Joe Johnson is GREAT

[slinslin]

Look what he is capable of without Marbury dominating the ball.

26 points 7assists 3 rebounds tonight
20 points 7assists 3 rebounds yesterday
4 points 6assists 2rebounds -played with flu against Denver
23 points 6assists 6 rebounds
25 points 7assists 8rebounds
18 points 5assists 8rebounds

That is Joe Johnsons gamelog since Marbury is gone. Looks at least as good as Pierce numbers, even better considering he is shooting better than 50%.

That's amazing numbers.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Even with the game against Denver, JJ is averaging 19.3pts, 6.3 assists, and 5 rebounds. JJ looks like a different player. Much more confident and looks like he wants to shoot more.

 

[slinslin]

He is even doing highlight dunks more regularly.

The dunk on Eddy Curry from the dotted line was crazy.

 

[scotsman13]

read "i believe"

 

[sly fly]

I'm happy to see him doing so well. I'll be the first one to jump back on the JJ bandwagon if he continues to show consistency.

The scary thing is is that he can do much better. And, he hasn't even scratched the surface as far as utilizing his talents EVERY time down the floor.

There will continue to be growing pains, but he has to fight through them and WANT to dominate on both sides of the ball.

The sky's the limit if he can do this...

... to be continued.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Originally posted by slinslin
Look what he is capable of without Marbury dominating the ball.
4 points 6assists 2rebounds -played with flu against Denver

I went to that game and I was very critical of JJ's play. I had no idea he had the flu.

This afternoon, after coming down with the flu myself, I began wondering if he was feeling well for the Denver game. It seems like such an aberration.

I can't imagine playing a game the way I feel right now.

Props to JJ.

 

[slinslin]

I am glad I am not one of the JJ bashers.

Almost the whole phxsuns.net board can eat their words now.

 

[scotsman13]

btw where is matt? you know hardaway jr.? i havent seen him since the trade.

 

[Chaz]

The future is now!

When in doubt get the ball to Joe or Amare to create something and Marion, Zarko, Voskul, Barbosa, Harvey and Jahidi can finish.

Teams will adjust to us very soon. I'm sure on Mon we will get a good test even with some of the Lakers players out. JJ and Amare will have to keep working to stay ahead.

JJ is a built in nickname but how about Cool Hand Joe because he looks smooth and in control as he dominates people.
I always remember against the Spurs in the playoffs last year Joe went coast to coast with Bruce Bowen in his face. Totally calm he changed direction a couple time and flipped right around him and scored.

 

[slinslin]

If Shaq isn't playing Monday it will be an excellent oportunity for JJ and Amare to display this to a bigger audience.

 

[cly2tw]

If JJ keeps it up, when we sign Kobe in the offseason, we'd officially have the Suns' version of MJ-Pippen tandem. What we have more than the Bulls is a dominant bigman in Amare. It's gonna be like a lineup Malone-MJ-Pippen in their prime!

 

[Joe Mama]

A few weeks ago I would have traded JJ for a steaming bag of dog ****. I'm very excited about the way he is playing right now. Of course I would still like to see if he did up for an extended period of time including some pressure games before they signed him to a big extension.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Don't pinch me if I'm dreaming

I never gave up on JJ always felt he had what it takes to be an outstanding player, but I could certainly understand why so may fans were unhappy with his play. It was as if he had regressed to the same tentative, wide eyed kid that lost him his starting job a year ago.

In a recent interview, he admitted that he was constantly looking over his shoulder about Penny replacing him. Now he knows the Suns management is totally committed him and he is playing with a lot more confidence.

Another thing, the ball movement has improved a lot and JJ is one of the big beneficiaries. Stephon is a great player, but his game was not compatable with JJ's.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
A few weeks ago I would have traded JJ for a steaming bag of dog ****. I'm very excited about the way he is playing right now. Of course I would still like to see if he did up for an extended period of time including some pressure games before they signed him to a big extension.

Joe Mama

That pretty much is a mirror of me. I felt and feel exactly the same. I'm not sold yet, but I'm getting there.

And, don't forget all you JJ lovers, the main reason I wanted to trade JJ is that I thought he had value. That's it. Instead of waiting till the end of the season (of which I thought JJ would be very mediocre and generate little interest), I thought it would be better to trade him sooner because he still would have that "youth" label that would net us a better trade.

Now, I am perfectly willing to eat crow, but it'll be a couple weeks before I'm confident in JJ's play.

 

[Errntknght]

"Another thing, the ball movement has improved a lot and JJ is one of the big beneficiaries. Stephon is a great player, but his game was not compatable with JJ's."

Come on! Let's not start revising history. JJ had a plethora of opportunities to score alongside Marbury - don't you remember him getting off bunches of shots that looked good coming out of his hands and just didn't go in? If anything, JJ hurt Marbs game because he couldn't be depended on to hit open shots - especially if the situation was anything resembling clutch. I'm willing to believe that Penny's looming in background caused his unconfident play, as he himself indicated - at least, I will if he continues his solid play.

His good performances have come at an opportune time... hopefully they will quiet clamor to move heaven and earth in order to snag Kobe.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Errntknght
" JJ had a plethora of opportunities to score alongside Marbury - don't you remember him getting off bunches of shots that looked good coming out of his hands and just didn't go in? If anything, JJ hurt Marbs game because he couldn't be depended on to hit open shots - especially if the situation was anything resembling clutch. I'm willing to believe that Penny's looming in background caused his unconfident play, as he himself indicated - at least, I will if he continues his solid play.

To me, it appeared JJ was taking far too many contested 3's when Stephon was handling the ball. JJ needs to be closer to the basket or totally wide open so he can set his feet.

 

[Joe Mama]

The entire Phoenix Suns team is moving around with and without the ball much better than they were two weeks ago. Much of that has to do with Marbury's departure. Some of it also has to do with Amare Stoudemire's return. Of course I believe much of the reason Stoudemire is playing his best basketball of the season is that Marbury is not playing here.

Joe Mama

 

[Errntknght]

"To me, it appeared JJ was taking far too many contested 3's when Stephon was handling the ball. JJ needs to be closer to the basket or totally wide open so he can set his feet."

Maybe we weren't watching the same guy... the JJ I saw shot worse the more time he had. You'd have more luck claiming Stephon hurt JJ's game because he got him too wide open!

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Originally posted by Errntknght
"To me, it appeared JJ was taking far too many contested 3's when Stephon was handling the ball. JJ needs to be closer to the basket or totally wide open so he can set his feet."

Maybe we weren't watching the same guy... the JJ I saw shot worse the more time he had. You'd have more luck claiming Stephon hurt JJ's game because he got him too wide open!

JJ also was really dominating the ball when it went to him. Whatever was said in the players only meeting must have been significant.

 

[SunsTzu]

I do agreed JJ was getting wide open looks with Steph. However I always felt that JJ was a rhythm shooter and was better stepping into a shot. While not very good as a catch and shoot guy unless he was hot.

 

[SunsTzu]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
JJ also was really dominating the ball when it went to him. Whatever was said in the players only meeting must have been significant.

I thought JJ was one of the few guys playing well before the meeting.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Originally posted by SunsTzu
I thought JJ was one of the few guys playing well before the meeting.

Would that be his 39% shooting or his 29% 3 point shooting?

Or maybe his SLIGHTLY better 1:1 assist to turnover ratio (which is awful for a guard).

JJ himself was talking about how he listened to the team meeting and was basically told to be as assertive as he wants and to quit worrying about shot to shot.

Hopefully his days of being the human marshmallow (all soft) are over and he can realize his talent.

 

[SunsTzu]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
Would that be his 39% shooting or his 29% 3 point shooting?

Or maybe his SLIGHTLY better 1:1 assist to turnover ratio (which is awful for a guard).

JJ himself was talking about how he listened to the team meeting and was basically told to be as assertive as he wants and to quit worrying about shot to shot.

Hopefully his days of being the human marshmallow (all soft) are over and he can realize his talent.

Since the trade and before the meeting JJ was playing well.

JJ vs Chi- 6-16fg 0-1(3p) 6-6ft 2stl 3TO 8reb 5ast

JJ vs Mil- 10-16fg 1-1(3p) 4-4ft 2stl 4TO 8reb 7ast

JJ vs Sac- 9-20fg 0-1(3p) 5-6ft 0stl 0TO 6reb 6ast

JJ vs Den- 2-9fg 0-1(3p) 0-0ft 2stl 3TO 2reb 6ast

All in all 17.5ppg 42.9%fg 25%(3p) 94%ft 1.25spg 2.5TO 6apg

If you disregard the game he was supposedly sick in it's even more impressive. He and Babosa were the only ones playing well post trade pre meeting. Amare played well too coming back but only played in 2 of the 4 games and seeing only limited min in the Sac game.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

You aren't listening.

JJ HIMSELF said that some things were said to him during the players only meeting that woke him up.

Hence my statement of "whatever was said in the players meeting must have been significant."

Since that meeting, he has been much more aggressive with the ball.

 

[SunsTzu]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
You aren't listening.

JJ HIMSELF said that some things were said to him during the players only meeting that woke him up.

Hence my statement of "whatever was said in the players meeting must have been significant."

Since that meeting, he has been much more aggressive with the ball.

All I said was I thought JJ was playing well before the meeting and he was. Only other player that was doing well post Marbury pre meeting was Barbosa. You tried to discredit me by showing his yearly stats, I defended my postion by going through game by game stats.