Ajinca's Summer League Measurements

Mezotarkus · Post #1 » by **Mezotarkus** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 5:01 am

7'1" and 262 pounds? Did Ajinca bulk up big time over the summer? He was listed as 220 when he was drafted and 235 last season. 262 now? He's still looking raw in the D league. But I'm impressed by the muscle he's added if that's what that weight gain is.

DY_nasty · Post #2 » by **DY_nasty** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 8:48 am

Its all upper body weight from what i can tell...

Dude needs to work on his lower body more than anything else. Not only will it keep him from being knocked out of position as much, but it should keep him off the injured list too...

Bassman · Post #3 » by **Bassman** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 2:12 pm

DY_nasty wrote:Its all upper body weight from what i can tell...

Dude needs to work on his lower body more than anything else. Not only will it keep him from being knocked out of position as much, but it should keep him off the injured list too...

I am not convinced his lower body is capable of added muscle. I mean, our trainers are working with him, so you know he's not just doing upper body work. Genetics play a major role in what anyone is capable of. He started out with toothpick legs, and they're not getting much bigger. This is why the guy can't hold position for rebounding, or for post offense. The extra weight up top is good, but if the legs can't support it, it will just slow him down. I wish we could trade him for a decent prospect.

e4Nf6 · Post #4 » by **e4Nf6** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 2:13 pm

He's been gaining weight steadily since he came into the league. He's now just as heavy if not heavier than Nazr and Chandler. The real reason he gets pushed around sometimes (not terribly common anymore actually) is that he occasionally forgets to get low to box-out or defend in the post.

doc.end · Post #5 » by **doc.end** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 2:31 pm

Bassman wrote:
DY_nasty wrote:Its all upper body weight from what i can tell...

Dude needs to work on his lower body more than anything else. Not only will it keep him from being knocked out of position as much, but it should keep him off the injured list too...

I am not convinced his lower body is capable of added muscle. I mean, our trainers are working with him, so you know he's not just doing upper body work. Genetics play a major role in what anyone is capable of. He started out with toothpick legs, and they're not getting much bigger. This is why the guy can't hold position for rebounding, or for post offense. The extra weight up top is good, but if the legs can't support it, it will just slow him down. I wish we could trade him for a decent prospect.

Genetics again? Just make a sig of it and don't repeat it every week. Please, come on.

doc.end · Post #6 » by **doc.end** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 2:33 pm

And I'm not sure where "our trainers are working with him" came from. He was in Texas with his personal coach and joined team in Orlando just days before the SL. After SL he will have some sort of training camp for kids in France.

Post #7 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 2:43 pm

how much does rust from the thumb injury factor into ajinca's performance? he was really tearing up the NBDL before he got hurt and rebounding and blocking shots at a high rate. i would have to think that NBDL competition is at least similar in terms of talent to summer league, right? what has changed? is he scared of re-injuring that thumb and therefore being passive on defense and rebounding?

Post #8 » by **BigSlam** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 4:29 pm

Bassman wrote: I wish we could trade him for a decent prospect.

Why on Earth would you want to trade him for a "decent prospect" when he already is a decent prospect?

Post #9 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 6:45 pm

BigSlam wrote:
Bassman wrote: I wish we could trade him for a decent prospect.

Why on Earth would you want to trade him for a "decent prospect" when he already is a decent prospect?

Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate

Bassman · Post #10 » by **Bassman** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 6:48 pm

Walt Cronkite wrote:
BigSlam wrote:
Bassman wrote: I wish we could trade him for a decent prospect.

Why on Earth would you want to trade him for a "decent prospect" when he already is a decent prospect?

Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate

OK Guys, since you all feel that way, let me state that I will have no more comment about Ajinca....until he is no longer with the team. Don't everyone cheer at once. Enjoy the hope you share for him.

DY_nasty · Post #11 » by **DY_nasty** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 7:19 pm

fatlever wrote:how much does rust from the thumb injury factor into ajinca's performance? he was really tearing up the NBDL before he got hurt and rebounding and blocking shots at a high rate. i would have to think that NBDL competition is at least similar in terms of talent to summer league, right? what has changed? is he scared of re-injuring that thumb and therefore being passive on defense and rebounding?

The average height in the D-league is waaaaaaaaaaaaay shorter than that of the summer league.

How in the world can a guy not add lower body weight? lol You guys are just determined to hate on the kid...

Bassman · Post #12 » by **Bassman** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 8:23 pm

DY_nasty wrote:
fatlever wrote:how much does rust from the thumb injury factor into ajinca's performance? he was really tearing up the NBDL before he got hurt and rebounding and blocking shots at a high rate. i would have to think that NBDL competition is at least similar in terms of talent to summer league, right? what has changed? is he scared of re-injuring that thumb and therefore being passive on defense and rebounding?

The average height in the D-league is waaaaaaaaaaaaay shorter than that of the summer league.

How in the world can a guy not add lower body weight? lol You guys are just determined to hate on the kid...

This is not a comment about the player. I am explaining why I reference genetics relative to adding muscle. Every person's genetic code prescribes the capacity for them to train and improve on God-given ability. If anyone could just lift weights and get superior strength, everyone could compete at the Olympics, or become a champion bodybuilder. But anyone who has done serious athletic training, particularly weight training, knows that various parts of one's body respond better than others, and exhibit limits relative to capacity, strength, elasticity, etc. In the NBA, NFL, etc., these athletes represent the best of the best at their game, and nearly all of them have superior athletic talent. Yet, not everyone jumps out of the gym, or holds position on the post well, or posesses increadible hand-eye coordination. Even here, the differences stand out. Point is...you can train all day till the cows come home, but your body can only adapt so much. After years of training, these guys discover what they can and cannot do. The results on the court speak for themselves.

DY_nasty · Post #13 » by **DY_nasty** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 8:47 pm

Bassman wrote:This is not a comment about the player. I am explaining why I reference genetics relative to adding muscle. Every person's genetic code prescribes the capacity for them to train and improve on God-given ability. If anyone could just lift weights and get superior strength, everyone could compete at the Olympics, or become a champion bodybuilder. But anyone who has done serious athletic training, particularly weight training, knows that various parts of one's body respond better than others, and exhibit limits relative to capacity, strength, elasticity, etc. In the NBA, NFL, etc., these athletes represent the best of the best at their game, and nearly all of them have superior athletic talent. Yet, not everyone jumps out of the gym, or holds position on the post well, or posesses increadible hand-eye coordination. Even here, the differences stand out. Point is...you can train all day till the cows come home, but your body can only adapt so much. After years of training, these guys discover what they can and cannot do. The results on the court speak for themselves.

I'm not sure you know exactly how muscle growth works. Genetics... wow, I've never heard someone argue that a 21 yr old mobile 7 footer is genetically inferior and unable to play in the NBA. You really think that he's somehow maxed out his body as he is now? The kid isn't even through growing yet :lol:

A guy doesn't reach his prime for until he's like 27. But somehow Ajinca just can't improve because of his inferior french genes :roll:

Bassman · Post #14 » by **Bassman** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 8:56 pm

Oh I understand the science of Kinesiology quite well, along with various neuromuscular theories of development through DXA scans, comparing upper and lower mass for the identification of rigid and soft tissue composition and capacity.

I do more than play bass guitar.

Yes, it is possible more growth can occur given the subject's relative age, but the maturity of muscle mass is coming soon.

doc.end · Post #15 » by **doc.end** » Fri Jul 9, 2010 10:05 pm

I will repeat myself - bashing someone that he can't ever have good stability on his legs when such a one is a son of a former wrestler (and to be sure we understand each other, I mean this wrestling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling) is quite comical. I guess it is more about actual impact than about look of the muscles. He may not inherited any predisposions which make his father suitable for wrestling (from a glimpse look of his father in some pre-draft video they are very differetn types) but that's a longshot and claiming he have bad predisposion in somethinbg related to strenght is off.

As this topic may reappear for thsoe who wonder, Lexy's father appears shortly in some of "Novi génération" videos at dailymotion.com , I don't remember in which one and when.

GoBobs · Post #16 » by **GoBobs** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 4:49 am

Lexys problem right now is his motor. If he can improve it is certainly a valid question. Guys that are that tall tend to tire very quickly because it takes more energy for the heart to pump blood to all the extremities. Even when he walks out before warm ups he has a slight slump. When someone is shooting free throws he always has his hands on his knees. Watching him it looks like it is hard for him to just stand up straight all the time.

Two things have to change to improve his motor. His level of endurance and his basketball habits. Right now he tends to sneak some rest instead of working for good position before a rebound. He also doesn't hustle to get back in plays once he is out of position. These are habits that are not easy to change.

It is worth noting that he spends a lot of energy in certain parts of the game. When a player is trying to push him around for post position he fights back hard. You can see him making an effort to run the floor hard on plays. When hatchet man Daniel Orton got him pissed off in the last summer league game he played as hard as I have seen in a while. He has that dog in him he just doesn't know how to use it yet.

If I was working with him I would have him totally focus on endurance type workouts. 30 laps in the pool every day, circuit training, cycling and soccer. (which would also help with his footwork which is another weak spot)

He is never going to be strong enough that more compact guys can't knock him off balance. That is just part of being long and tall. If he could play with half the hustle of like a Jokim Noah though it would be enough to make him an all star.

His skills are already unbelievable. His jumper is sick for a guy his size. He makes an unstoppable jump hook look easy. He can put the ball on the floor and take most guys that are going to guard him off the dribble.

Watching him in summer league I would say he is still a few years away from being a rotation player. You might be able to get away with 15 min or so right now, but he is just not ready to be the kind of rebounder he needs to be at his size. Even if he is a few years away though he is worth the wait. If he can improve his hustle it will all be worth it.

doc.end · Post #17 » by **doc.end** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 12:10 pm

Funny you mentioned cycling- he was BMX world vicechmapion etc. when he was twelve.

Post #18 » by **fatlever** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:05 pm

i wonder if jinx is one of those guys who looks better when surrounded by good players or looks worse.