Boston Celtics' JaJuan Johnson Displaying Skills in Indy Pro-Am Games

With the NBA lockout still going strong without any progress, JaJuan Johnson of the Boston Celtics has created an environment that he believes is the best way to prepare himself for the NBA. While training with Tim Grover to add strength and size, he is working on his in-game skills by playing in the Indy Pro-Am circuit this summer.

Johnson says that he is currently continuing to work on his shot and is watching a lot of film to get up to speed with the NBA level of play. Videos of Johnson playing in the Indy Pro-Am show that he is beginning to expand his game a bit. Even in the last few months, he has begun the process of elevating his game to the necessary level to contribute when the lockout is over.

Johnson is displaying his athleticism with some huge dunks, including a strong alley-oop that shows he will be able to make some plays above the rim when the NBA season begins.

However, the size and skill of the defenders he will face in the NBA will require him to have more strength. Grover's program may be working well for Johnson as he does appear a little bigger, but he will need to put on a lot more weight to be able to make the same plays when he rejoins the Celtics. 

The most impressive part of Johnson's play in the Indy Pro-Am circuit is the improvements he is beginning to make to his mid-range jumper. He always had a smooth shot in college, but the moves he is learning and expanding are allowing him to get even better shots.

He continues to utilize the quickness of his shot to catch the defense off guard, but he is beginning to use his pivot much more effectively to free up some space between the ball and the defender to get the best shot possible. 

Johnson's game is continuing to develop. As he continues to train, his style seems to becoming more like Kevin Garnett's. He made the decision to not go overseas, but under the watchful eyes of Tim Grover, he should be able to put on the weight necessary for him to be an effective NBA player. The strides he has made already at refining his game show promise, as it appears that with more time Johnson may be able to become the contributor the Celtics need as the season starts.