Before We Get Carried Away

"An acre of performance is worth a whole world of promise."Red Auerbach

ESPN Boston 2011

Johnson is not Kevin Garnett, to be sure ("Don't anybody write it," Rivers joked Thursday), but there are several striking similarities between the pair's respective games. Both are long, athletic big men, capable of working with their backs to the basket in the post and stepping out and consistently knocking down a 15- to 18-foot jumper. Both understand what their strengths are on the offensive end and they stick to spots on the floor where they can best utilize those strengths -- a tactic Johnson impressed Rivers with during his pre-draft workout with the Celtics earlier this month.

"They're very similar... Same body type," said Rivers. "At the same time in their lives, [Johnson's] probably a better shooter, and Kevin became a great shooter. So there's a lot of upside things with him."

Hartford Courant 1993

"To be able to get our hands on a player of Acie's talent is quite fortunate for us, given that big men are at a premium," said Celtics coach Chris Ford.

Earl still is a gamble, highly touted as he may be. Earl is no Russell, nor is he Bill Walton -- although he does work out with Walton. Earl isn't even a Parish, although there is a resemblance.

"A lot of people used to compare me to Robert Parish," Earl said. "The shot-blocking ability, the shooting touch we both possess . . ."

Acie Earl: 6'10 240
JaJuan Johnson: 6'10 220

Both were Big Ten Defensive Player of Year (Earl 1993, Johnson 2011)

Earl's Junior Year: 19.5 PPG 7.8 RPG 4.0 BPG
Johnson's Junior Year: 15.5 PPG 7.1 RPG 2.0 BPG

Earl's Senior Year: 16.9 PPG 8.9 RPG 2.5 BPG
Johnson Senior Year: 20.5 PPG 8.5 RPG 2.1 BPG

If that doesn't scare you, this will:



If you are currently looking to buy a house in Iowa, Acie is your man!

#12 & #55 Meet the Media

"Kevin's a great teacher. Actually, the best teacher that I've ever coached, by far. But if you don't listen the first time, he'll never teach you again, and that's just how he works. We warn guys of that, and some follow, and end up being coached by Kevin Garnett, and some think they know it all, and they're not."
-Doc Rivers

#12 JaJuan & #55 E'Twaun met the media for the first time officially as Boston Celtics team members. In regards to the life lessons of KG, Johnson will "definitely listen". He better. As Patrick O'Bryant once learned, these classes are not an easy A, particularly for those that don't pay attention:

To Rivers' earlier point about past teammates who didn't listen, a post-practice session between Garnett and former C's center Patrick O'Bryant from two years ago still comes to mind. Garnett spent the entire time dunking over the blank-faced O'Bryant and shouting, "Do you feel me?" -Mark Murphy

Not a whole lot of updates from Ainge other than the usual media mumbo-jumbo. Meaning no movement before the lockout, Green's qualifying offer will be made, no updates on Davis'/Delonte's status with the team, nor updates on potential return of the other bench filler from the 2010-11 squad (yes to Arroyo/Pavlovic but no to Wafer/Murphy), nor any potential free agent targets (from Marquis to CP3).

“We can’t really get anything major done. We’ll have some more conversations before July 1 comes along, and then we’ll just go from there. I think we’re all hopeful, but we just have to deal with what’s there.” -Danny Ainge

Translation, get ready for an even slower summer than normal and who knows how long this lockout will be. Here's a clip from the Media session with the new Rookies:

Purdone: C's go with 2 Boilermakers Johnson & Moore

"Two really good, productive college players. Mature kids, great character and attitude. We got some shooting, we got some length, and I think they're a good fit for us."

"We think [Johnson is] a both-ends-of-the-court player. He can shoot, he can rebound, block shots. He's got some good energy and good length. I think that he fits a lot of parts that we need."
-Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge

"I like it. Big 10 Player of the Year, athletic, can shoot -- I like it a lot. We didn't think he'd be there and he was. [Johnson can] pick-and-pop, he's a terrific shooter for his size and [is] extremely athletic. Obviously, he rebounded well in college which you hope translates over. But we've proven we can get bigs shots and, so we can get him shots and he'll make them. The defensive part, he comes from a great program, he's a high-character kid, and at [No. 27], that's what you hope for."
-Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers

Personally I really like the Moore pick a lot, he's a smart kid and had a very impressive collegiate career (in 2010-11 he had eleven 20+ points games, three of which were 30+ point games). Johnson seems like a risk, particularly with his need to bulk up for the NBA game. He's shown flashes of brilliance, a 17 rebound 7 block game against Michigan State and was the Big Ten Player of the Year and also Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Both are 4 year college players and have the ability to contribute right away. Moore was an Academic All-American and a Third Team All-American. Moore is only the fourth player in Big Ten history to tally 2,000 points (2,136), 500 rebounds (611), and 350 assists (400) in a career.


JaJuan Johnson's Draft Combine Interview:



E'twaun Moore's Draft Combine Interview:

2011 Draft Prospecting - Our Pick for #25 - Jeremy Tyler

Overview:
Jimmy Butler out of Marquette, Jeremy Tyler the High Schooler/turned pro in Japan/Israel and Norris Cole out of Cleveland State seem to be the primary targets for the C's. There have been murmurs of moving up to get USC's Vucevic, but for a guy who's upside is basically Nenad Krstic, it just doesn't seem likely, particularly if it involves the very valuable 2012 Clippers pick. JaJuan Johnson is another name that seems to be mentioned, but my guess is that Ainge is hoping he drops into the second round as he needs bulk, he's so skinny he makes Tayshaun Prince look obese.

Our Pick:
Jeremy Tyler, San Diego, CA
The risk/reward factor is there with Tyler, but quite simply the Celtics need to swing for the fences and get someone who can immediately help the Big 3 on the run for #18. While Butler is the safest bet, he is another Swing Forward and, provided Green comes back and Marquis returns for 3.0, the C's are stocked right now. The depth at the 5 is Jermaine O'Neal. Delonte West (hopefully back as well) and Avery Bradley (expecting huge year out of him), make Cole's a Lobsterclaw almost by default. I like Johnson, but moving the 55th pick and the 2013 2nd rounder to get a pick in the 40's seems a better approach to nabbing him. Which brings us back to Tyler, whom seems like the best fit for the C's at #25.

After initially committing to the Rickator & Louisville, Tyler went straight from High School to the Israeli Super League's Maccabi Haifa, but was labeled a "bust" after playing in just 10 games. Somewhat ridiculous considering he was just 18, should have been a High School Senior and instead was living in a tumultuous Foreign Land. Tyler quit and moved home after just under a year with Haifa.

"Was he ready to accept the responsibility of going to a foreign country? Probably not. It's quite different from Brandon Jennings," his advisor Sonny Vaccaro said. "It's more embarrassing than detrimental."

Moreover when you look at the comments from Tyler, even more questions arise as to what type of environment it was in Israel:

"If he just gave me a little confidence, said something to me in practice, it would make a big difference," Tyler said of then-coach Avi Ashkenazi. "But he doesn't. He just ignores me."


Tyler then went to Japan to play for pro ball for the Tokyo Apache, while seeing 33 games of action the performance was still underwhelming, but once again it is skewed due to lack of playing time. In 15.4 minutes per game he averaged 9.9 points on 51.7% shooting and 6.4 rebounds, not exactly horrific numbers, particularly when looking at other foreign prospects like Enes Kanter or Bismack Biyombo. For a team desperate for offense, like the Celtics, 10 points in 15 minutes of play is exactly what this team needs. Combine that with the tutelage of Kevin Garnett, whom had a few off years coming straight out of highschool, and its an ideal scenario for Tyler to come to the Celtics.

This is the pick that is not the safest bet, but with the C's desperate need to contend now, the necessity to hit a home run with this pick is huge, not so much is the need to find someone to ride the pine.

The NY Times did a very interesting Bio of Tyler a few years back and its worth reviewing to get a better idea of why Tyler might have been motivated to take $140,000 to go to Israel rather than the privilage of a few years with the Ricktator. Here's a quote on his current motivation, in case you're envisioning the second coming of Andrew Bynum:

“I have a vision, and my vision is to make the pros and have a successful life,” Tyler said. “Partying and all that stuff isn’t in my arsenal.”

Obviously crazy things will happen on draft night and who knows if Tyler's stock will rise/fall in the coming hours. It would not surprise me if Bishop Ainge traded all of his assets for the BYU savior Jimmer, but I'm pretty sure Doc and Wyc would not be attending the Draft "Party" if he did!

Notes
As previously mentioned, we've been using the tremendous Draft Profiles put together by Chris Forsberg/Grag Payne @ ESPN's Boston Celtics Blog, here's an overview of all of their hard work:

THE BIGS
Nikola Vucevic, 7-0, 260 lbs., USC
Jeremy Tyler, 6-11, 263 lbs., Tokyo Apache
Kenneth Faried, 6-8, 225 lbs., Morehead State
Justin Harper, 6-9, 228 lbs., Richmond
JaJuan Johnson, 6-10, 220 lbs., Purdue
Jon Leuer, 7-0, 223 lbs., Wisconsin
Jordan Williams, 6-9, 247 lbs., Maryland
Trey Thompkins, 6-10, 239 lbs., Georgia
Malcolm Thomas, 6-9, 223 lbs., San Diego State
Greg Smith, 6-10, 253 lbs., Fresno State
Keith Benson, 6-11, 217 lbs., Oakland

THE OTHERS  
PG Malcolm Lee, 6-6, 198 lbs., UCLA
PG Norris Cole, 6-2, 175 lbs., Cleveland State
PG Reggie Jackson, 6-3, 208 lbs., Boston College
SG Marshon Brooks, 6-5, 195 lbs., Providence
SF Jimmy Butler, 6-8, 222 lbs., Marquette
SF Kyle Singler, 6-9, 228 lbs., Duke