Hawks surviving despite an ordinary Joe
Joe Johnson seemingly has been fighting for control of the ball the entire playoffs. (AP photo)
There he was before the playoffs, saying all the right things. He wanted to be viewed as an elite player. He wanted to be known as a difference-maker. He wanted to be the guy who stood out in a postseason series, not blend like flowers on wallpaper.
“Everybody wants to be the guy,” Joe Johnson said last week. “This is the time when the great players step up.”
It’s Game 5 of the NBA playoffs, and we’re still waiting for Joe Johnson to step up. The degree of his greatness remains up for debate.
The Hawks are even in their series with Miami at two wins apiece despite Johnson, not because of him. They’ve received great games from Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia and solid play from Mike Bibby.
But their captain and expected leading scorer has been relatively pedestrian.
Johnson is averaging 13.8 points. He has made only 37.9 percent of his field-goal attempts. He is 2-for-9 from three-point range and 9-for-17 from the free-throw line.
His assist-to-turnover ratio: so tilted the wrong way (10-to-15).
This is not what stars do. Not in the playoffs. Not even in November.
Johnson spent most of practice Tuesday getting treatment for an ankle sprain. When he emerged following a film session, he looked tired and irritated. The irritated part is probably a good thing. That anger-motivation-get-out-of-my-way-I’m-scoring-30-points domino effect would help right about now.
“It’s been a tough series,” he said. “But now that we’ve got home court back, maybe we can taken advantage of it.”
When asked if it has been a tough series for him personally, Johnson said: “Yeah, in some form or fashion. But, you know, we’ll be all right. I’ll pick my play up. I’ll get it together.”
He needs to. Because the current 2-2 count not withstanding, the chance of the Hawks winning this series with Johnson averaging less than 14 points seem slim.
Coach Mike Woodson told our Chris Vivlamore on Tuesday: “The thing is, we’ve been able to sustain with him being mediocre. To me, that’s great.”
The problem is, players who get five-year, $70 million contracts shouldn’t require a safety net, not so often and certainly not in April. Players who get five-year, $70 million contracts do so because they’re supposed to be special.
Team officials often point to Game 4 against Boston in last year’s playoffs, when he scored 35 points, as an almost staple of Johnson’s postseasons. But that night has been more of an aberration than the norm.
In seven playoff games since, Johnson has scored 21, 15, 16, 15, 16, 10 and 14, shooting 37.4 percent (37-of-99). It doesn’t mean he’s a bad player. Fact is, he’s a very good one who sometimes has great games. But elite players are great when it matters most.
Hawks general manager Rick Sund credited Miami’s defense but said Johnson has responded well to the double-teams, saying, “He has swung the ball when he’s needed to, and he’s made some big shots. Great players respond to a defensive scheme, and Joe’s done that.”
As for the lack of scoring, Sund added: “He’ll have a game where things fall his way.”
Johnson also referenced double-teams, off pick-and-rolls and in the post. He said, “I’ve just got to pick my spots a little better. I’ll be all right.”
Saying the right things hasn’t been the problem.
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128 comments Add your comment
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
9:54 am
Everybody riding Joe’s coat-tail because he’s scoring below his average, but Wade is scoring below his average as well…
And besides, WHO GOT THE HAWKS TO THE PLAYOFFS?
T-Bone Calhoun
April 29th, 2009
9:54 am
Let’s rally around the Hawks – concluding Joe. Joe, get your butt in gear and let’s go!!!!!!
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
9:56 am
Zaza needs to start. Let Josh start at SF. Or bench Horford, he’s a bigger disappointment than Joe.
T-Bone Calhoun
April 29th, 2009
9:56 am
Correction, including Joe.
Hawk Fan
April 29th, 2009
9:56 am
I dont agree that you have to have a superstar. Woody is from the Pistons school of play and they showed that if you play great D, then you dont need a superstar. Yes Billups, Wallace, Hamilton are very good players and have done it in the clutch but they are no better players than Joe (at least in the regular season).
The hawks just need to play great D, keep the game low scoring (ugly) and have someone make the clutch play down the stretch. They have done all these things but just not consistently. Joe makes clutch plays down the stretch in the regular season, just not in the playoffs (except one game last year).
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
9:57 am
It’s funny how when black athletes struggle, the media is quick to bring up how much they are getting paid….
Brian Hunt
April 29th, 2009
10:02 am
Joe Johnson isn’t an elite player, but I’m not sure that he has to be in order for the Hawks to get it done. Last I checked, he wasn’t playing the other team by himself. Woodson needs to keep these guys playing their roles ala the Pistons and they’ll continue to evolve and get it done by playing TEAM basketball.
LS
April 29th, 2009
10:04 am
IMO, I think that Johnson should focus on one thing: defending Dwyane Wade. He should invest all of his energy into that. Don’t worry about scoring, he’s got other guys who can help the team in that department. He should be there, make open shots, but not worry about creating shots for himself or others. If he can contain Wade, the Heat have no chance.
http://www.dailysportspages.com/forums/register.php?referrerid=811
WR
April 29th, 2009
10:10 am
AtlSouthside, do you remember Jon Koncak, because any real hawks fan remembers Jon Koncak, and trust me the hawks got a heck of a lot less out of him then they did Joe, and what he was making was always an issue, guess what he’s white, get off the race issue, everything is not black and white, alot of things are, but not everything and not this.
Reality Check
April 29th, 2009
10:12 am
Effective Immediatly!!!!
because of the Azz Licking the Chauncey is putting on CP3, The folks in Atlanta are no longer allowed to use him as an example of all that is wrong with the Hawks!! He is getting beat like he stole something and his team is getting embarrased. NO MORE CP3 MENTIONS!!!
Ricardo
April 29th, 2009
10:19 am
WR -
That is a dumb thing to say for 3 reasons -
1. Jon “Contract” wasn’t supposed to be a superstar, just a good player. Joe is the supposed superstar player and as such the burden of responsibility to carry the Hawks falls, in large part, on him. Koncak was never viewed as a superstar.
2. If you are a “real Hawks fan” as you claim, you’d remember that Koncak caught a ton of grief for not living up to his contract.
3. Koncak wasn’t paid $70 mill like Joe.
Don’t go to the race issue over this. Trying to compare Joe Johnson to Jon Contract is simply silly.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no love for Koncak, but let’s be fair.
Ricardo
April 29th, 2009
10:20 am
WR -
My apologies, I misread your post. Sorry about that!
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
10:22 am
it’s not about race….but it’s interesting how certain players (especially in the MLB) are overpaid, yet when they “struggle” the media doesn’t jump on how much they are getting paid. Chipper Jones is a prime example of that…
David
April 29th, 2009
10:30 am
I totally agree he isn’t an elite player in terms of his competitive drive.
I will defend him and say that most teams with the elite players look to those players to score 30+ (D Wade, Kobe, James, Pierce etc…) but the Hawks don’t necessarily need that, they are a very balanced team. But they do need him to score in the 20s and shoot in the high 40 % wise.
heartofdarkness
April 29th, 2009
10:31 am
The Hawks are an oddly constructed team, as several commentors have noted. Other than JJ, the only consistent penetrator on the team is Ronald Murray, and I believe he has had a very good year with the Hawks. For a team as small, relatively, as Atlanta, they do not run or convert pressure defense into open court opportunities as much as one might expect. Were JJ paired with another player with his versatility offensively, which forces a physical mismatch no matter how you guard him, JJ might score more due to easier opportunities. Coupled with JJ’s defensive intensity, the combo would be quite formidable.
I note the article makes little mention of JJ’s all-round contributions, which is typical of NBA-think, where each game has to unfold as if it were a Hollywood script to keep the audience satisfied.
bottomline
April 29th, 2009
10:31 am
You can always tell it’s an NBA blog because RACE is inevitably mentioned.
Truth serum…BOSTON won a title LAST year WITHOUT a true center (KG is NOT a center…he is a 4). This year, I have a hunch that either LA or Cleveland will win a title…WITHOUT a true center.
Not know basketball? Please boy…I have coached this game for 14+ years, won titles, and sent several players to college. I say that not to brag because I was blessed with great kids and I worked hard to get better every year. But don’t you dare question my knowledge of this game. Am I a NBA diehard? No. I prefer the college game and atmosphere…but I see a team winning AGAIN this year WITHOUT that BONAFIDE center you were ranting about.
David
April 29th, 2009
10:39 am
AtlSouthside—-when players struggle, they are all open to scrutiny. Chipper Jones is a Hall of Famer, he has earned a pass every now and then. Francoeur is a better example. You think people haven’t hammered him …..and he is a hometown guy! Joe Johnson has done NOTHING for this franchise, it’s time to step up and earn it.
J Dub
April 29th, 2009
10:45 am
I like many other Hawks fans want Joe to score 30 every night but agree with other posters that have said it is unrealistic. He plays a million minutes during the regular season and more minutes than any other player in the playoffs. Complainers are saying that LeBron, Kobe, D Wade, they all step up when their teams need them. Joe steps up too, maybe not in the point category, but stats are sometimes overrated. The fact that he draws double teams helps other players. The only thing worse than your superstar not taking over a game is watching your superstar try to take over a game with double coverage and trying to jack up impossible shots. Furthermore, it is not fair to compare Joe to Kobe, LeBron, and D Wade. These are truly special special players. Joe is a gifted athlete that can lead our team. We have a lot of role players on our team and that I like. ZaZa is fun to watch (loved when he squared up on KG last year), Josh is a gifted athlete (without the jumper), Bibby is playing solid point guard play, Horford is better than our coaching staff gives him credit for appararently (judging by the lack of involvement in the offense sometimes), Flip is as close to a dominating one on one player as we have, and Joe is a quiet leader. He will step up tonight and we will win this series.
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
10:51 am
David = Joe Johnson has done NOTHING for this franchise, it’s time to step up and earn it.
Do you really think that? If so, you don’t watch the games at all. Joe Johnson has an all-around game. Without him the Hawks are horrible, and they are not a 4th seed in the East without him, as well.
And Chipper Jones? Out of 14 years in the baseball they guy has probably had 4 good seasons (full seasons). Chipper Jones gets a pass all the time, not because he so great, but because he is the Braves’ Golden Boy. (Lets not forget that as a rookie Chipper came to a championship team)
J Dub
April 29th, 2009
10:52 am
ATL Southside, that is one of the dumbest analogies I have ever read. Saying that certain MLB players don’t get criticized when they are slumping. Did you not read the blog on the Braves site currently criticiing Kelly Johnson for slumping? I know exactly where you are going with the analogy and it is stupid. How about some specific examples? Who has not been criticized that should have been? Chipper has been criticized in the past at times. You don’t hear about baseball players getting blamed as much because of the length of season, etc. A slump in the MLB is different than a slump in the NBA. Chipper could go hitless for 10 straight games and finish with a .320 batting average which is what he has done consistently. All team leaders are criticized from time to time. I just got finished defending Joe in my previous post but it is absolutely ludacrous to make the leap that you are making with your underhanded observation.
All I'm Saying Is...
April 29th, 2009
10:55 am
Bottom Line: I have to disagree with you: PJ Brown and Perkins were the centers for Celtics last year and both were true centers according to my definition: low post game players (not three point shooters) who rebound and play rugged defense. The Lakers did not have Bynum to play ‘true’ center for them and that’s what contributed to their losing the series. The Pistons won the title when they had Ben Wallace as their center (as true a center as their is) and have not won a title since. Cleveland’s Ilglauskas is a true center because he has a low post back to the basket offensive game but they ask him to step out and shoot the J which he can also do. Dwight Howard is clearly a true center. Denver’s Nene is a true center and his consistency along with the addition of Billups is why they are so successful this year versus last year. New Orleans has Tyson Chandler and he is a true center.
And furthermore, here are the NBA Champions going all the way back to 1979—tell me which team did not have a ‘true’ center (using my definition)
2007-08 Boston Celtics 4-2 over LA – Brown/Perkins
2006-07 San Antonio Spurs 4-0 over Cavaliers – Duncan
2005-06 Miami Heat 4-2 over Mavericks – Shaq
2004-05 San Antonio Spurs 4-3 over Detroit Pistons – Duncan
2003-04 Detroit Pistons 4-1 over Lakers – Wallace
2002-03 San Antonio Spurs 4-2 over New Jersey Nets – Duncan
2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 over New Jersey Nets – Shaq
2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 over Philadelphia 76ers – Shaq
1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 over Indiana Pacers – Shaq
1998-99 San Antonio Spurs 4-1 over New York Knicks – David Robinson
1997-98 Chicago Bulls 4-2 over Utah Jazz – Cartwright
1996-97 Chicago Bulls 4-2 over Utah Jazz – Cartwright
1995-96 Chicago Bulls 4-2 over Seattle SuperSonics – Cartwright
1994-95 Houston Rockets 4-0 over Orlando Magic – Hakeem
1993-94 Houston Rockets 4-3 over New York Knicks – Hakeem
1992-93 Chicago Bulls 4-2 over Phoenix Suns – Cartwright
1991-92 Chicago Bulls 4-2 over Portland Trail Blazers – Cartwright
1990-91 Chicago Bulls 4-1 over Los Angeles Lakers – Cartwright
1989-90 Detroit Pistons 4-1 over Portland Trail Blazers – Mahorn
1988-89 Detroit Pistons 4-0 over Los Angeles Lakers – Mahorn
1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 over Detroit Pistons – Kareem
1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 over Boston Celtics – Kareem
1985-86 Boston Celtics 4-2 over Houston Rockets – Robert Parish
1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 over Boston Celtics – Kareem
1983-84 Boston Celtics 4-3 over Los Angeles Lakers – Robert Parish
1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 over Los Angeles Lakers – Moses
1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 over Philadelphia 76ers – Kareem
1980-81 Boston Celtics 4-2 over Houston Rockets – Robert Parish
1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 over Philadelphia – Kareem
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
11:00 am
J-Dub: Chipper could go hitless for 10 straight games and finish with a .320 batting average which is what he has done consistently.
** Yes, because there are a million games per season. And Chip sits out an average of 30 games.
ATL_LOVE
April 29th, 2009
11:02 am
Hawks Fan- you may be on to something. Maybe our problem is Woody is trying to reconstruct the Pistons without the right pieces (e.g. a huge 2 like Billups causing mismatch problems, a consistent inside/outside threat like Hamilton, a fierce competitor like Rasheed, a cagey hustling vet like Prince doing all the dirty work). Hmmm. Maybe he needs to let the Hawks be the Hawks. Work with what ya got Woody.
Point # B: Woody needs to get Mario in some games to spell Joe on the superstar- even if it’s only for some good D and hard fouls. Joe’s minutes would go down and Wade’s frustration level would go up.
J Dub
April 29th, 2009
11:04 am
ATL = “And Chipper Jones? Out of 14 years in the baseball they guy has probably had 4 good seasons (full seasons). Chipper Jones gets a pass all the time, not because he so great, but because he is the Braves’ Golden Boy. (Lets not forget that as a rookie Chipper came to a championship team)”
Are you kidding me?? 4 good seasons? I see your “full seasons” comment. How about this for facts?
Chipper has 9 seasons of 140+ games. 2 more of 130+ games. 05, 06, 08 were injury prone seasons and I will admit that I don’t expect him to give him 140+ again. As for 4 good seasons…..during those 9 140+ seasons, he has hit over .300 7 times, 30+ hr 6 times, NEVER had less than 21 homers, 8 100+ RBI (96 the other year), and 5 15+ stolen base seasons. He is a 6X all star, 2X silver slugger (if you know what that award is), MVP in 99, NL Batting champ in 0.
To recap, he had 8 consecutive 100 RBI seasons, 14 consecutive 20+ HR seasons, Most home runs in a season by a switch hitter (NL), 3rd most homeruns by a switch hitter, and how about 8 seasons producing 100+ runs? Career .310 average, 408 HR, 1374 RBI, 1378 runs, 2277 hits, and 138 steals…..Need I say more???
Not a great player?????
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
11:12 am
(I hate when people Copy & Paste stats on blogs)
The baseball season is 160+ games. If you can’t put up stats batting 3rd in the line-up, you suck…. Chipper Jones is a good player, never said he wasn’t. my point is that he gets too many passes
Back to basketball (Atlanta Hawks): Joe needs Josh to drive the damn ball, he Josh does that, it will force Miami out of the double team
All I'm Saying Is...
April 29th, 2009
11:21 am
Please take the Braves smackdown over to the Braves blog….as AtlSouthside said: Back to basketball……..During this season, JJ slated to make (per USA Today NBA Salary Database) $14.23 million, Bibby $14.98 million, and JSmoove $10.0 million and they are the three highest paid players on the team (after a big drop, Speedy — don’t get me started on him — is next at $5.75 million and then Marvin at $5.63 million)………so, JJ gets criticized heavily and his salary is brought up because he is one of our two highest paid players and, except for last years playoff series versus the Celtics, he has not been clutch in the ‘09 playoffs when great players make their ‘bones’ and when you need your best players the most——-this ain’t about race people, its about performance. If he is hurting and still putting himself out there, then we need to acknowledge that but guess what: that’s what great players have to do in the playoffs…if you’re walking, then you’re playing (hear me, Marvin?) because you have the whole off-season to catch up on your rest.
By the way, if anybody wants to jump off the Hawks bandwagon, now is the time. I know the load got might light when pretenders and fake fans jumped off after game three but, you know what, we don’t need your sorry arses back now that the series is tied 2-2. LET’S GO HAWKS!
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
11:28 am
I think the HAWKS get it done tonight… Zaza is the answer for JO. Moon is out for the postseason… And Wade is “hurt”
J Dub
April 29th, 2009
11:32 am
Your boy ATL South is the one who brought the Braves into the Hawks Blog…..as for the Hawks bandwagon, I have been a member since Jon Koncak so I am not jumping off now.
RickNole
April 29th, 2009
11:40 am
Can we have at least one blog that does not mention race? Some of you people really need counseling.
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
11:48 am
I was a youngster when Koncak played for the Hawks, sadly all I remember all the guy is that he was sorry as hell… What a legacy!
Does anyone think (like me) that ZaZa should start over Horford? Horford is weak like wet toilet tissue. Tired of seeing him settle for jump shots.
And I’m also tired of the weak [butt] offense Woody is running, where the Center gets the ball at the top of the key. If anything, that helps the opposing defense.
Hollywould
April 29th, 2009
11:53 am
Jeff, What did you think of the cheap shot last nite by Rondo? Boston
people are justifing it. I think he should be suspended.
All I'm Saying Is...
April 29th, 2009
11:56 am
Since you were boy when Jon Kontract played for the Hawks let me say this: he was a good player in college at SMU (I saw him in a televised game and he had game (yes, I know its hard to believe)) and played well enough at a position where the the Hawks were thin and had been since Tree Rollins retired that the Hawks felt compelled to pay him instead of lose him (you can thank Stan Kasten for that deal, yes, the same Stan Kasten who is now the brains behind the Washington Nationals—sorry to bring up MLB but its true). Glad you are staying on board J Dub…and I’ve been riding and rolling with the Hawks since Hubie Brown was our coach (and he’s still the best one we have ever had).
Westurd
April 29th, 2009
11:58 am
There is always a million things to complain about, but being 2-2 with home court advantage is something to really rally behind……..I got my HAWKS tickets for tonight, you got yours yet?
LETS GET IT DONE HAWKS!!!!
All I'm Saying Is...
April 29th, 2009
11:59 am
Rondo did what had to be done in that situation as you cannot let a player have an uncontested lay-up especially when the game is on the line (Are you listening Hawks? Defense is how we win tonight’s game and game six!). Brad Miller is a punk-arse hypocrite if he complains given how he conducts himself on the court.
RickNole
April 29th, 2009
11:59 am
Atlsoutside
I agree, I think Zaza should start tonight. Noticed the tone of the game changed when Zaza came into the game, he was grinding it out and getting the best of JO. Horford kept shooting ill-advised jumpers.
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
11:59 am
i graduated from hs with Tree Rollins’ nephew…dude use to have all the hawks throwback jerseys and warms up.
Westurd
April 29th, 2009
11:59 am
Hollywould, Rondo’s fouls was dirty and flagrant and no where near the ball. Almost knocked Millers teeth out. Should have been a flagrant, but there will def be no suspension for it. Its the F-ing champs were talking about.
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
12:01 pm
I hate to see big guys shoot jumpers, even in pick-up basketball, it makes you wanna take a belt and spank em…
It’s like dude “who in the hell is gonna get the rebound if the tallest cats on the court are taking jump shots”
J Dub
April 29th, 2009
12:03 pm
I don’t have a problem with ZaZa starting. Hear me out and tell me if this lineup is too crazy….How about ZaZa at Center and Horford at the 4? Smith, Johnson, and Bibby…..maybe crazy but worth a look. My first memories of the Hawks, I am a youngster I guess, were Koncak, Rasmussen, Nique, Spud, Doc, etc…..Loved the old uni’s.
Hollywould – I thought the cheap shot by Rondo was pretty blatant. He is much smaller than Miller but he really laid into him. Miller was readjusting his jaw for the next 5 minutes. First off, the sheer slowness that Miller had in attacking the basket was atrocious. The lane opened up like the red sea but by time he reached the basket, he was getting mugged.
Westurd
April 29th, 2009
12:04 pm
Tall dudes taking jumpers makes me wince in agony. Being a little man on the court myself I just wish I could be big one game and show all these big men how a big is supposed to play………and now back to HAWKS talk…..8 HOURS UNTIL TIP!! Tonight HAWKS get it DONE!
J Dub
April 29th, 2009
12:05 pm
Agreed ATL South – I play in a local city league and we have one guy that is 6′9 and the rest of us are stumps. He hangs out around the 3 point arc all night while the point and shooting guards are trying to board up. I think it is weak!!
Hollywould
April 29th, 2009
12:07 pm
I agree that you don’t give layups but you do not crack someone in the mouth to stop it. That is called flagrant. Did you see the play? Woodson should learn how to diagram a play like that. it wes perfect.
Celtics tripled Gordon and they left Miller alone. Rondo knew he was beat and came nowhere close to the ball. If that had been the other way around all hell would have broken loose. Just sayin
J Dub
April 29th, 2009
12:13 pm
I don’t think Mr. Congeniality (Miller) will have any problem making a statement during the next game if Rondo comes in the lane. He is a knucklehead that usually doesn’t even need a reason to hack someone but now he has one.
All I'm Saying Is...
April 29th, 2009
12:14 pm
Hollywould: You are probably too young to know but the NBA Playoffs have been played the way Rondo hacked Miller (i.e. no uncontested layups) for years….long time ago in the 1970s Paul Westphal was the star with the Phoenix Suns and he got absolutely violated by Rick Robey with the Celtics in the NBA Finals and no such thing as a flagrant foul even existed and certainly was not even thought about.
Get with the program people—Grown men play in the NBA and its during the playoffs when you find out who the grown men are.
All Miller had to do was hit his free throws, the game goes into overtime, and the Bulls still could have stolen a victory. It’s not like he landed on his back like Gordon did in the last game and had to shoot free throws right after.
Hollywould
April 29th, 2009
12:15 pm
J Dub, You are right/ that was the slowest drive(or so-called drive) I have ever seen.
Hollywould
April 29th, 2009
12:20 pm
All I’m saying, You are wrong on this one. For one, I remember John Drew, Fast Eddie, Sweet Lou, Roundfield, levingston, Carr. I am probably older than most on this blog. I don’t care what the situation is( no mouth shots) Did you see the ref when Del Negro was arguing?
He motioned that he hit the top of Miller’s head even while watching the blood come out of his mouth. That grown men saying is crap.
AtlSouthside
April 29th, 2009
12:26 pm
(on big men taking jump shots) I think its a bad reflection on Woody how Josh Smith continues to take jumpers. And then he sits there with his arms folded… I wanna see Woody get in Josh’s face one good time. He HAS TO BE scared of Josh, thats the only logical reason he allows Josh to keep taking jumpers.
(Sometimes I think Josh tries to compete with Joe for title of leader)
Jeff Schultz
April 29th, 2009
12:27 pm
RA – I hope I didn’t suggest that I question Joe’s heart or desire. I think just some athletes have a knack for stepping it up in post-season, and some don’t.
Dan – the word “elite” is subjective, like anything else. Everybody has a different definition. Some might think there’s only a handful of elite players in the league.
DP – you have a good point on Bibby (no pun intended). He’s not a true point guard. But he’s played pretty well in this series.
Truth – We agree on 2 things? There’s hope for the world yet!
Hollywould – Honestly, had other things going on last night and didn’t see the game (or the highlight). But here’s my general view: playoffs are more physical and SHOULD be more physical. I covered some of those old Lakers-Celtics finals with Bird/Magic. Back the Eastern Conference (Celtics, Pistons, Sixers, etc.) was nightly head-banging. I miss that, actually.
All I'm Saying Is...
April 29th, 2009
12:33 pm
Well put, Shultz.
And, yes, Hollywould, I did see the play and I stand by my comment that Miller is a pansy if he is complaining: I’ve seen people smaller than him get hit much harder than he did in the playoffs when they tried to take it to the hole and, you know what, the smart ones knew what was coming when they ventured into the lane, got up after getting hacked, dusted themselves off, hit their free throws, and won the flippin’ game….and then complained about the call—which is fine if you do your job, make your free throws, and win.
So, I say again, get with the program: Grown men play in the NBA and its during the playoffs when you find out who the grown men are. If you can’t stand the pain, stay out of the lane!
All I'm Saying Is...
April 29th, 2009
12:50 pm
BTW, if Rondo ventures into the lane seeking a layup or a dunk, then he should expect and receive a hack-an-hit-the-deck-omy (as opposed to an appendectomy—yes, I know I’m quite the wit (typically half or nit)). That’s the way it goes and the Celtics will respect the Bulls more if they support their guy Miller in that manner.
And when I say grown men, Hollywould, I mean no whiners—just shut and play and then you say all you want when you win. You look like a baby when you complain because something did not go your way. I mean a foul was called, right? No Celtic player contested his free throws, right? The Bulls had other chances to win the game, right?