JaJuan Johnson: A Combination of Bob Dandridge & Butterbean Love?

6'10", 220# JJJ reminds you of 6'6", 195# HOFer Bobby Dandridge and 6'8" 215# HOFer Bob Love? Are you saying he plays small for his position?

Dandridge was a key player on a team with Oscar Robertson and Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) that won a championship. He is considered one of the best small forwards of the '70s.

Bob Love was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals and didn't make the team. He made it a year later and played as a reserve. He was picked in the expansion draft by Milwaukee (meaning he was left unprotected). He was traded by Milwaukee to Chicago mid-season. 3x All-star.

Let's see if this kid plays this well twice, much less consistently. I don't mean to jinx the kid, but Steamer looked pretty freaking awesome his first extended time too...

Bradley still needs work in various parts of his game (shooting, for one, comes to mind) but he is figuring out what he does well and what he doesn't and is trying to parlay the former while minimizing the latter.

Playoffs are a completely different beast. Players who are just fine during the regular season but have no playoff experience often wilt under the pressure.

I'm glad you're feeling more positive about this team. The "realistic" perspective you bring to the table doesn't always come across as such...

bob

.

MDCelticsFan wrote:Bob:

You know, I would settle for a poor man's Kevin Durant if JJJ had 2/3 of KD's attributes!

MD!

2/3 of Durantula's offense, yes. 2/3 of his defense, no. I think OKC fans would say the exact opposite.

bob

.

NYCelt wrote:

bobheckler wrote:Dandridge was a key player on a team with Oscar Robertson and Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) that won a championship. He is considered one of the best small forwards of the '70s.

bob

.

Bob,

That has to be my favorite non-Celtic NBA team. They weren't together that long, but had a good run including a championship. I always thought Dandridge was one of the more under-rated forwards when the long comparison lists of "bests" are brought out and debated. It was often more of 4 guards and 1 big on the court when they would put Robertson, Allen, McGlocklin and Dandridge out there with Jabbar.

Real young bunch too; I think there was only something like 4 or 5 players on that roster with more than 2 years experience.

Regards

I agree. Another Big 3 (Bobby D, the Big O and Alcindor). McGlocklin was a very solid 2 guard off the bench too. I forgot about Lucius Allen. Good one.

On an individual note, AD (Adrian Dantley) was another SF that nobody could figure out how to stop. Too strong for a SG to guard, too quick (and too good an outside shot to back off of) for SFs. I think Dandridge was more well-rounded, better on defense, but AD was uncontainable one-on-one when he had the ball out on top on a clear out.

bob

.