t claim to be an expert.

I definitely think he has a shot and I wasn’t expecting much better at 25th, but I’m not betting too much on him either.

Like I said, who does he compare to? I can’t come up with anything reasonable.

by KGHurtYourFeelings on Jun 25, 2011 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

Don't worry about his defense

Dude, he’s the Big Ten DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (and POY too). He’s from a school that preaches defense. Their stadium says “Defense lives here.”

Sure, that’s college. And we’re talking about NBA. But he has all the right tools and skills to contribute defensively.

He compares to … KG when he was a rookie! Tall, lanky, superb jumping ability, can shoot a jumper, a cruiser and not a bruiser. Of course I am not expecting a HOF career out of Johnson, but really, too much about his weight.

Sure I think it’ll help if he adds some muscle (but not overwhelm his body), but bottom line, I’m sure these things will come naturally given his hard-working attitude. Look at his college stats, it improves EVERY YEAR. Even though he’s a 4-year player, he still hasn’t reached his full potential.

MARK MY WORDS: by season end next year (hopefully we’ll have a season), JJ will be Top 10 among this year’s draftees, and E’Twaun (as a 55th pick) will be able to contribute more than Bradley does (as a first rounder).

by charlespig on Jun 26, 2011 3:48 AM EDT up reply actions

You are expecting way too much

KG was ridiculous in terms of atheticism and speed when he came out. Plus he had the motor/intensity and basketball iq to play great d. Jajuan is athletic but not out of this world athletic, and doesn’t necessarily have all those other things to make up for lack of brute strength. Don’t forget he is a late first rounder for a reason, we shouldn’t complain about the weight all the time but he has to do something the nba isn’t very forgiving.

by kg2128 on Jun 26, 2011 5:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I just dont think you can compare Johnson to KG

KG came in with the kind of intensity that gave him an edge. I hope KG can rub off on him some. Johnson dosent have an edge coming in, but maybe learning from the most intense player I have ever seen can be his edge. I cant imagine how demanding KG will be of him, and how he should improve leaps and bounds as long as the lockout dosent prevent it.

by CoachBullins on Jun 29, 2011 1:50 PM EDT reply actions