Joe Johnson finding his rhythm — and so are Hawks
The look says it all as Joe Johnson sinks a jumper to seal the Hawks' four-overtime win over Utah Sunday night. (AP photo)
There is a tendency in pro sports to measure pro athletes by the number of digits in their paychecks. It follows that expectations of what Joe Johnson is supposed to be reside somewhere just south of Zeus-ian.
So let’s start with this: Yes, Johnson makes a lot of money. He will continue to make a lot of money. He probably has an ATM in his pantry, just to the left of the case of Beluga caviar.
He is the only person in Atlanta who this week will drive past that billboard that reads, “Mega Millions: $356 million” and think, “You know, I just don’t know if I want to fill out all of that paper work for another direct deposit account.”
But in what is turning into a rather remarkable Hawks’ season, Johnson has been far more than a dollar sign with ears lately. The guy known for 2-ton-W-2, with too few big moments and too few big games, has been a relative wonder on the court.
Johnson scored 18 points in a perfect eight-for-eight first quarter Sunday night against Utah. Then the legs went dead, or so we thought. On a night when the Hawks continued to amaze — winning a four-overtime game on the third night of a back-to-back-to-oh-my-back — Johnson provided the most jaw-dropping of moments.
He scored eight points in the fourth overtime. He did not take a rest in any of the OTs. He finished the night with 37 points. He played 55 minutes, 23 seconds of playing time, bringing his three-night total to 126 miutes. There might’ve been a five-mile swim in there, too, but nobody can remember. The Hawks won 139-133 win over the Jazz at Philips Arena and, with this latest spasm, are now 10 games over .500 (30-20).
Zaza Pachulia cracked later that players were dragging so much, “It looked like a 40-and-over game” down the stretch.
Coach Larry Drew said, “I know they were out of gas because I was out of gas.” And he was a suit.
The ultimate survivor was Johnson — again.
Like many players coming out of the lockout, Johnson started the season slow. Like many in this hellish condensed schedule, he had to sit out games (six) with an injury (knee). Unlike many, he has emerged of late a different player. In 11 games since returning from knee tendinitis, Johnson has averaged 24.5 points on 50-percent shooting. Compare that to his scoring averages (16.3, 19.8, 14.5) and field goal percentages (43.6, 43.6, 39.3) in December, January and February, respectively.
Josh Smith had been this team’s best player this season, particularly since Al Horford was lost for the year. But Johnson now is doing something he has been criticized so often for not doing – carrying his team when it’s needed most.
“When we lost Al, [Johnson and Smith] had to elevate their games for us to still win at a high level,” coach Larry Drew said. “The other guys could kind of piggyback on them. I know they felt a little bit of pressure, that they had to take on more of a burden.”
Johnson conceded Sunday what Drew suspected – that his left knee started bothering him long before he went to the bench in late February. He said the pain began a month earlier, less than 20 games into the season. “But it was in and out,” he said. So he kept playing.
He missed six games in a seven-game stretch, including the All-Star break, a span of over two weeks. That benefited him in more ways than just rest. “It gives you a different perspective on the bench, a different view,” he said. “You’re able to see things that you can be better at than when you’re on the court. I could see where the double teams were. I just tried to come out and be more efficient.”
He was more than that down the stretch. It was Johnson who hit a three-point shot with seven seconds left in the second overtime to extend the game (again). Ultimately, Drew knew who would decide his team’s fate.
“We were running every option through Joe,” he said.
Good choice.
By Jeff Schultz
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71 comments Add your comment
nba might as well be soccer.....zzzzzzzzz
March 26th, 2012
3:40 pm
Jeff, can never get too excited about Hawks after best years with Hubie and Fratello….There is no charisma, or whatever term floats your boat, to any teams since.
I know I’m not the only one that doesn’t care to see a bunch of overpaid, tattoo freaks consistently lose in the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs each year.
Older Hawks teams did the same, but with more lovable players and coaches.
Basketball, like hockey, takes no amazing feat to make playoffs. Half the league gets in, and you have to be embarrasingly pitiful to not make the playoffs. And I won’t even start on the ridiculously long regular seasons.
NBA might as well be soccer.....zzzzzzzzz
March 26th, 2012
3:45 pm
Jeff, the Hawks have not been entertaining since Hubie and Fratello were coaching them.
A bunch of overpaid, boring, tattoo freaks that consistently get eliminated in the 1st or 2nd rounds of playoffs today.
At least the older teams that did the same had more lovable players and coaches.
No charisma to any team since.
I will never pay for anything nba
March 26th, 2012
3:52 pm
It is not a big accomplishment to make playoffs in basketball or hockey. Half the teams in league get in. You would have to be embarrassingly pitiful to not make playoffs.
Totally boring and long regular seasons, too. Shorten playoff rounds. Starting in April and ending in June is insane.
Joe Bling
March 26th, 2012
4:18 pm
Asinine comments at 3:45 and 3:52. If you aren’t a fan, why are you wasting your and my time posting on this board. Go somewhere else.
And to the poster on the first page who described the Hawks as “mediocre”, can you please explain? Do you understand the definition of the word “mediocre”? Just what about this Hawks team has been mediocre the last five years? Are they mediocre in comparison to, say, the Braves? The Falcons? The Thrashers?
Are they mediocre in comparison to 85 percent of the other teams in the NBA?
NO! And that, by definition, means they are NOT MEDIOCRE! You people better learn to appreciate what you’ve got, because it can be gone in a flash (i.e., the Thrashers). Wake up and realize that you have one of the top teams in the NBA right now in your own town. Often, the last push a team needs is to get the fan base behind them. I guarantee you if Philips Arena were full-up every night this team would have an extra edge that could make them special. If you don’t think this team can beat Orlando, you haven’t been paying attention. That hurdle was cleared last year. If you don’t think this team can beat Miami, you might be right. But again, if you have been paying attention, you will see that the Hawks match up well with Miami. This team is gunning for the playoffs, I’m telling you. They set their sights on making the Finals this year and proving the doubters (Charles Barkley, et. al.) wrong. Why do you think LD made them listen to the broadcast of that TNT game? He wanted them to hear how little respect they get on the national stage. He wanted it to hurt, and he wanted it to make them mad. Since that game this team has been much tougher. Since Zaza and Josh have started playing like men on a mission, this team has been so much tougher. They are playing super hard right now because they know they have to improve their standing to get home-court advantage. Home court is critical, which is what they learned against the Celtics, and later Orlando, a few years ago.
No way they can get home court over the Bulls or Miami, but if they can get into a series with one of those teams, anything can happen.
Good article about Joe. He has looked like a new player the last two or three weeks. He’s clearly feeling healthy. I will note, however, that he had a really good look to end last night’s game in regulation and missed the shot. He couldn’t decide whether to bank it or put it straight in and instead got the back iron. Huge three in overtime, though. That was a tremendous shot, and further credit to the toughness of this team that they were able to play four overtimes without Josh and come away with the win.
ag
March 26th, 2012
4:20 pm
Go watch soccer ‘NBA might as well be soccer..zzzzzzzzzzzzzz”! Josh Smith makes the Highlight factory. Man, that dunk Jeff Teague over Ray Allen!!! What about those money treys by Joe!!!! I am loving this team!!!!!
Senator Blutarski
March 26th, 2012
4:22 pm
–one thing that’s so amazing now is that–especially when the Hawks are healthy–I know in my gut and heart that the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls could actually be beaten in playoff games by our Atlanta Hawks. Get a bit of momentum going at playoff time and it is actually a possibility that something good could happen–
play ball!
March 26th, 2012
4:38 pm
thank goodness baseball is here to fill in time before football.
back to the fry machine joe bling
March 26th, 2012
4:41 pm
joe got no bling or a brain with those comments above
Joe Bling
March 26th, 2012
5:17 pm
Still here, I see. You really ought to go somewhere else where there aren’t any “tattoo freaks” and where it’s much harder to get into the playoffs, like it was back in the day of Hubie and Fratello. Moron.
Wink
March 26th, 2012
8:42 pm
I appreciate the play of JJ lately. However, lets get real here, Joe is in his element, playing off Josh and not having the ball in his hand as much. When Josh rebounds he brings the ball up and Josh run out in transition, Josh being as aggressive draws the defense and Joe is getting a lot of catch & shoot opportunities. Just like when Josh is stationed around the 3 point line he is less effective, so is Joe when he dominates the basketball.
Also, having him play small forward, places him closer to the basket; having Hinrich and Teague as ball handlers also reduces his need to pound the rock. As a result, Teague goes to the basket as the only slasher in the starting lineup and Hinrich now in rhythm is able to strecth the floor at the corner 3 point line, has also allowed Joe room to operate on the box or become more of a catch & shoot player…ie his Phoenix days.
Lastly, with Josh basically now the go to guy, and less Iso Joe, they both are playing at a high level over the last 12 – 13 games. What is missing in all this Joe’s on fire crap is the fact he went cold in the middle of the game 2nd & 3rd quarter. The Hawks were up 15 at the half and midway the 3rd quarter they were down and in catch up mode.
Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful we have been winning, but these guys are prone to disappear in games and still finish with good stat lines. If I hear Nique say a rookie can’t guard Joe one more time, when I know Marshon Brooks of NJ has lit him up. Joe is a good player who enjoys being the 2nd option, kinda like how Marvin plays better off the bench, not so much as a starter. Everything wrong with this team is between the ears and their fragile makeups.
Peace Out Hawk Nation
RA
March 26th, 2012
8:55 pm
Peace out wink.
phil
March 26th, 2012
9:46 pm
Dr. Warren
March 26th, 2012
10:46 am
Hate to spoil the party, but doesn’t this happen every year? Explain how this group will advance farther than the second round.
******
they won’t. No ridiculous overreaction excitement here!
kreedham
March 26th, 2012
10:20 pm
If they can just get home court for at least the 1st round….if they can clinch it with a game or two to go then Drew needs to rest some guys. At least they give us some hope!
Tennis Rodman
March 27th, 2012
6:29 am
ASG = TRASH
Tennis Rodman
March 27th, 2012
6:31 am
Here is the question then: do the hawks get bounced in the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs?
JJ
March 27th, 2012
7:14 am
I care far less about Joe’s paycheck and far more about his production on the court. Yeah he’s overpaid. Nothing’s going to change that. I’d rather he be overpaid and productive than overpaid and unproductive.
tjhook
March 27th, 2012
8:40 am
Keep Hinrich at SG; it does improve Joe and jeff’s oncourt performance
Athens Tider
March 27th, 2012
11:53 am
Someone please explain playoff seeding. How is Orlando ahead of Philadelphia and the Hawks are not? I can understand if division winners get the top three spots, but Orlando is not a division leader and they’re currently seeded third. Please help.
bulldogbubba
March 27th, 2012
8:39 pm
Clusters?
NATIVE SON
March 31st, 2012
9:55 am
I see a lot of entries hoping for the return of Al Horford. I think Al needs to take one for the team, and sit out the rest of the season. Nothing against Al, but too many times I have seen a player come back from injury, just to disrupt the chemistry. Case in point; Chris Owens was balling out for the Falcons, but they decided to start Brent Grimes against the Saints. Bad move, and it seldom works out. If Mr. Horford is able to play some minutes. then let him spell ZaZA, or anchor the second unit with Marvin. I for one, will be decidely disappointed if he is immediately placed in the starting lineup.
An aside here, but arguably; Joe, and Josh look like the most improved players in the league, and L.D. should get a smattering of attention as COY.
Peace from the MOST NATIVE
BigMoney
April 6th, 2012
10:09 am
This team is really one of the top 3 or 4 teams in the east when they are healthy. They did beat miami early this season when they were healthy. and we were up by 20 against chicago and let that one go. Hopefully T-mac, radmonavich, zaza, pargo and all of the rest are healthy.. and people keep forgetting hawks are playing without al horford.. and what a great addition Ivan johnson has been..