Joe Johnson out for remainder of playoffs

[playstation]

Johnson out a week

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 12, 2005 01:53 PM

Phoenix Suns starting guard Joe Johnson is expected to miss the next three games of the Western Conference semifinals series because of the displaced orbital fracture he sufferred during Phoenix's Game.2 loss on Wednesday.

Johnson underwent successful surgery Thursday morning at Good Samaritan Hospital but will be off the court for a week.

The plan is to re-evaluate his status in seven days, which would mean he will miss Games 3 and 4 in Dallas this weekend and Game 5 in Phoenix next Wednesday. advertisement




Johnson suffered the injury when he was knocked to floor on Jerry Stackhouse's foul as Johnson attempted a breakaway slam.

“He underwent reconstructive surgery for an orbital fracture,” Dr. Edward Joganic, who performed the surgery, said in a prepared statement. “Surgery went smoothly and he is expected to recover fully. We will continue to evaluate Joe and assess his ability to play in the remainder of the playoffs in one week.”

Johnson has never missed a game since joining the Suns in his rookie season. That streak covers 275 regular-season games and 12 playoff games.

Jim Jackson will start in his place for Friday's Game 3 in Dallas. The series is tied at 1.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

EDIT: Mao - sometimes I think you are me and Ouchie's long lost 4th brother.

If membership into your fam includes having to make outlandish comments such as "Josh McCown is the answer," then I'm going to have to take a rain check on that one.

Wait a second, I just got an idea. We all hear how great McCown is at basketball. Does anyone else think it's possible for the to Suns call in a favor to the Cardinals and request McCown as bench help to replace JJ? I mean, Josh couldn't be any worse at basketball than he is at football, could he?

 

[Cheesebeef]

If membership into your fam includes having to make outlandish comments such as "Josh McCown is the answer," then I'm going to have to take a rain check on that one.

Wait a second, I just got an idea. We all hear how great McCown is at basketball. Does anyone else think it's possible for the to Suns call in a favor to the Cardinals and request McCown as bench help to replace JJ? I mean, Josh couldn't be any worse at basketball than he is at football, could he?

don't make me bring up NO PLAY RAY

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Backcourt partner Steve Nash paid a visit to Good Samaratin Hospital on the way to America West Arena and delivered the encouraging news to his teammates, before they boarded a plane bound for Dallas.

nash just continues to exhibit the leadership that made him mvp and evidences the reasons we signed him.

 

[Chaplin]

10 to 1 if Joe is feeling all right next Wednesday, he'll play, at least spot duty, for Game 5.

 

[Cheesebeef]

10 to 1 if Joe is feeling all right next Wednesday, he'll play, at least spot duty, for Game 5.

that's my gut as well.

 

[Card Trader]

Jim Jackson will have back to back 20 pt games in Joe's absence. Mark it down.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Jim Jackson will have back to back 20 pt games in Joe's absence. Mark it down.

I'll settle for one - that would be enough for a split - which is all we need.

Man - I CAN'T WAIT for Game 3 - REALLY curious to see how we respond. You know the Mavs will come out on fire at home - if we can keep it close in the first 8 minutes it bodes well for us.

 

[haverford]

nash just continues to exhibit the leadership that made him mvp and evidences the reasons we signed him.

I agree. What a cool guy. I'm proud of this team, regardless of how far they go.

 

[Card Trader]

I'll settle for one - that would be enough for a split - which is all we need.

Man - I CAN'T WAIT for Game 3 - REALLY curious to see how we respond. You know the Mavs will come out on fire at home - if we can keep it close in the first 8 minutes it bodes well for us.

I can see it a lot like that game against Memphis where they shot like 70% in the first quarter yet ended up down 1, completely took the wind out of their sails.

 

[jibikao]

what will REALLY bother me is this - if we do go down - people jumping on the I TOLD YOU SO bandwagon and not acknowledging how huge of a part of our team JJ was.

That's the part I hate the most.

Not because we may not beat Spurs. In fact, I think if we are all healthy, we have a pretty good chance to upset them.

Spurs fans are all so happy about this news. lol Lucky them.


So, is JJ out of playoff or just this series?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Jim Jackson will have back to back 20 pt games in Joe's absence. Mark it down.

Offensively, the drop off is minimal, defensively, Jackson has a lot of trouble keeping in front of Stackhouse, among others.

 

[JPlay]

JJax is a great player to fill in for JJ. He can't get his own shot as easy, but he can hit that 3 (not as good as JJ either). He's just as good of a passer if not better, especially off the pick and roll. The bad thing is he doesn't have great lateral quickness to guard other guards, but he's a vet, can hit the jumper and doesn't hesitate to take clutch shots.

 

[arthurracoon]

KDUS now reporting that JJ will be reevaluated in ONE week.

 

[elindholm]

“You know, Joe’s not a man of a million faces..."

No, I'd say he's a man of two faces -- the one he had before the injury, and the new one with the eye bones in different places.

 

[arthurracoon]

*sigh*

This is so depressing.

I hope we can steal at least one game in Dallas.

Now the rotations are screwed up, as are minutes, etc...



Get well soon Joe

 

[Evil Ash]

So, is JJ out of playoff or just this series?

No idea yet. He's going to be reevaluated in a week to see how much he has healed. He's out for the minimum of the next 2 games.

Every person heals at different speeds. Lets just hope JJ is a quick healer

 

[Cheesebeef]

No idea yet. He's going to be reevaluated in a week to see how much he has healed. He's out for the minimum of the next 2 games.

Every person heals at different speeds. Lets just hope JJ is a quick healer

I;m praying that his relative ability to NEVER miss a single game means his body is stronger than usual and can come back a game early - like swing Game 5.

 

[Chaplin]

I;m praying that his relative ability to NEVER miss a single game means his body is stronger than usual and can come back a game early - like swing Game 5.

And don't underestimate how huge that would be, returning to Phoenix and having Game 5 being his first game back.

 

[jibikao]

Oh...thank god, Ok, so JJ has a chance to come back after we beat the Mavs right?

Guys, chill!!!!!!!

Some of you are way too negative!!!


Without JJ for the first time, we only lost the game by 2pt and that game was very winnable.

Now that we are more prepared for JJ's absence and I am sure Jim Jackson will step up. For god's sake, Jim Jackson has been a starter almost all his basketball life. He is a great player and I don't think he did a terrible job containing Stackhouse. The refs were just very tough on Jim Jackson last night. It's not like Stackhouse killed us last night. It was Finely!!!!


I am sure Jim Jackson will step up. What I am worried about is Nash's mins. That's my main concern.

Can Jackson run point?


Well, Barbosa/Hunter better bring their A games before JJ comes back!

 

[Evil Ash]

10 to 1 if Joe is feeling all right next Wednesday, he'll play, at least spot duty, for Game 5.

My guess is it depends on how the series is going for us. If we somehow manage to take the next 2 games then they'll probably have JJ ride the pine, so there is no chance of further injury.

Other than that possibility I agree we'll see him in spot duty in Game 5 if he is available to play

 

[Suns_fan69]

(JJax's) just as good of a passer if not better, especially off the pick and roll.

Agreed. If there's one soft spot in JJ's game it's that off the pick and rolls with amare he seems to have troubles getting the ball to him. Jjax is much better with that bounce pass as amare rolls towards the hoop. If he can step in and run that play with Nash on the bench then offensively we shouldn't be that much worse than with JJ running the point.

 

[Chaplin]

I also remember two instances last night when JJ (not JJ2) was running the point and Marion and Stoudemire were open under the basket. JJ looked like he saw them, but he didn't even think about passing it through traffic. JJ is solid and can shake his man, but he can't pinpoint pass like Nash can.

 

[jibikao]

I also remember two instances last night when JJ (not JJ2) was running the point and Marion and Stoudemire were open under the basket. JJ looked like he saw them, but he didn't even think about passing it through traffic. JJ is solid and can shake his man, but he can pinpoint pass like Nash can.

But he "can't" pinpoint pass like Nash can? Or he "can"? lol

I've always liked Jim Jackson. I think the league hates him because he purposedly ignored Hornets and the refs dislike him for that. lol

And Jim Jackson doesn't go inside a lot 'cause I've heard that he gets VERY FEW calls when he gets down there. I don't know why....

 

[Amare32]

I hope JJ will be back for game 5

Phoenix Suns starting guard Joe Johnson is expected to miss the next three games of the Western Conference semifinals series because of the displaced orbital fracture he suffered during Phoenix's Game.2 loss on Wednesday.

Johnson underwent successful surgery Thursday morning at Good Samaritan Hospital but will be off the court for a week.

The plan is to re-evaluate his status in seven days, which would mean he will miss Games 3 and 4 in Dallas this weekend and Game 5 in Phoenix next Wednesday.
advertisement


Johnson suffered the injury when he was knocked to floor on Jerry Stackhouse's foul as Johnson attempted a breakaway slam.

“He underwent reconstructive surgery for an orbital fracture,” Dr. Edward Joganic, who performed the surgery, said in a prepared statement. “Surgery went smoothly and he is expected to recover fully. We will continue to evaluate Joe and assess his ability to play in the remainder of the playoffs in one week.”

Johnson has never missed a game since joining the Suns in his rookie season. That streak covers 275 regular-season games and 12 playoff games.

Jim Jackson will start in his place for Friday's Game 3 in Dallas. The series is tied at 1.

www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0512suns-ON-CR.html