JuJuan Johnson Benches 330 pounds

[BfB]

I just found this quote from his old college coach during his jersey retirement:

“A lot of people don’t realize he can bench 330 pounds,” Painter said. “He doesn’t look that way but he’s pretty strong; he’s put a lot of time in the weight room.”

He may not have a low center of gravity or a great deal of bulk to throw around, but....damn - nobody compare him to Kevin Durant anymore(couldn't do 185 once during combine).

Bench press isn't an NBA skill, but it does tell me he's strong as hell, and that means he's "wiry" and not weak. He'll be able to fight back and won't be getting "pushed around" like we've heard a million times.

I like this kid - I think he was the sleeper of the first round and was ecstatic when the C's grabbed him....lotta interest in him, like Bradley the year before. He should be able to hit elbow and baseline shots right off the bat and I think he'll be a plus defender from day one, provided he can pick up on the defensive schemes quickly....can't wait for Xmas day...

[hiphop1]

He very well could be the steal of the draft and that i not an overstatement. His highlight reel is very impressive.

[KGboss]

I never believed the hype. He is too explosive on the floor to be this weakling the recruits put him out to be.

[jfs1000d]

Benches 330?

If that's true, we got a steal, but, I am skeptical just looking at his body. Do we have independent confirmation from somewhere? The NFL is littered with guys who allegedly had 4.4 40 times only to clock in at 4.5-4.55

With his size and long arms, benching 330 would actually be terrific. He's 221 pounds and 6-11. that's about 140 percent of body weight which is good strength. You guys have to realize how hard it is for someone with long arms to do a full press, the biomechanics are incredibly difficult.

We'll see. I am encouraged by the news, yet skeptical.

[GuyClinch]

Impressive. For a guy with long arms to bench that much is difficult. I hope he uses good form. Powerlifters put alot of arch in their back - people think this is 'cheating' sure it makes it easier. But the reduced range of motion really helps protect the shoulder. Most people aren't going to have the flexibility to avoid long term shoulder damage. Hell some 'fitness' gyms actually won't buy benchs because they don't want people benching and then suing them for shoulder damge.

So while this is good (actually kind of amazing) strength wise its a little bit of worry too. It would be nice to think he could squat 400 to go with that 300 bench. You want 300 bench/400 squat/500 dead.

[humblebum]

I think it will be pretty evident just how strong Jujuan is when he has to deal with the bigger NBA players backing him down on the post and fighting for position on the defensive glass. Until I see him handle those situations well, color me unimpressed with his bench press numbers.

That's not to say I don't believe he'll be able to do it but I am definitely taking the wait and see approach with Johnson. If he is strong enough to defend the post and prevent offensive rebounders from pushing him around then I think he could be a really fine player for the Celtics.

One thing he's got going in his favor is Ainge's track record with drafting/projecting accomplished college PF's and how their games translate to the NBA.

[KGboss]

btw its JaJuan not JuJuan

Really good article on Johnson right here. I have to agree with this article just for the fact that our rookies will be coming in with 4 years experience, while others are so raw they won't be able to find the floor - let alone a rhythm. This kid could really be our X-factor for the coming season.

http://www.csnne.com/basketball-boston- ... eedID=3945

[Slartibartfast]

I watched half a dozen of his games in his senior season. Strong arms or not, he was easy for anybody with a strong base and some skill to back down and score over in the post. Draymond Green had no problems posting him up.

JJ's always going to be at a disadvantage guarding the post against beefier guys. Fortunately for him there are a lot of big men in the NBA that are either too skinny to take advantage or too unskilled. The big key for him will be whether he can use his quickness and length to become a factor in team defense. He has good potential there, but he wasn't that great at it at Purdue: too focused on scoring the ball.

[Banks2Pierce]

I watched half a dozen of his games in his senior season. Strong arms or not, he was easy for anybody with a strong base and some skill to back down and score over in the post. Draymond Green had no problems posting him up.

JJ's always going to be at a disadvantage guarding the post against beefier guys. Fortunately for him there are a lot of big men in the NBA that are either too skinny to take advantage or too unskilled. The big key for him will be whether he can use his quickness and length to become a factor in team defense. He has good potential there, but he wasn't that great at it at Purdue: too focused on scoring the ball.

I agree with you that he was easy to push around and to back down in the post. I disagree with you when it comes to team defense. He was very good at team D in my eyes. He averaged 2.3 blocks a game on one of the best defensive teams in the nation. I think he'll be in the rotation.

[BfB]

I watched half a dozen of his in his senior season. Strong arms or not, he was easy for anybody with a strong base and some skill to back down and score over in the post. Draymond Green had no problems posting him up.

JJ's always going to be at a disadvantage guarding the post against beefier guys. Fortunately for him there are a lot of big men in the NBA that are either too skinny to take advantage or too unskilled. The big key for him will be whether he can use his quickness and length to become a factor in team defense. He has good potential there, but he wasn't that great at it at Purdue: too focused on scoring the ball.

IMO the NBA just doesn't pose a significant threat to him as far as defending the post with true back-to-basket opposition. NBA fours basically all face the basket to attack, even the ones that actual establish post position. NBA defense at the four is a lot more about hedge/recover from the perimeter and having the lateral quickness to slide-step in front of an opponent.

Almost all true post scorers play the 5. Back-down/hook/fade/layup guys are a dying breed in favor of the "stretch 4" now. The post fours in college re predominantly players with the skills of NBA 5's that aren't going to be in the league at the next level.

The strength factor is about fighting for position. I have no doubt that Johnson will struggle when guys want to sled into his mid-section - Camby, KG, etc - they all "struggle" to some degree with maintaining their position when a guy just smashed into them - they have a high center of gravity and an opponent with a lower base will be able to use that against them.

The only reason I posted this was because it was a very specific statement speaking to Johnson's strength - which helps a great deal to off-set some of the perceived fears regarding his ability to "battle" opponents on the block.

He'll always have problems with more "stout" opposition in certain ways. But he's no a weakling apparently and his length and athleticism play much better in the NBA at the four than they do in college, where undersized close-to-basket players are much more prevalent than they are in the NBA.

[UGA Hayes]

Can we just call him J cubed or something, b/c I'm going to be constantly messing his name up

[humblebum]

Can we just call him J cubed or something, b/c I'm going to be constantly messing his name up

LOL, J-Cubed is actually pretty catchy!

[threrf23]

I vote for either Juan or JaJu or JaWa

Names like JJJ & J3 & JJ are too generic and lazy IMO

[KGboss]

J-Cubed for president.

[celticfan42487]

Umm, when's the last time we've seen a player not have body contact and just pushed a player straight forward in the NBA?

This is basketball, not sumo wrestling. Your mass, lower body strength is what wins battles in the post and secures rebounding position. Obviously athleticism and height is every important too.

But even benching 200 pounds less then him it's very possible Kevin Durant will be a better post defender and rebounder then this guy.

I'm sorry I know this post must read jerkoffish. But seriously. What an irrelevant statistic.

[BfB]

Umm, when's the last time we've seen a player not have body contact and just pushed a player straight forward in the NBA?

This is basketball, not sumo wrestling. Your mass, lower body strength is what wins battles in the post and secures rebounding position. Obviously athleticism and height is every important too.

But even benching 200 pounds less then him it's very possible Kevin Durant will be a better post defender and rebounder then this guy.

I'm sorry I know this post must read jerkoffish. But seriously. What an irrelevant statistic.

I think you're missing the point, my friend....the point isn't about bench press, its about strength...my guess is that the same work out regimen he's used to get that 330lb bench press has likely also included core training.

The point of the post was to point out an indication of his actual strength in some area to infer that Johnson has more strength than his physical appearance belay.

[sully00]

Umm, when's the last time we've seen a player not have body contact and just pushed a player straight forward in the NBA?

This is basketball, not sumo wrestling. Your mass, lower body strength is what wins battles in the post and secures rebounding position. Obviously athleticism and height is every important too.

But even benching 200 pounds less then him it's very possible Kevin Durant will be a better post defender and rebounder then this guy.

I'm sorry I know this post must read jerkoffish. But seriously. What an irrelevant statistic.

if you are getting bodied as the defender in the post you already have lost this game is about moving your feet from when your 5 or your 55. The upper body strength is about being able to clear the sky to get the rebound. Antonio Davis went 6'9" 215 and Dale Davis was 6'10" 230lbs. Kurt Thomas is 6'9" 230lbs. Make a list the better big man defenders over the last 20 years and you will realize that Johnson's size is more of the prototype. Where the lower body strength comes into play is on the other side of the floor, that is how you can develop into a dominating offensive player great defenders tend to be skinny long and quick.

What you are hoping the C's got with Johnson is what the Bulls got with Taj Gibson. Is he going to go for 20/10 as a rookie? No but he might be able to give some mins on both ends and end outplaying his draft position.

[31to6]

Have to admit I'm intrigued by this kid, and pleasantly surprised by this number (with all the caveats brought up in the good discussion here).

[LongTimeFan]

How many years has it been since the draft really mattered?

If JJ can be a rotation player at some point, we got value. The point has been made. If he is this strong, we may have gotten a sleeper. We so need rebounding!!!! Rondo needing to rebound is such a positional waste.

[hiphop1]

He has WAY more offensive skills tha Warrick. Warrick only scores on put backs or fastbreaks. Not sayin i dont like Warick I wish we had him but J-Cubed is a muc more polished offensive player as of right now even.