Detroit Pistons: Extra Weight Will Help Brandon Jennings
By Fuad Shalhout
@shalhoutf
Getty Images
Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings gained 25 pounds — a lot of it muscle — this past offseason. It’s no guarantee this will make Jennings a good PG, but it will help him in a couple areas.
First, Jennings struggled defensively last season with bigger guards. Adding muscle will help him hold his own against guys that are bigger than him. Second, he’ll be able to finish around the rim a lot better. Jennings had trouble finishing with contact, and adding strength should help him in that area. Jennings thinks the weight gain will do him wonders.
“I didn’t put on 25 pounds of muscle or anything like that. I just gained my weight back and I’m excited at the weight I’m at,” Jennings said at Media Day. “I think more on the defensive end it’s going to help a lot — just fighting through screens, being tougher and taking on that challenge on the defensive end. Offensively, it’s going to help me hold up more during the season.”
Jennings, of course, still has a lot more to prove. This is going to be a make-or-break season for him under Stan Van Gundy, and he has to show that he can lead this team both on and off the court. If Jennings can evolve into a solid point guard, he’ll easily put away the perception of him being a ball-hog.
But the weight gain is definitely a good start. It shows Jennings is serious about changing his game and attitude, and if he can translate that into a productive year, then I’m all for it.
Fuad Shalhout is a Detroit Pistons writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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