Hawks need more from Johnson, whether he likes it or not
Joe Johnson needs to know he's not just one of Hawks' faces in the crowd. (AP photo)
There is still a level of doesn’t-get-it-ness with Joe Johnson. Stars get paid the most because stars are expected to do the most, but that second part is seldom acknowledged by the Hawks’ guard.
“I don’t get all of the glory when we win, so I don’t get to take all the [blame] when we lose,” Johnson said before this playoff series started.
Oh, Joe.
This much is true: The Hawks did not lose game five to Orlando by 25 points solely because Johnson made only two of 12 shots, at least when we even noticed he was on the floor. They all stunk. But Johnson didn’t do nearly enough to prevent the loss – or even collective team humiliation – from happening. And yes, he does deserve a greater share of the blame than Josh Smith or Jamal Crawford or anybody else on the roster because more is expected from him.
Such are the little inconveniences that come with a $123.7 million contract.
Johnson has had one good game (25 points in game one) and one good half (he drew fouls and made some clutch free throws in the second half of game four) in this first-round series. That’s six quarters out of 20. Unfortunately, that seems about par for Johnson in the postseason during his Hawks’ tenure.
They need more from him.
When asked specifically about Johnson’s play in Tuesday’s 101-76 loss to the Magic, coach Larry Drew responded mostly in “we” instead of “he” form.
“Everybody had a rough night,” he said. “They made everything tough. Yeah, they played him tough. They got up in him. They took some things away. They crowded him. They bumped him. These were all things we discussed as a team going into the game. We could not cry to the officials about it. We had to respond to it, and we didn’t do that.”
How should Johnson react?
“Just maintain his composure and play off of it,” Drew said. “They’re playing the way playoff basketball is played. So it’s nothing out of the ordinary. You have to be sharper, clever. You have to do things harder. [But] it wasn’t just Joe. It was everybody.”
Problem is that even in Drew’s intended share-the-ball offense, Johnson should still be expected to take (and make) the big shot, spark a team and show semblance of leadership. Too often, he doesn’t. Too often, he goes 0 for 3.
Johnson, who wasn’t available for comment Wednesday, hasn’t had a great season. Some of that can be attributed to injuries, elbow surgery and a sprained thumb being the primary ones. But great players are supposed to fight through things. Johnson’s scoring average (18.2) and three-point shooting (29.7 percent) during the regular season represented by far his worst numbers since he came to Atlanta. Bad timing, since it follows a summer in which he became the NBA’s highest-paid player.
He was 9 for 16 (56.2 percent) with 25 points in the series opener at Orlando. In the four games since, he has gone a combined 23 for 65 (35.4) with point totals of 14, 21, 20 and 5.
“Joe and Jamal are our main guys who put the ball in the hole,” Josh Smith said. “We depend on them to get us involved at the offensive end, because when they start making shots, it opens things up for everybody else.”
Crawford, who was only 2 for 8 in the last game, said the Magic “stayed longer on the pick-and-rolls. They left room for less isolation stuff with second and even third defenders.”
Orlando likely won’t change defensive strategy in game six. How the Hawks respond will determine their playoff existence. How Johnson responds will further define his career. Because whether he likes it or not, there’s an expectation level that comes with salary and stature and he’s not meeting it.
By Jeff Schultz
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86 comments Add your comment
joe is overrated
April 27th, 2011
4:14 pm
JJ is a second tier star who acts like a prime time hero. He has bad ball handling skills. Makes dumb decisions late in games. Is not a leader except in payroll.
This team would have been better with jk out and build it around Al, Josh, and Jamal… Even zaza and twin. Shame to make a man with no heart rich as he is.
Sad.
Hawks Fan
April 27th, 2011
4:17 pm
I agree 100% with your comments, and want to add more on top of it. The best that happened to Hawks this season was bringing in Kirk for Bibby. Though Bibby made few remarkable three pointers, his slow dribble game and zero defense always was being exploited then, and now in Miami.
For Joe, I dont like him as a person after he made ego comment against Atlanta fans and would have never resigned him, but now thats a future, so now I at least expect him to “MAN UP” which I think will bring his better game. Atlanta’s best asset Horford and Jamal can help any team seek the trophy, but they also rely on their best team player, in our case Joe.
Drew seems to be always polite and nice and positive, maybe he needs to blend is some positive criticism directed towards players. One side comment, Portland had trailed 18 or so points one game and they came back to win the trailing game, I see no level of such enthusiasm in Hawks.
Joe did make few free shots in the third game which was good of him.
At last, I hope they win today.
joe is overrated
April 27th, 2011
4:17 pm
First. Wow. Also jk is jj as in just kidding Joe. Sad he is holding this team for ransom. We need one scoring bonafide star.
allan in texas
April 27th, 2011
4:18 pm
Great piece Mr.Schultz! First?
allan in texas
April 27th, 2011
4:18 pm
Not first! Oh well!
allan in texas
April 27th, 2011
4:22 pm
If the Hawks lose this series what happens next? Do they blow the whole thing up?
honest_abe
April 27th, 2011
4:23 pm
unfortunately joe johnson doesn’t respond to pressure. i don’t remember the last time he stepped up big in a game of importance. remember there was no pressure in game considering all the pundits had the hawks losing the series and it was in orlando. there’ll be immense pressure on joe tomorrow night and if history holds par for the course he’ll have an underwhelming performance.. if they lose tomorrow night, close the blinds and turn off the lights this baby’s over.
Word
April 27th, 2011
4:27 pm
Can someone please shake the ish out of Joe already. Seriously, is there a pulse in that
$123 million man? While you at it, give Josh a few more marbles to play with!
JeJe
April 27th, 2011
4:34 pm
JOE IS A CAPTAIN ON THIS TEAM? LOL
FIRE JOE
LEA
April 27th, 2011
4:35 pm
oh so drew will be quick to call out jeff teague, josh smith or anyone else. But Joe is above that ? please
lanier
April 27th, 2011
4:37 pm
Jeff are these NBA contracts guranteed like baseball?
KSUAlum
April 27th, 2011
4:43 pm
Joe doesn’t give a damn about the team, as long as his paycheck clears at the bank. He doesn’t have to be a leader, as long as his paycheck clears at the bank. He doesn’t have to step up under pressure or care if the Hawks make it to the next round, or the conference finals, or the league finals, as long as his paycheck clears at the bank.
Joe cares about one thing: his paycheck.
atlnative
April 27th, 2011
4:46 pm
Will the real Atlanta Hawks please “rise up’! Hey “Arkansas”,Joe Johnson,start earning all that d…. money management paid you!
GT Alum
April 27th, 2011
4:47 pm
“You have to be sharper, clever.”
If that’s true, the Hawks are in trouble.
Swaga1
April 27th, 2011
4:48 pm
I never did like Joe Johnson. He just seems real soft to me and he’s a cry baby….I couldn’t believe the Hawks payed him all of this money for the low production he is giving. they should of just let him walk. i guess there is no need to cry over spilled milk and we have to deal with the hand we were dealt…..guess i fold
ltdbrave
April 27th, 2011
4:49 pm
Joe is a worthless and overpaid bum. I still do not understand why the owners paid that much money for a guy is average at best. He signs a 123.7 million contract this year and his production falls off. Joe doesn’t play hard and never puts his butt on the line for the team. He has more excuses for not producing. The Hawks will never win the big one with a guy like Johnson on the team. JD should have been playing Teague all year to get him ready. He sure would not have done any worse.
asdf
April 27th, 2011
4:52 pm
“I don’t get all of the glory when we win, so I don’t get to take all the [blame] when we lose,” – Joe Johnson
You did get all the $ though. Needs to play like he deserves his paycheck… worried that JJ’s contract will be an albatross on this franchise for years to come… hope I’m wrong, but with that kind of attitude, I’m definitely nervous about the future
Gamer
April 27th, 2011
4:53 pm
THE MAGIC’S MADE GOOD ADJUSTMENT TO J.J. AND JAMAL HIGH PICK AND ROLL PLAY…..J.J. AND JAMAL MADE POOR DECISIONS OFF OF THE PLAYS….
J.J. AND JAMAL NEED TO MAKE QUICK DECISIONS TO MAKE QUICK PASSES TO OPEN TEAMMATES…
IF J.J. AND JAMAL ARE HANDLING THE BALL WITH THEIR HEADS UP INTO MAGIC’S DEFENSE THEN THEY CAN JUDGE WHEN THE DEFENDERS HAVE HALF-WAY COMMITTED, COMMITTED OR OVERLY COMMITTED TO DEFEND PICK AND ROLL PLAY.
A COMMITTED OR HALF-WAY COMMITTMENT TO DEFEND THE PICK AND ROLL BY MAGIC’S DEFENDERS TRANSLATE INTO JOE OR JAMAL AGGRESSIVELY ATTACKING THE BASKET, FLOATER, TEARDROP OR MID-RANGE JUMPSHOT.
OVERLY COMMITTMENT BY MAGIC’S DEFENDERS TO PLAY PICK AND ROLL TRANSLATE INTO QUICK DECISIVE PASSES BY JOE OR JAMAL.. HAWKS MUST SWING THE BALL TO OPEN MAN…PREFERRABLY A SLASHING TEAMMATE WHO CAN FINISH HARD AND STRONG AT THE BASKET…
J.J. AND JAMAL NEED TO SPEND SOME SERIOUS HOURS IN THE FILM-ROOM STUDYING. TO SEE HOW THE MAGIC’S DEFENDERS ARE DEFENDING THE PICK AND ROLL…. THE HAWKS CAN MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS IN GAME SIX..
WE EXPECT ATLANTA HAWKS FAN-BASE TO BE ROCKING PHILLIP’S ARENA (THE HAWK-NEST)!!!!
WILL THE HAWKS PLAYERS BE READY TO ROCK THE HOUSE IN GAME SIX????
HAWKS MUST PLAY AS DESPERADOS…NOT TO TRAVEL BACK TO ORLANDO FOR GAME 7..
PlusSizeModel
April 27th, 2011
4:59 pm
Wait…Joe Johnson is the NBA’s highest paid player? Are you f*cking serious?
loyalhawkfan
April 27th, 2011
5:03 pm
I still til this day do not understand why we gave this idiot THE MOST EXPENSIVE CONTRACT IN THE NBA. He needs to take responsibility for HIS TEAM. HE IS THE MAN of this TEAM. This is his team. If you are given a contract like that you are expected to be a solid contributor to the team. But this guy doesn’t want to be a leader, doesn’t want to take responsibility if the team loses and cries about the support of his teammates. Now how stupid is the gm of this team for giving out a contract that big to someone like him. I love the hawks but I just do not understand why they resigned this guy.
Would u b surprised if they freakin' quit??
April 27th, 2011
5:04 pm
This team lacks heart…look at the defeats this year where they didn’t show up. Never thought they’d do that in the playoffs…especially up 3-1 with a chance to close a team out. Joe’s a baby who can’t handle the big games…this level of ball is above him….no heart. His it is what it is attitude is confounding…I feel sorry for Al, playing with a heartless group. I want them to win, but it’s hard to think they will when you see them check out on a game like last night’s.
decriz
April 27th, 2011
5:04 pm
get rid of Joe and his humungous contract already. trade him for Monta Ellis, the guy’s got balls which Joe doesn’t. and while he’s available, now is the time to hire Rick Adelman. top class coach to take this team higher.
stephanie
April 27th, 2011
5:04 pm
Joe just counting his money. NO HEART!!!!! Piece of S**T!!
decriz
April 27th, 2011
5:14 pm
remember Joe will be paid 16.3M this year and then progressess to 18M, 19.8M, 21.5M, 23M and finally to 24.9 MILLION on 2015/16. WHOAH!!!! he is not a super star so don’t don’t bind your payroll and pay him super star bucks. get rid of him while we still can. it would almost be impossible. we will definitely end up thanking the team that takes him.
JeJe
April 27th, 2011
5:14 pm
FIRE LD
MARVIN WILLIAMS GOT STRIPPED BY JAMEER
LOL
GOT STRIPPED OF THE BALL BY A GUY NOT MUCH LESS THAN A FOOT SHORTER THAN HIM. ROFL
decriz
April 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
trade joe johnson for monta ellis and andris biedrins. contracts work out. then hire rick adelman, we finally get a decent center and a guy with scoring balls. can finally move horford to 4 permanently. this is a good deal, believe me.
B-Sure
April 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
Still don’t understand why they decided to pay Joe max money. What fan was clamoring to keep Joe? They should have saved the money and used it to get Dwight Howard next year and build the team around him.
decriz
April 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
good luck to the Hawks on getting rid of Joe and his Godzilla contract
decriz
April 27th, 2011
5:38 pm
i’ll say it again, Joe will be paid 16.3M this year and then progressess to 18M, 19.8M, 21.5M, 23M and finally to 24.9 MILLION on 2015/16. Hawks management better smarten up soon, otherwise they get what they deserve.
decriz
April 27th, 2011
5:45 pm
it’s not good to complain and not offer a solution. i have one. trade Joe for Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins. the contracts work out. and we get a slumping center and a small scoring guard who are in reality a decent and skilled center (Biedrins) and a scoring machine with guts and balls whose defense is decent too (Ellis). finally we will get to move Al Horford to 4, and our frontline will be unmatched, a “no fly zone” for opponents. and while we’re at it, hire RICK ADELMAN!!!
JW
April 27th, 2011
5:48 pm
PlusSizeModel,
I know, right? Joe is the highest paid NBA player? That’s hilarious…NOT
Who’s running this Sh*t show…oh yeah
Chuck
April 27th, 2011
5:52 pm
It’s an Atlanta tradition to panic and overpay a mediocre player.
Joe Johnson is this generations Jon Koncak. No, it’s not their fault they are vastly overpaid – it’s all on the management of the team. At least Koncak tried (he was blessed with all height and little coordination) – with JJ you’d think it’s against his religion to break a sweat.
Einsteindawg
April 27th, 2011
5:56 pm
Please don’t call me a doomsayer, but I can almost smell the next two Hawks losses. I’m thinking Orlando was only toying with us to keep the NBA flush with playoff TV cash.
Bigger Josh Smith Fan
April 27th, 2011
5:59 pm
Joe is our Alan Houston. Their stats a are very similar.
Bigger Josh Smith Fan
April 27th, 2011
6:01 pm
Einsteindawg, you are not the only one. To drop a game by that much gives a indication that there is something spoil in the soup. These are the HAWKS we have seen this before. I hope it is not true but I am somewhat concern after that AZZ beating.
Einsteindawg
April 27th, 2011
6:06 pm
I’m concerned, too, especially with Howard only scoring so few points last night. Could this be like WWF and fixed?
Bigger Josh Smith Fan
April 27th, 2011
6:12 pm
Doubt it. It’s Atlanta Hawks basketball. Everyone needs to step up. I love Crawford’s play but its a shame someone on the bench has to lead us in scoring. Maybe we should sit Joe and start Crawford. I think with his play he deserves a chance. Further I don’t like the fact that teague has not played much.
Bigger Josh Smith Fan
April 27th, 2011
6:17 pm
Wait if we win we will have to play Chicago. Do we really want to be that exposed on a national level? Hear Charles Barkley crappy talk about us. Us playing Chicago is a broom just waiting for a dusty floor. Can you say sweep.
Jeff Schultz
April 27th, 2011
6:21 pm
Allan In Texas — Thanks.
Jeff Schultz
April 27th, 2011
6:21 pm
Lanier — Yes, NBA contracts are fully guaranteed.
Kariqua
April 27th, 2011
6:31 pm
Thank God someone put this out there. First of all, I blame the Hawks Organization for using poor judgement in reference to JJ singing a max contract. You give max contracts to players who has proven themselves in this league and also, someone you can build a team around. Was he a star in Phoenix? No!! Hell, you can’t build around JJ. He’s too inconsistent. You can’t even count on him to take the last shot. This guy will give you 25 points one night and wont even show up for the next one. Are you kiddin me!! The Hawks are more comfortable putting the ball in JCRAW hands in need of a last winning shot than Joe. That’s right…the sixth man!! This is how bad the Hawks Front office is. How in the hell do you pass up on Deron williams, Cris Paul, Andrew Bynum, Raymond Felton, Danny Granger and Monta Ellis. Who the Hawks pick? You are right…”Marvin Williams”. No 2 pick overall. Worst front office ever!!
mountain_jim
April 27th, 2011
6:33 pm
If the Hawks come out playing as lethargic in this game, I am switching channels to the NFL draft.
And yes JJ in hindsight was not worth his contract, that money could have been used to bring Dwight home.
moorman
April 27th, 2011
6:41 pm
THINK ABOUT IT. the atlanta spirit secretly KNEW they gonna sell the hawks and trashers, so………….. WHO cares if they gave joe johnson that big fat contract, they off the hook as soon as the ink is dry on the bill of sale of the hawks, trashers and phillips arena. they signed joe to make it APPEAR they were trying to win and not lose face, but all along, they arent gonna be on the hook for a franchise ran into the ground because of that contract…………
IlliniBrave
April 27th, 2011
6:45 pm
Just read the Orlando Sentinel column and I couldn’t have said it better. These are the Hawks – perhaps the dumbest team in the NBA. A mentally fragile group who always seem to find a way to collapse and fold like deck of cards. Always taking bad shots, always throwing the ball away, always finding a way to lose. As a result, they are a perennial afterthought, as he says.
Wow, what a daming indictment of the team. If this does not light a fire under them, nothing will.
IlliniBrave
April 27th, 2011
6:47 pm
That would be “damning”. Sorry, I was channeling Vegas Vecation.
Kariqua
April 27th, 2011
6:57 pm
I put JJ in the same class as Carlos Boozer. Overrated and overpaid. Think about it.
Bill Walton
April 27th, 2011
6:59 pm
Joe Johnson is the most overrated Hawk since Wilkins -yeah he was overrated -other than taking lots of shots -and not a very good shooter at that -he had no game -no defense -poor rebounder and wouldn’t know an assist if it hit him in the head
Ben
April 27th, 2011
7:01 pm
We see players with “albatross” contracts get traded all the time. Somebody will take Joe at some point. It’s all about fit and there’s a sucker born every minute.
Problem is does anyone really think the ASG will be smart enough to make the move when the moment presents itself?
Bill Walton
April 27th, 2011
7:03 pm
other than some heart, some brains, and the will to win -the Hawks have all the pieces ———————————–to go out in the first round
JoBjo
April 27th, 2011
7:21 pm
Joe is gonna take us to the promised land. I BELIEVE!!!
Will
April 27th, 2011
7:54 pm
Joe Johnson is not a star or superstar, and never will be neither one!
Dude has a bad attitude, average basketball player at best!
No leadership skills at all “NONE”
He could not make it with teams like the celtics, knicks, lakers, 76ers, spurs, their fans would run his “azz” out of town!
And then they get mad saying the fans don’t support them, let me make it clear, we will never support you because you’re soft, play dumb basketball, and will quit in a heart beat, that is what you have proven to Atlanta, those are Facts.
The Magic will close this series out gm 7 in Orlando.
Campbell
April 27th, 2011
8:13 pm
Talk all you want about his lack of offense – but Joe completely disappeared on the defensive end of the court as well. It was almost as though a bookie got a hold of him.
EVOLONE
April 27th, 2011
8:31 pm
The hawks have to win tomorrow night if the hawks lose……………………….SMH
OldTimer
April 27th, 2011
8:55 pm
Orlando is about to get downsized. Hawks in an easy 6.
rocko
April 27th, 2011
9:51 pm
everybody needs to shut-up!!! even when the hawks are winning, the fans dont even support the team.. crowd is dead weight!!! hell I wouldnt give a s@#T about playing either..
Najeh Davenpoop
April 27th, 2011
9:53 pm
It’s not Joe’s fault he was offered that contract, and expecting him to play up to the level of Kobe and LeBron is an exercise in futility.
With that said, with great contract comes great responsibility. It is fair to expect him to play his best basketball in the playoffs. Joe doesn’t have to be Kobe, but he does need to be the best damn Joe Johnson he can be, and in Game 5 he looked more like DerMarr Johnson. Every game where Aggressive Joe shows up, Joe is doing his job. Every game where Passive Joe shows up to pound the ball into the ground and take ten seconds to make a decision, Joe is stealing money.
dummynique
April 27th, 2011
9:56 pm
listen, joe is who he is. if chicago bulls paid pippen max dollars and left jordan hangin’ pippen was still goin’ to be pippen. don’t blame jj ’cause this organization paid him max dollars. joe has never been THAT GUY!!
jus’ like everyone wanted to rip sheldon williams ’cause the hawks drafted him 10th and wanted to put all of this expectation on his shoulders. don’t blame the players BLAME THE ORGANIZATION.
i am an assistant. if a company pays me ceo money, that’s there fault.
lester
April 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
get rid of josh smith also..he needs to get his head into the game
Dr. Warren
April 27th, 2011
10:26 pm
I’ve never seen a Schultz or Bradley blog that inspired such unified agreement. Nice argument, Jeff. Unfortunately, I think Moorman is right—the ASG, hoping to bail, stuck it to us long-term with Joe’s contact.
BoricuaHawk
April 27th, 2011
11:00 pm
Jeff: Is it likely/possible for Joe to offer to give back some money if he wanted to help the team pay another star? Any fantasy of being able to free up enough money to make a run for Dwight Howard? I know, a Hawk fan can always dream!
JSS
April 28th, 2011
12:09 am
Goodness, welcome to the most fickle and panicking fan base in all of American professional sports!
@ Jeff Schultz…
You know where I stand on Joe Johnson. Still, Johnson is not the reason this team can’t stop the pick and roll. Moreover, when I see Johnson, I’m always reminded of the mistake that Seattle made when they had Dennis Johnson during his ascension period in the late 70’s. Gus Williams carried enough of the load to make him look a bit like a replaceable piece. But, as Larry Bird said: “He’s the best player I’ve played with.” Joe needs that, get him the compliment that allows him some freedom to exhale. It saved the career of Julius Erving when Andrew Toney finally played to his pedigree. The same can be said of when Pippen finally stepped out that Casper costume. Dumars gave Thomas that, I’m old enough to remember how frustrated he was pairing with Kelly Tripucka and the likes of John Long. The folly that the picks of Williams, Law, and Teague have been on the flexibility of this team way heavily on their style of play….
mick
April 28th, 2011
12:15 am
So what happens if the Hawks didn’t sign Johnson? They wouldn’t have made the playoffs this year or next. What star will sign to come play at Phillips when it is 1/3 empty half of the time. Sure Joe is over-paid to some degree but what “superstar” do you think would sign with the Hawks?
Ole Smoky
April 28th, 2011
12:37 am
JJ’s the problem.. Not their solution.
My wife loves the Hawks, me=go Lakeshow
April 28th, 2011
12:40 am
Its about time someone had the nuts to say what needs to be said about Joe “not my fault” Johnson. Hawks should be ashamed giving him all that money after the fan comments and with him averaging 13 freaking points LAST PLAYOFFS. WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?? Now this year comes and he is just as bad. Jamal>Joe, period.
He is not a proven winner, he is not a superstar, he is a role player at best. His ball hogging is sickening.
Thank you Mr.Jeff Schultz
You see he never wanted to leave Atlanta b/c the Atlanta press is nice and doesn’t rip him a new one if he played in New York, LA or some other large city. The Atlanta media has been way to accepting of our sports mediocrity!!
Rob
April 28th, 2011
12:42 am
The thing about the playoffs is because there is so much passion, fans think their team will never win another game if their team loses a game. Fans are already planning to cancel their season based on that loss.
Let the games conclude before you think that.
LawdHamercy
April 28th, 2011
12:46 am
ISO Jo can’t score? Looks like we got a thief on this team. $123Million and he’s a done deal. The Hawks organization is dumb. Let these guys go. Dump the whole roster. Rebuild. They’re all quiters/losers. We’ll see the true make of this team in the next 2 games. It’s going to 7 and we’ll be at home wonderin what happened.
PaulieOldschool
April 28th, 2011
1:22 am
Sorry, boys, you got what you paid for when you laid out long green for this butt munch. Disappears in the clutch, mouthy in the loss, not even close to being a Tier One player, even in his own mind, and he knows you know it. He’s a loser, and he’s never gonna be anything else.
Dr. Warren
April 28th, 2011
6:13 am
They were on the verge of exonerating themselves for last year’s Orlando debacle and this whole lame season, and what do they do? Oh, just lose by 25. Something is wrong with this group. Immaturity, laziness, ADHD, something. Clubber Lang would have said they lack the Eye of the Tiger.
ATLtodolavida
April 28th, 2011
7:52 am
It’s not Joe’s fault his salary is high. Also, his pressure free throw shooting won game 4. Stop whining.
TheAntiMe
April 28th, 2011
8:05 am
Part of the problem is that when the ball touched Joe’s hands on Tuesday, the Hawks reverted back to Iso-Joe and as the stats clearly show, Iso-Joe could not have thrown the ball into all three oceans combined.
If the Hawks are going to stand a chance offensively against Orlando then they must pass the freaking ball and swing it to both sides of the court so that they can find the open man to get the best look at the basket on any possession.
The problem is that while this seems obvious to all of us who watch the Hawks on a regular basis, this fact totally seems to escape the Hawks players on the floor an alarmingly high percentage of trips down the floor.
Billy The Kid
April 28th, 2011
8:24 am
agree Jeff….Do the Hawks really have the HEART to Win!
Craig
April 28th, 2011
8:37 am
Question, how do you give more when you don’t have more to give? We are better off depending on Crawford then we are the overpaid Johnson. Our go to guy comes off the bench which should be an embarrassment to JJ but, I doubt it.
NFL draft: Cam Newton will succeed, Tim Tebow won’t | Jeff Schultz
April 28th, 2011
8:40 am
[...] – Hawks need more from Joe Johnson (whether-he-likes-it-or-not) [...]
Buddy Grizzard
April 28th, 2011
11:08 am
Repost from the other blog… doing MC’s job for him since he wants to talk about Mike Bianchi instead of Larry Drew:
Let’s break down the first half of Game 5, where the Hawks got outscored 58-35 and lost the game. The point differential in the second half was 43-41 in favor of the Magic, so the first half is the story of this game.
I’ve broken down in other posts how Josh Smith pounded the ball inside and drew two early fouls on Dwight, causing him to go to the bench with 5:39 to play in the first quarter and Orlando leading 10-8. With 5:33 to play and the Hawks trailing 10-9, Kirk Hinrich picked up his first foul, and Las Vegas Larry immediately subbed in JC1 for KH.
Q+1 rule means in the first quarter, Q1+1 is two fouls to be in foul trouble. KH goes to the bench, not in foul trouble. I believe this is what Bret Lagree was referring to in his Game 5 breakdown when he said Las Vegas Larry “created foul trouble where none yet existed.”
With Dwight on the Bench and Orlando forced to rely on its perimeter players, the obvious move would be to leave KH (not in foul trouble) and Joe Johnson on the floor to try to slow Orlando’s guards. Instead, Las Vegas Larry almost immediatly sends in Atlanta’s worst perimeter defender.
I find it very easy to believe, much as Michael Cunningham tried to discredit it, the New York Post’s report that a former Hawks player described Las Vegas Larry’s game preparation a “f-ing joke.” Do you think Las Vegas Larry had a game plan if Dwight went to the bench? Do you think that game plan involved JC1 tossing up 20 to 25 footers producing long rebounds and Orlando fast breaks? Do you think that game plan involved the Hawks attempting only 4 free throws for the rest of the half, including zero in the second quarter?
I’m not an NBA coach, but I would have told my guys to pound it inside to Josh Smith and All Star Al and let them go to work on Orlando’s Dwight-less front court. I would have told them to keep drawing fouls and try to keep the game at a slow tempo. None of that happened.
And when Josh Smith saw that his good early work was not rewarded with additional post touches, and saw that effort undone by JC1’s cold shooting, he went with the only game plan the Hawks ever had… toss up outside shots, hope they go in. And hope that Orlando, the most productive three-point shooting team in the NBA during the regular season, continued setting postseason records for three-point futility.
Meanwhile, JC1 checks in at 5:33 with the Hawks trailing by a point. After missed shots from 20, 23 and 25 feet by JC1, Atlanta calls a full timeout with 2:36 to play and Orlando leading 19-9. Kirk Hinrich re-enters the game and picks up his second foul with :45 to play in the first quarter. The half ends with Orlando up 26-13, having closed the quarter on a 16-4 run since JC1 entered the game. At this point Kirk Hinrich is -4 and JC1 is -12.
Atlanta starts the 2nd quarter with JJ, All Star Al, Marv, Zaza and JC1. Orlando starts the quarter with Dwight, Reddick, Arenas, Q-Rich and Ryan Anderson. With 6:09 to play in the half, KH re-enters the game replacing JC1. The score is 42-21 and Orlando has outscored the Hawks 16-8 for the quarter and 32-12 during the 11 minutes, 24 seconds JC1 has been on the floor. Does it take a 20-point swing in favor of the opposition to figure out something isn’t working?
With 2:13 to play in the half, JC1 subs back in for Kirk. The score is 52-30, Orlando has outscored the hawks 10-9 during KH’s three minutes, 56 seconds of playing time in the second quarter (with two fouls, not in foul trouble; Q2+1=3), and KH is -5 over 9 minutes, 3 seconds of first half playing time. JC1 plays 13 minutes, 37 seconds in the first half and goes to the locker room -21 with Orlando sporting a 23-point lead. Orlando would only outscore the Hawks by 2 points in the entire second half.
JJ Now
April 28th, 2011
11:18 am
JJ’s getting tired of carrying the hawks in the playoffs but he’s the only player doing anything. the hawks need to run more iso plays for JJ and quit wasting shots on other players.
Bad Move
April 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
A level of “doesn’t-get-it-ness” should go to Rick Sund for offering this contract to JJ. Normally, it’s the fans who want to throw money at players. But with JJ, the consensus with fans was to let him walk.
J
April 28th, 2011
1:22 pm
Paying of athletes should be similar to how salespeople are paid. No more of these long ass contracts where athletes are paid regardless of performance. Seriously, every single one of these guys needs to get fired up and play hard every game during the playoffs. Even if you’re tired!
joey1
April 28th, 2011
2:57 pm
come on guys,
i know we just got beat up but did we expect to win in a do or die situation against orlando on their home floor???
the difference was they hit shots and we did not …..it simple they hit 7 more 3 pointes than us thats enough to put us in a very close game.
hawks will win at home thursday in a tough game bc they know if they lose they will not win in game 7 in orlando.
i think with howard on the floor that slows down their offense, if hes in the game they dont shoot as many 3 pointers we cover them better bc of ono on one coverage of howard.
i said before the series hawks win in 6 and they will close it out in front of a spectacular crowd..
so guys lets show up to phillips arena a cheer on our hawks to win, bc we are the sixth man
Ceecee
April 28th, 2011
3:37 pm
Thank u so much for finally calling JOE OUT!! He could not and would not get away with his performances in the MEDIA if he were with the KNICKS or Lakers!!! They would run him out of town
We need to do the same if his production doesnt pick up but it will be HARD because of that contract…But something needs to change.
He wants to be just one of the guys but wants to get paid like the leader. HUH? Am I missing something. He knows that Atlanta will do nothing as far as getting on him and his game so he is content with just being JOE. BUT JOE GOT TO GO! I dont care if we take a step back as an organization as long as we push forward to be better and get guys in here with Leadership and HEART, and whose not afraid of taking the blame and calling out other players.
Ceecee
April 28th, 2011
3:53 pm
I believe we are a better team than the Magic and we can beat the BULLS if we move on, but we dont pay sound basketball!!!!!!!!!! All of these commentators who talk about us arent hating…….their teling us the truth.
1. U gotta Power forward who wants to be Rasheed Wallace but doesnt have a consistent jumpshot and enough 1 on 1 defense to guard a small forward night in and night out.
2. U got a overpaid all star guard who doesnt want anyone to bring him to the mat on his game and disappears when we need him the most.
3. U got a center playing out of position (so we say)
4. U got a guy in marvin williams (#2 draft pick) who should be the 12th man off the bench. He has to be off this roster next year!
5. U got JC…..now, if he isnt hot, u get 0% out of him in other aspects of the game…NO D, NO Paas first Mentality when shot not fallin.
6. U got a coach!!…………Who wont play Damien over Marvin. A coach who doesnt recognize whose hot and whose not. To be fair, he has been better than woody in some areas but we got the kind of players to where he needs to cuss their behinds out in the moment when they dont run his so called motion offense.
Overall, We have what we need to be better than what we are portraying because they showed when they play team ball its hard to beat them but ffor some reason, every man his for himself on this team more times than the ladder. We cant come back with this same team next year and expect different results unless u bring in a NO nonsense coach…I’m done.
Clueless Joe
April 28th, 2011
4:05 pm
Y’all remember this little piece of poetry from last year, right?
“That doesn’t bother me, and I hope it doesn’t bother anyone in this locker room,” Johnson said. “It’s about us in this locker room. We could care less if [fans] showed up.”
llovejj
April 28th, 2011
4:20 pm
Enter your comments here
Joseph
April 28th, 2011
4:59 pm
Joe doesn’t see himself as the “star” and acts accordingly. He has the skill set. We have all seen him do some unbelievable things. But, when you are a wallflower, who cares that you are complaining about being fouled.
NBA is a business, and NBA is entertainment. As the highest paid player, he needs to sell it to the crowd, then maybe he would actually realize it all comes down to him. Like it or not, that is what being a star is about, Joe. And you can do it. We need it.
My wife loves the Hawks, me=go Lakeshow
April 28th, 2011
7:05 pm
Joe sucks. Period. His stats have gone down every year since he came to the Hawks. There is a reason Phoenix let him go. There is a reason no other teams were going to offer the money the Hawks did.
I do hope they beat Orlando but they better do it tonight
W.R. Terrell
April 30th, 2011
8:54 pm
I was poised to be rid of the stressors of watching the “SOFT’S lose in four. Silly me, they won in six. Who knows what will happen in Chicago. Heinrich is out but Jeff Teague can defend and at least stay in fron of D. Rose. I wanted this season over, LD fired and a new coach that would sit Josh Smiths azz down for taking crazy shots and thinking he is a point guard, also, when the “smoove” leads the “SOFT’S” in scoring the SOFT’S generally lose by a HUGE margin. Chicago see the “SOFT’S” as no threat which could be a bad omen for them. Who knows what they will do or how they will play. This team is truly an enigma. Monday night could be a big surprise and shocker as well as a reality adjustment. Who knows, hell, I just wanted the season to be over and done with. As far as Joe’s contract, Josh and Marvin are not worth theirs either. They are overpaid and 2nd tier, but, the “SOFT’S won. This team is not ood for anyone who has heart problems.
niremetal
May 1st, 2011
10:59 am
Awww look, another column that shows that Jeff Schultz doesn’t know or care about pro basketball.
Stick with the Braves and college football, Jeff.