Atlanta Hawks: All-Star weekend: Joe Johnson says ‘no pain’ in knee
Orlando–Joe Johnson isn’t playing in the All-Star game tomorrow because of his balky left knee. That doesn’t mean he gets to skip the assorted weekend appearances and obligations that come along with being an All-Star. I caught up with Joe today before the Eastern Conference practice.
Q. They’ve got you doing all this hoopla even though you aren’t playing?
A. Aw, man.
Q. You are just trying to rest, right?
A. That’s it. Just trying to get this knee right.
Q. How is it feeling?
A. It feels great. I don’t have no pain in it right now, actually. I’ve been getting a lot of stim [electrical stimulation] and ice. Just trying to get ready for this second half.
Q. Do you think the rest will help the knee?
A. Definitely. It’s the first time all season I will get a chance to have, what, four or five days off? Can’t beat that. [Note: He actually will get at least eight days off without a game.]
Q. Do you think the schedule caught up to you?
A. Yeah, for me, it has. This tendinitis is lingering around and not getting a chance to really rest and treat it like I should, it’s been tough.
Q. What has to happen for the team to be better after the break?
A. First and foremost, if we had our All-Star center, things would be a little different. But we have got to work with what we’ve got. We’ve got to be more together. There has been a little separation, especially towards the break. I’m sure we will get that cohesiveness back and try to make this late push to position ourselves for the playoffs.
Q. It seems like defense generally hasn’t been the problem, it’s the offense.
A. That’s just getting good ball movement and getting guys good shots. At times we do it, at times we don’t. It has to be on a consistent basis if we want to compete with the best teams in the East.
Q. What is the chemistry like now? It seems like when the losing started, things started to fray.
A. The chemistry, it’s definitely tough when we start losing. You can probably read guys’ body language. It’s something we really have to work on as a team, especially myself. I know when things start to go a little sour for us we all tend to hang our heads a little bit. I am sure coming down the stretch we will all pick up our play and get back to playing how we were when Al first went out.
Q. You mentioned working with that you’ve got. Does that also mean not worrying about if there will be any moves made before the deadline?
A. We can’t even worry about that. Once you start worrying about that, it makes things even worse. We have just got to work with what we’ve got and try to make the best of what we’ve got.
Q. What have you doing this weekend?
A. I’ve just been chilling. To be honest, I haven’t done nothing. Sitting at the crib and with ice and stim all day yesterday. My days have been pretty boring.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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77 comments Add your comment
TMACfan
February 25th, 2012
11:44 pm
It’s sad to think that someone would turn down a million dollars to dunk a ball 3 times…
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
February 26th, 2012
12:24 am
Get some And 1 street ball players for the dunk contest.
Buddy Grizzard
February 26th, 2012
1:27 am
“First and foremost, if we had our All-Star center, things would be a little different.”
First words out of his mouth, an excuse. What about the other All Star and the All Star snub on the roster?
David
February 26th, 2012
2:24 am
I’m not really familiar with much new age lingo, but does “Aw, man” mean yes or no?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 26th, 2012
2:31 am
“Najeh POO you BOO BOO on the Hawks twice not me.”
I don’t see what Tyrone’s cousin has to do with any of this.
hawkfan
February 26th, 2012
3:54 am
haha najeh you beat me to it after watching the dunk contest I thought the exact thing that they should posterize ppl in the contest ala blake griffen on perkins since ppl get more riled up for that
doc
February 26th, 2012
9:18 am
MC: i can’t be stopped.
that is reassuring, however it is the slowing that bothers me. enjoy your efforts immensely,
Mister.Earl
February 26th, 2012
10:22 am
One answer sums up why Joe Johnson will NEVER take the Hawks anywhere but to mediocrity.
Q. They’ve got you doing all this hoopla even though you aren’t playing?
A. Aw, man.
Really?
Cwebb
February 26th, 2012
10:51 am
Haters gonna hate…
Walt Frazier
February 26th, 2012
12:33 pm
Hope someone plays a little defense tonight.
Rev in Tampa
February 26th, 2012
4:12 pm
“Hope someone plays a little defense tonight.”
Not a chance. The All-Star game is about stat-lines.
O'Brien
February 26th, 2012
5:39 pm
Najeh,
If someone was challenging their shots, then the risk of injury is magnified. IMO, the NBA just needs to find a way to have the star players do the dunk contest.
Man in Black
February 26th, 2012
6:24 pm
I said it when we fired Woddson – we should have hire Collins – look whats he’s done with a team that has no talent at all.
Lil Fawkers
February 26th, 2012
8:05 pm
What does the NBA finals and all star game have in common?
No Atlanta Hawks.
ROCKMEN1
February 26th, 2012
8:34 pm
Josh not making the ALL star team has a lot to do with his perception around the league, which is what Hubie and Charles have said during broadcasts. How many times as fans do we scream for him to not shoot that J or to get in the paint or to give the ball up on the break to a guard. J should be averaging 20 and 10.
soullrenaissance
February 26th, 2012
9:05 pm
Wack halftime show. Back to the Durant/Westbrook extravaganza.
Katie
February 26th, 2012
9:29 pm
MC, is there anytime when the fans can go and watch the Hawks practice before the season resumes?
Buddy Grizzard
February 27th, 2012
12:05 am
“we should have hire Collins – look whats he’s done with a team that has no talent at all.”
Can’t agree there… lot more talent on the 76ers than the Hawks.
cpsman_atlanta
February 27th, 2012
8:18 am
Here’s another missing question:
Q: Joe, what do you believe is the main problem with this team so far, and how does this team get over the hump in terms of playoff success?
A: I think the answers are pretty easy. We haven’t had the opportunity to get rest this season like we should, thanks to the compact schedule that we are playing through thanks to the lockout, so it’s something we will have to work through.
I think the biggest problem overall that we have to deal with is the inept ownership that runs the team. We come out for our home games and see a half filled arena, or less than half filled arena, and wonder why all the fans didn’t show up, because we know they are in the area. Then we realize that the Thrashers hockey team had more support, and that so many people are angry over the fact that they were sold and relocated, that there’s now a boycott on anything associated with Atlanta Spirit Group. Oh, sure, we’ll have people show up for the playoffs, but I’m sure at some point ownership will fail, and we’ll be sold, or we’ll become the next New Orleans Hornets team that will be owned by the league. It’s just something that we as a team will need to work through.
Buddy Grizzard
February 27th, 2012
11:14 pm
Wow not a lot of chatter on the blog… I think we all took a break from our obsession with a marginal team and took a deep breath. Break’s over. Now for the countdown to the trade deadline.
Buddy Grizzard
February 28th, 2012
5:23 am
LOL didn’t notice new blog up… guess I’m the ONLY ONE who took a break
cdog
February 28th, 2012
2:34 pm
IT’S ALLSTAR BREAK AND RICK SUND IS STILL AT WORK DURING HIS SAME JOB TO IMPROVE THE HAWKS, NOTHING AS USUAL
Me
February 28th, 2012
3:18 pm
Tade Joe Johnson for Pau Gasol and trade Marvin Williams and Kirk Hinrich for Deron Williams.
For Real
February 28th, 2012
4:57 pm
trade marvin, kurt and zsa,zsa for bynum and barnes
Start Tmac at SG and move JJ to SF
Scrap LD’s motion offensive and go to pick roll offense
ant banks
February 28th, 2012
5:42 pm
anyone have ESPN INSIDER? there was a story on there about kirk heinrich to the lakers…what are the pieces involved?
NUNNA!!
February 28th, 2012
5:57 pm
I like joe’s honesty.
But joe needs to talk to his mates,not to us or even you MC!
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK HIM..
1:WHAT HAS THE LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE WITH STACK AND TMAC BROUGHT TO THIS TEAM THAT WE,AS FANS,DON’T SEE IN THE LOCKER ROOM?
2.JOE,WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BALL MOVEMENT,DO YOU EVER OVER RULE THE COACHES PLAY CALLING AND RUN A PLAY TO INCLUDE YOUR TEAM MATES, WHEN COACH DREW CALLS FOR THE ISO JOE PLAYS FOR YOU?
3.RIGHT NOW IN A 3 GAME SERIES,WHO WINS,THIS YEARS TEAM OR LAST YEARS WITH JAMAAL? AND WHY?
4.DOES THIS OFFENSE HONESTLY HELPS YOU BECOME A TOP 10 SCORER IN THE LEAGUE?
5.IF YOU CAN’T,WHO WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION TO HAVE THE BALL IN THEIR HANDS? JUST ONE NAME..
6.DOES THIS TEAM MISS JAMAAL CRAWFORD?
IF YES,HOW DO WE MISS HIM(ON THE COURT)
NUNNA!!
February 28th, 2012
6:00 pm
CORRECTION:
4.WILL THIS OFFENSE HONESTLY HELPS YOU BECOME A TOP 10 SCORER IN THE LEAGUE THE WAY ITS RAN NOW?
5.6 SECONDS LEFT IN THE GAME..AND YOU HAVE FOULED OUT AND YOUR SITTING ON THE BENCH..
WHO WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION TO HAVE THE BALL IN THE CLOSING SECONDS IN THEIR HANDS TO TRY AND MAKE THE RIGHT SHOT? JUST ONE NAME..