Lauri Markkanen

[Suopapaha]

To be honest he’s struggled at times with a lot of teams that are being very physical with him. That’s the scouting report on him. I think it’s caused him to expend a lot of energy and has had to work a lot harder this year which is probably why he shoots so many contested threes so much more than last year from my eye test. This year could go a long way to help him have an even better year next year if he puts in the proper work. His time in the military could have also been part of the problem. I think he needs to bulk up a bit, and hopefully the staff sees this.

Hello. This is true, but the worst mistake Bulls organization did with Lauri was to 'demand' him bulk up. Lauri lost all of his assets and identity. Lauri is not a player whose strenths are posting up and banging with bigs. Hell, he is not the greatest in posting up small guards. He does not have the post moves. He is not exceptional ball handler but he is able to bring the ball up after rebound and even going coast to coast if given room. Better than most his size.

If you ask him to bulk up you lose his speed, stamina and body control and jumping ability. Everything he has going over other bigs. Lauri is not small per se. He has already quite big frame. I BEG, DO NOT BULK UP ANY MORE!

Lauri needs other good players in the team that he gets little more room to operate. He needs not to bulk up.

 

[Peter_Mentor]

Wow, I wasn't ready too read "Lauri needs to bulk up" takes still in 2024. It's literally the last thing he needs to do. The biggest challenges are still on the mental side. He still settles for the role of the floor spacer when things don't happen easily. The GSW game was a good example when Will did a great job demanding more from Lauri in the last quarter.

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

To be honest he’s struggled at times with a lot of teams that are being very physical with him. That’s the scouting report on him. I think it’s caused him to expend a lot of energy and has had to work a lot harder this year which is probably why he shoots so many contested threes so much more than last year from my eye test. This year could go a long way to help him have an even better year next year if he puts in the proper work. His time in the military could have also been part of the problem. I think he needs to bulk up a bit, and hopefully the staff sees this.

The military thing... He told he would have done lot of things differently. The timing was kinda bad, bc it was obvious he is going to be game planned more this season, and Jazz also lost playmaking in Conley

IMO he doesn't need to bulk up much, no. What he needs to do, is working with his stance, which is still too high. Improving it will help to use his first step more efficiently in more stationary situations. He also needs to look closely tapes from players such KO, how to perform fakes. KO is slowish player, but he uses his feet and fakes really well to throw off defenders to get shots up.

Lauri is borderline unstoppable, when he gets a running start and catches the ball in movement, but lacks footwork and sneakiness in dead pace moments.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

The military thing... He told he would have done lot of things differently. The timing was kinda bad, bc it was obvious he is going to be game planned more this season, and Jazz also lost playmaking in Conley

IMO he doesn't need to bulk up much, no. What he needs to do, is working with his stance, which is still too high. Improving it will help to use his first step more efficiently in more stationary situations. He also needs to look closely tapes from players such KO, how to perform fakes. KO is slowish player, but he uses his feet and fakes really well to throw off defenders to get shots up.

Lauri is borderline unstoppable, when he gets a running start and catches the ball in movement, but lacks footwork and sneakiness in dead pace moments.

Putting on ten fifteen pounds on isn’t going to hurt him and the jazz aren’t going to ask him to post up. IMO he needs to get stronger. You can do that without sacrificing mobility. He wares out as games go on

 

[Tanktastic]

I think he needs to bulk up a bit, and hopefully the staff sees this.

Are you Jim Boylen in disguise or do you just hate Lauri?

IMO he needs to get stronger. You can do that without sacrificing mobility. He wares out as games go on

Of course he can't. More mass slows you down, that's simple physics. Also, adding mass wears you down more late in games, not less.

 

[LogGrad98]

Of course he can't. More mass slows you down, that's simple physics. Also, adding mass wears you down more late in games, not less.

That's not really a 1 to 1 in athletic endeavors. If it's pure fat, well most likely that's true. But adding muscle can increase agility and speed and endurance. It'll be different for every individual.

 

[Tanktastic]

That's not really a 1 to 1 in athletic endeavors. If it's pure fat, well most likely that's true. But adding muscle can increase agility and speed and endurance. It'll be different for every individual.

Theoretically yes, in Lauri's case no. Getting away from the Bulls regime is exactly what brought back his agility and speed. When Hardy met Lauri's Finnish trainer in SLC, the message was to change nothing and keep doing what you're doing.

But here the wish was for Lauri to bulk up fifteen pounds in order to get stronger. Exactly the Jim Boylen blueprint, which ruined a year for him.

As for him wearing down sometimes, that's what happens when a 7-footer runs more distance on the court than anyone else. And that's a part product of him having to work so hard to get the ball - which in part is caused because the D can focus on Lauri and usually leave two other players pretty much open.

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

I think that the term " bulking up" has bad connotations, bc it really means nothing to just add mass.

Reducing or gaining mass without direction and competitive trainers and staff is always for bad. The team injury history that Garpax era Bulls had, indicates they were very incompetitive for professional team. You can add strength and muscle mass safely, when the plan is clear and it's all about functionality. The "bulking up" for me does refer to mindless pumping of iron.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

That's not really a 1 to 1 in athletic endeavors. If it's pure fat, well most likely that's true. But adding muscle can increase agility and speed and endurance. It'll be different for every individual.

This is what I’m talking about

When Hardy met Lauri's Finnish trainer in SLC, the message was to change nothing and keep doing what you're doing.

I think you need more context I’m not asking to bulk up 30 pounds or anything I just want him to be stronger so he can handle the more physical play. He can’t just stay the same. He has to adapt to the way people play him and you can do that without sacrificing your athletic ability.

 

[Hoopsfan]

When you read about Lauri's physics training during the last three off-seasons he and his trainer (during summer) have been putting emphasis on explosiveness, speed, agility and strength. Consequently his maximum strength results have increased, but he has actually lost a few pounds. I think it does seem like he has been doing the right things - judging by the results - , but I don't think the is a finished (even though Finnished? ) product.

 

[orange]

I think that the term " bulking up" has bad connotations, bc it really means nothing to just add mass.

Reducing or gaining mass without direction and competitive trainers and staff is always for bad. The team injury history that Garpax era Bulls had, indicates they were very incompetitive for professional team. You can add strength and muscle mass safely, when the plan is clear and it's all about functionality. The "bulking up" for me does refer to mindless pumping of iron.

This is what I’m talking about

I think you need more context I’m not asking to bulk up 30 pounds or anything I just want him to be stronger so he can handle the more physical play. He can’t just stay the same. He has to adapt to the way people play him and you can do that without sacrificing your athletic ability.

It seems that you were just understanding differently the meaning of bulking up. For comparison, Jim Boylen literally gave Lauri a target weight for much he had to "bulk up" during the off-season between the second and third year of his NBA career. This probably was a big factor behind Lauri's injury problems and decreased athleticism during his last two seasons in Chicago.

 

[Peter_Mentor]

This is what I’m talking about

I think you need more context I’m not asking to bulk up 30 pounds or anything I just want him to be stronger so he can handle the more physical play. He can’t just stay the same. He has to adapt to the way people play him and you can do that without sacrificing your athletic ability.

Even if he "only" adds 10 to 15 pounds, I can only see it as a zero-sum game. Yes, he strengthens his weaknesses, but at the same time he compromises on his strengths. Lauri is a match-up problem who outruns everyone on the court. It is very short-sighted to demand him to change every time he faces challenges, yet we haven't seen this version of him in a competitive team.