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By HOWARD BECK
Published: May 28, 2005
SAN ANTONIO, May 27 - There is no certainty that a thin plastic shield can protect a fractured face, or that the player wearing the shield can prevent a broken season. The Phoenix Suns can only hope so. Joe Johnson can only try.
The fast-breaking, score-happy Suns have hit a critical juncture in their storybook season, and their fate may depend on what Johnson can do from behind his translucent mask.
Johnson was the Suns' top 3-point shooter and their best perimeter defender until May 11, when he fell face first to the court and fractured the orbital bone near his left eye.
The accident could have ended Johnson's season. Instead, 17 days after he fell, he is returning to the Suns' starting lineup, just in time to save their season.
The Suns trail the San Antonio Spurs, 2-0, in the Western Conference finals. So far, the defense-savvy Spurs have also been the better offensive team, winning a pair of high-scoring games on the road.
But Johnson will be back in the Suns' starting lineup for Game 3 here Saturday night, and his presence could be enough to alter the balance of power.
"Joe has had an unbelievable season for them, and we understand what he brings to the table for that team," Spurs guard Brent Barry said. "It could be a big emotional lift, one that they need right now."
No N.B.A. team has ever won a series after trailing by 3-0, so there is no overstating the importance of Saturday's game at the SBC Center. Nor is there any doubt that the talented and versatile Johnson, if confident and healthy, could change the course of the series.
Since losing Johnson, the Suns have used a seven-man rotation. Coach Mike D'Antoni has been forced to rely on his starters, routinely squeezing 40 minute a game from his stars, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.
Johnson's return will allow the Suns to move Jim Jackson back to the bench, giving Phoenix more depth. The Suns can use the 6-foot-7 Johnson to chase and bully Spurs point guard Tony Parker, giving Nash a break on defense.
Johnson has also been the Suns' best backup point guard, which means Nash - averaging a team-high 43 minutes in the series - may actually get to rest for a few more minutes the rest of the way.
If all of that sounds like a lot to ask of a player who had reconstructive surgery on his face two weeks ago, and just had stitches removed from his mouth Friday, Johnson does not sound fazed.
"I don't feel any pressure at all," Johnson said Friday in Phoenix, after going through his second straight practice.
He is still adjusting to the plastic mask, which causes him to sweat more. But Johnson, who shot .478 from 3-point range during the regular season, said the mask would not affect his shooting touch, or his psyche.
"Nothing is going to change if you have a mask on," Johnson said, later adding, "I am not worried about my face."
Although the ledger does not reflect it, the series has been played to Phoenix's strengths. The games have been up-tempo, with the Spurs winning by 121-114 and by 111-108. San Antonio, which held opponents to 88.4 points a game this season, prefers a more methodical pace.
"I don't think either team is playing very good defense, and we're both scoring," Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said. "We happen to have scored a few more points. So we've been the fortunate ones so far."
San Antonio's defensive prowess and steady demeanor has come through in the final minutes of the first two games. The Spurs have made most of the clutch plays, including 3-pointers from Barry or offensive rebounds from Robert Horry.
But the Suns, who won 62 games this season by scoring at will, have generally maintained their offensive posture. Phoenix is shooting 52 percent in the series, with Stoudemire averaging 39 points a game and Nash adding 29.
Popovich could only marvel at the Suns' pick-and-roll partners, comparing them to the former Utah stars John Stockton and Karl Malone - among other great tandems.
"They're making Stockton and Malone look like Laurel and Hardy out there," Popovich said. "And those two were the best in my opinion for a long time. We're supposed to be a pretty good defensive club and they're carving us up. So it's a big concern, but we haven't figured it out obviously."
Original Article
Published: May 28, 2005
SAN ANTONIO, May 27 - There is no certainty that a thin plastic shield can protect a fractured face, or that the player wearing the shield can prevent a broken season. The Phoenix Suns can only hope so. Joe Johnson can only try.
The fast-breaking, score-happy Suns have hit a critical juncture in their storybook season, and their fate may depend on what Johnson can do from behind his translucent mask.
Johnson was the Suns' top 3-point shooter and their best perimeter defender until May 11, when he fell face first to the court and fractured the orbital bone near his left eye.
The accident could have ended Johnson's season. Instead, 17 days after he fell, he is returning to the Suns' starting lineup, just in time to save their season.
The Suns trail the San Antonio Spurs, 2-0, in the Western Conference finals. So far, the defense-savvy Spurs have also been the better offensive team, winning a pair of high-scoring games on the road.
But Johnson will be back in the Suns' starting lineup for Game 3 here Saturday night, and his presence could be enough to alter the balance of power.
"Joe has had an unbelievable season for them, and we understand what he brings to the table for that team," Spurs guard Brent Barry said. "It could be a big emotional lift, one that they need right now."
No N.B.A. team has ever won a series after trailing by 3-0, so there is no overstating the importance of Saturday's game at the SBC Center. Nor is there any doubt that the talented and versatile Johnson, if confident and healthy, could change the course of the series.
Since losing Johnson, the Suns have used a seven-man rotation. Coach Mike D'Antoni has been forced to rely on his starters, routinely squeezing 40 minute a game from his stars, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion.
Johnson's return will allow the Suns to move Jim Jackson back to the bench, giving Phoenix more depth. The Suns can use the 6-foot-7 Johnson to chase and bully Spurs point guard Tony Parker, giving Nash a break on defense.
Johnson has also been the Suns' best backup point guard, which means Nash - averaging a team-high 43 minutes in the series - may actually get to rest for a few more minutes the rest of the way.
If all of that sounds like a lot to ask of a player who had reconstructive surgery on his face two weeks ago, and just had stitches removed from his mouth Friday, Johnson does not sound fazed.
"I don't feel any pressure at all," Johnson said Friday in Phoenix, after going through his second straight practice.
He is still adjusting to the plastic mask, which causes him to sweat more. But Johnson, who shot .478 from 3-point range during the regular season, said the mask would not affect his shooting touch, or his psyche.
"Nothing is going to change if you have a mask on," Johnson said, later adding, "I am not worried about my face."
Although the ledger does not reflect it, the series has been played to Phoenix's strengths. The games have been up-tempo, with the Spurs winning by 121-114 and by 111-108. San Antonio, which held opponents to 88.4 points a game this season, prefers a more methodical pace.
"I don't think either team is playing very good defense, and we're both scoring," Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said. "We happen to have scored a few more points. So we've been the fortunate ones so far."
San Antonio's defensive prowess and steady demeanor has come through in the final minutes of the first two games. The Spurs have made most of the clutch plays, including 3-pointers from Barry or offensive rebounds from Robert Horry.
But the Suns, who won 62 games this season by scoring at will, have generally maintained their offensive posture. Phoenix is shooting 52 percent in the series, with Stoudemire averaging 39 points a game and Nash adding 29.
Popovich could only marvel at the Suns' pick-and-roll partners, comparing them to the former Utah stars John Stockton and Karl Malone - among other great tandems.
"They're making Stockton and Malone look like Laurel and Hardy out there," Popovich said. "And those two were the best in my opinion for a long time. We're supposed to be a pretty good defensive club and they're carving us up. So it's a big concern, but we haven't figured it out obviously."
Original Article
