George O'Brien
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Boston Globe: Above-average Joe
Above-average Joe One of the few bright spots in Phoenix has been the play of former Celtic Joe Johnson, who may, at last, be getting it. He has blossomed since the Suns dealt Stephon Marbury to the Knicks, but you can trace his statistical improvement to the turn of the calendar year. Over the last three months, Johnson has averaged 19.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds while playing well over 40 minutes a game. "Joe has displayed a confidence that we have seen during the last two summer leagues and during informal workouts where he has been relied upon to be a leader and one of the primary scorers," said Suns GM Bryan Colangelo. "With Steph and Penny [Hardaway] gone, he is certainly getting more of the offensive load directed his way. Another aspect is that he is a playmaker when he gets the ball in his hands, not necessarily a spot-up shooter. He is finding ways to create more scoring opportunities for himself and others." . . .
Above-average Joe One of the few bright spots in Phoenix has been the play of former Celtic Joe Johnson, who may, at last, be getting it. He has blossomed since the Suns dealt Stephon Marbury to the Knicks, but you can trace his statistical improvement to the turn of the calendar year. Over the last three months, Johnson has averaged 19.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds while playing well over 40 minutes a game. "Joe has displayed a confidence that we have seen during the last two summer leagues and during informal workouts where he has been relied upon to be a leader and one of the primary scorers," said Suns GM Bryan Colangelo. "With Steph and Penny [Hardaway] gone, he is certainly getting more of the offensive load directed his way. Another aspect is that he is a playmaker when he gets the ball in his hands, not necessarily a spot-up shooter. He is finding ways to create more scoring opportunities for himself and others." . . .
