Atlanta Hawks: Ivan Johnson back after offseason of reflection
Vivlamore reporting. Here is my story on Ivan Johnson for Thursday’s print edition of the AJC. The Hawks play at the Spurs tonight.
Ivan Johnson is not much for conversation. In fact, the Hawks’ hulking power forward will often use one word when three will do.
Johnson enters his second NBA season in was has been a tumultuous basketball career not without incident even as a 27-year-old rookie last year.
So, Johnson spent an offseason of reflection.
“It was a good time to think some things through about what I did last year, what I could do to make things better,” Johnson said. “It was a thinking offseason on how I could make my second year a better year.”
What was his conclusion?
“Keep my hands to my side and just play,” he said with a diamond-encrusted smile.
Johnson and the Hawks played at San Antonio Wednesday in the second exhibition game of the season.
Johnson was a surprise addition to the Hawks’ roster last season after a strong training camp. The 6-foot-8, 255-pounder became a fan favorite for his menacing appearance and physical style. His wayward college career and anger-management issues, including a ban from the Korean Basketball League, have been well documented.
Johnson’s temper did get him into trouble on a couple occasions last season. Coach Larry Drew sent him home from a trip to Orlando and fined him after Johnson argued with teammates on the bench. The NBA also fined Johnson $25,000 for giving fans the middle finger while leaving the court following Atlanta’s final playoff loss to Boston.
The Hawks made a qualifying offer to Johnson, a one-year, $966,000 deal for the restricted free agent, this summer. Drew then made two trips to California for separate conversations about what will be expected this season. The two had breakfast on one trip and Drew watched Johnson work out on the other.
“When the decision was made that we were going to bring him back as part of our team I thought it was important that I reach out,” Drew said of his trips to Los Angeles. “He’s always been a guy who I truly admire. He is one of my favorites.
“In both meetings we had a very good discussion about my expectations from him. When I left the meeting, we were on the same page.”
Johnson admits that his issues last season centered on being an old rookie. He was sent home from Orlando after failing to give up his seat on the bench to a veteran.
“I knew I had some rookie duties to do but I wasn’t going to be put through all the rookie duties because I’m an older rookie,” Johnson said.
Johnson appeared in 56 games last season, averaging 16.7 minutes per game. He finished his initial NBA campaign with averages of 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for April. Johnson led the Hawks in field-goal percentage (.513), which was the third-best mark among all NBA first-year players.
Of Drew’s trips to California, Johnson said the coach was “seeing how much I was working out, seeing if I was working out.” Drew wanted Johnson to come to training camp in shape. He was told he would have an expanded role, meaning more playing time, this season.
The Hawks coach covets Johnson’s physical style. He gives the team an edge – when properly controlled.
“He understands that,” Drew said.
Johnson split is offseason between Dallas and Los Angeles for workouts. He said he did basketball drills weightlifting and running. “A whole bunch of running,” is how Johnson explained the regime that including workouts in the mountains and at the beach.
“That is just my mindset,” Johnson said of his physical style. “I always like to go hard, throw my body around.”
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250 comments Add your comment
northcyde
October 10th, 2012
9:29 pm
Jenkins had his feet set on that last shot. That’s why he made that 3
northcyde
October 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
LOL Buddy . . it’s preseason. Teague’s D will get better . . . hopefully.
Slimjr
October 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
Yes they do but cant stop anybody!
Long season coming….
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
9:30 pm
Well now that’s interesting….I check NBA.com and find out..
Two highlight videos.
1) First one shows Josh Smith trying to lead the break and f@cking it up…as usual…
2) Second one shows Al Horford blocking somebody’s shot.
Then I look at the box score and see Al Horford has more rebounds than anybody and the Hawks are actually outrebounding the Spurs.
Meanwhile, Eddy Curry, Derrick Brown, and DaJuan Blair have combined for 22 points. That must be what the fuss is all about…because there is just no way they scored on anybody but Al Horford.
Nothing like the facts…
Slimjr
October 10th, 2012
9:31 pm
Sours have 3 starters not playing tonight! hmmmm
Slimjr
October 10th, 2012
9:31 pm
Spurs^^^^^
glw
October 10th, 2012
9:32 pm
Hopefully LD will file this lineup and make sure he uses it a lot.
teague, jenkins, korver, tolliver, petro (zaza when he gets healthy)
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
9:32 pm
Hawks were -13 in Ivan’s 8 minute stretch.. ouch.. game worst by far.
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
9:33 pm
Nice to see Damion James with a nice game so far…7 points and 5 boards. Never did like it when we traded the rights to him for JC2 Lite. We needed a SF to replace Marvin or at least push him back then …let’s not miss a second chance on the kid.
He’s not a world-beater but we also don’t have many options at the position…
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
9:35 pm
Defense starts at the PG position…it’s all help defense after that, really. Can’t guard that spot, everybody else will have a problem..guaranteed. Teague’s defense will win him or lose him the starting spot.
Having said that, Josh is our best help defender and our best shot-blocker/changer…he needs help from somebody. If it ain’t Horford, it ain’t anybody. Zaza has his limitations, Ivan can be foul prone at times, and…well, there’s nobody else.
But it starts at the PG….
glw
October 10th, 2012
9:37 pm
@Big Ray
I normally take up for Al. And maybe the Al Haters have made me subconciously watch Al’s defense more than I would. But Al has Eddy Curry thinking its 2007 again. He seems late on help defense and doesnt challenge a lot of the Spurs layups.
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
9:39 pm
“Nice to see Damion James with a nice game so far…7 points and 5 boards.”
I think that’s our starting small forward for the regular season Big Ray.
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
9:43 pm
Yes it’s preseason, but Houston is hanging with OKC. Lin with 3 points, 6 assists.
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
9:50 pm
Wow Terrance Jones is going bananas in this game. He’s got 18 and after a monster dunk he closes the third quarter with a top of the key 3.
2 FOR JOHN DREW
October 10th, 2012
9:51 pm
C-VIV running the fast break ….. Better look or he’ll be gone ….. LONG LIVE C-VIV
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
9:54 pm
Ivan shuts Curry down… also had a nice pass in traffic to James for a layup.
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
omg did you see Ivan put the spin move in the lane on Curry?
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
9:59 pm
Lou risked injury diving on the floor to get that ball… pure hustle.
Melvin
October 10th, 2012
10:01 pm
The Lou and Teague backcourt doesn’t look bad…
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
LOL….of course the Spurs aren’t playing three of their starters (or more)…would you waste preseason minutes on old-a$$ Duncan and Ginobili…and banged up Parker? These are your meal-makers in a Western Conference that features some young stallions..
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:04 pm
Ivan GETTING UNDERY CURRY’S SKIN… THINK WHAT HE COULD HAVE DONE AGAINST GARNETT!
Luke Cage
October 10th, 2012
10:04 pm
Enter your comments here
Luke Cage
October 10th, 2012
10:04 pm
SWEET CHRISTMAS!!!
Slimjr
October 10th, 2012
10:05 pm
Curry just pulverized Ivan! Day-Yum!!!!!!!!!
Luke Cage
October 10th, 2012
10:06 pm
Just happy to hear that DEBO will be taking more bikes this season in a HAWKS uni!!
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:06 pm
Wow terrible lineup on the floor.
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
Not bad defense on Spliter by Petro there.
you are sick ray
October 10th, 2012
10:07 pm
now the announcer is a hater for calling it as it is … sorry Al
glw
October 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
Al is looking bad on defense. Eddy Curry beating him off the dribble. San Antonio shooting 55&, getting layups and dunks all night long so far.
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
I wish this game was on tv where I could see it….I am not in the mood for streaming anything via computer.
I know preseason doesn’t matter but…..two things….
1) It sounds as if Horford hasn’t changed a whole lot as far as his attitude about playing defense down low. Then again, when a Horford hater is calling the play-by-play…it brings a whole new meaning to the words “color commentator
Luke Cage
October 10th, 2012
10:08 pm
Marvin Horford and Kontract
With Al Jefferson, aka The Black Hole, when that ball goes into the post, it will never come back out, Jefferson does not pass at all. Besides what has he done is his career with 3 teams besides make it to the 8th seed???
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
10:08 pm
Ray you remind me of a bible verse that says you swallow a camel but strain at a gnat.
That is the single most hilarious misrepresentation of the Bible I’ve ever seen. And the rest of the post is not worth responding to.
Melvin
October 10th, 2012
10:11 pm
What was that Petro?
cp
October 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
Petro is so bad
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:12 pm
Petro is TERRIBLE around the basket… blew that layup that he should have dunked. Don’t take my word for it:
http://soaringdownsouth.com/2012/10/06/2012-atlanta-hawks-player-preview-johan-petro/
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
10:13 pm
Luke Cage ,
Well, he didn’t give Boston a shot at a championship. They used his talent and youth to trade for guys who could …
He didn’t come close to bringing Minnesota any sort of notoriety either. In fact, they never even went to the playoffs with him. Strange thing for a guy who supposedly can get you a legit shot at a championship.
He went to the playoffs with Utah last season. They got swept.
But yeah, he’s gonna give us a guaranteed shot at a championship if we trade Al for him.
Maybe that’s how guys who are into “swallowing camels and gagging on gnats” think, but not anybody who understands basketball…
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:14 pm
Gonna have to put some D on Jenkins SA.
cp
October 10th, 2012
10:14 pm
Jenkins can really shoot it. I hope Petro is moved by the deadline. Dude is terrible
Melvin
October 10th, 2012
10:15 pm
It’s a shame Petro is going to take a roster sport from someone who’s more deserving…
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
10:16 pm
Buddy Grizzard ,
I’d go with that. Damion James seems like he can give us possibly Marvin-like numbers….and we won’t have to pay him $7.5 mil per year to do it, either.
Besides, he’s a legit 3…I was kinda worried we might have to roll with Korver there (not that I don’t like Korver) or go small with Stevenson (tough guy) or even Morrow (really a 2guard).
James could really fit the bill. Again, not a star, but we don’t have to have that…right now.
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:16 pm
Why would you throw it to Petro’s hands of stone?
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:18 pm
Lin has done nothing since I first mentioned him but HOU still up 106-103 with :50 to play. Terrence Jones has 20 but hasn’t been on the floor to close the game for HOU.
cp
October 10th, 2012
10:18 pm
James is a good rebounder but man his offensive game is rough to say the least. I still think he will be a solid player at the 3 for the Hawks
MattP
October 10th, 2012
10:19 pm
Petro is the new Collins. Hopefully everyone up front can stay health so Petro doesn’t get heavy minutes in regular season.
Slimjr
October 10th, 2012
10:20 pm
Al, is not going to protect the rim cause he cant..We do not need his set shot, we need a interior intimidating defender at the [5]..
Danny get to work pronto…..
Knicks in 4
Melvin
October 10th, 2012
10:20 pm
I get the Hawks may want to keep Petro around to possibly use his salary in a trade but this guy is really terrible…
cp
October 10th, 2012
10:21 pm
I never thought I would say this but i actually think Twin is better than Petro
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
10:21 pm
I don’t think anybody likes Petro…..LOL. Except Rick Sund, that is. He’s probably ecstatic we traded for him.
I think he makes too much for the organization to just dump him the way they did Farmar and Jordan Williams (or whatever that PF kid’s name was).
Slimjr
October 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
Cant stop the penetration or alter shots in there means the Elites will continue to dismantle the Hawks
Big Ray
October 10th, 2012
10:22 pm
Buddy Grizzard ,
I’d go with that. Damion James seems like he can give us possibly Marvin-like numbers….and we won’t have to pay him $7.5 mil per year to do it, either.
Besides, he’s a legit 3…I was kinda worried we might have to roll with Korver there (not that I don’t like Korver) or go small with Stevenson (tough guy) or even Morrow (really a 2guard).
James could really fit the bill. Again, not a star, but we don’t have to have that…right now.
That may come later via trade…or next summer. Who knows.
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:23 pm
Benson YES!
Buddy Grizzard
October 10th, 2012
10:24 pm
I mean seriously haven’t we seen enough of the stiff Petro?