Raja Bell: The Anti-Joe Johnson

[Arizona's Finest]

It is well documented that my appreciation for Joe Johnson was enough that even his own mother would blush at some of the positive things I said about the guy when he was on our team. I still love the kid as a player and it was a joy to watch a player that held little value to another team, blossom into an All-Star caliber player in his years here. So saying all this, I think Joe has a chance to be a good/great player in this league and good luck to him on the Hawks.

But good riddance.

Not because we got a player who I think has a chance to be MUCH better than Joe in Boris (who has taken the role of fav Suns player for me). Not because we got a couple draft picks that could turn into a couple of big name lottery picks down the road. Not even because we saved a ton of money and got back a more than comparable replacement at 1/10 value.

No the best part about losing Joe was the guy who replaced him. Not the guy from Atlanta. The one from Utah. When Joe missed the conference finals last year, many of us were wondering how bad he was milking that orbital bone fracture. Part of me believes that the main reason he left is because he didn’t feel the Suns staff supported his desire to rest the injury more. What I now know is that Joe, as wonderfully skilled as he is, is a different type of player than Raja. While Joe wanted to make sure his bone (on his FACE!) was completely healed for his foray into free agency, Raja – with a much more hampering injury that would get progressively worse as he played on it – decided his team and its goals were more important and gave us everything he had. That action alone might propel our beloved team into the Finals and allow us to have our full complement of players in a best of three series against a team I think we are better than. Raja is one of the best signings in Suns free agent history, and I have yet to see a player sin Sir Charles have his personality rub off on a team more than Bell has done here. And I love him for it.

You are the man Raja. You can be the starting two guard on my team every day of the week. A no- nonsense, three point shooting defensive minded bulldog is exactly what this team needed and kudos to the Suns for identifying that. I believe D’Antoni was making a thinly veiled reference to Joe when he said “ Life has a way of healing injuries to warriors faster…..”

In Bell we have a warrior……and a full year later, I finally have some closure that we are missing nothing without JJ and his tissue soft game

 

[ozzfloyd]

I could not agree more. Raja has so much more heart than JJ it's not even close. I was pissed last year that JJ took so long to come back, what with the mask and all there was little chance of further injury, just a puss if you ask me.

 

[AZZenny]

OK, I never was a huge Joe fan -- but in his defense -- fractured orbital bone gets knocked hard, perhaps it injures the eye, or more likely, pinches a nerve or damages the muscles immediately surrounding the eye -- which can be a definite career-ender.

Coming back when he did (I believe he had a minor concussion too, didn't he? That takes a little time) was just as ballsy as Raja -- the difference I think was the WAY they each did it. Joe was hesitant and a bit...er...defensive/whiny. Raja on the other hand had his agent tell D'Antoni they'd have to kill Bell to keep him from playing. Joe was in a contract situation, so that added to everyone's paranoia about his motivations.

That said, I am totally ecstatic the way the trade worked out. Diaw is a star in the making, and Raja is the MAN.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Iavaroni was on the radio this morning talking about the opening play the Suns use this year compared to last year.

He said the play that they used last year usually ended up in a JJ jumpshot, while the opening play this year usually ends up in a Shawn Marion ally-oop.

When asked why the plays had such a different result, he said--very candidly--because of the type of player Joe Johnson is. He said that JJ is NOT a distributor and much more likely to take the shot himself. He was not inclined to make a "risky" pass inside to Marion or Amare.

He was not trying to be critical of JJ, just trying to describe different styles of play.

 

[playstation]

is there really any doubt that if amare had come back healthy in march, this team would pretty much be cake-walking to their 1st title? i mean the lakers, clippers, mavs, and heat? with amare and these guys? are you kidding me?

you thought last year was like watching a live action video game, wait till next year.

 

[playstation]

Iavaroni was on the radio this morning talking about the opening play the Suns use this year compared to last year.

He said the play that they used last year usually ended up in a JJ jumpshot, while the opening play this year usually ends up in a Shawn Marion ally-oop.

When asked why the plays had such a different result, he said--very candidly--because of the type of player Joe Johnson is. He said that JJ is NOT a distributor and much more likely to take the shot himself. He was not inclined to make a "risky" pass inside to Marion or Amare.

He was not trying to be critical of JJ, just trying to describe different styles of play.

ain't that the truth. we all remember countless times that JJ just didn't get it in to amare on the pick n roll even though it was there...

again, not hatin on jj, still a great player, would love to have him on my team, but as a whole, JJ+Q for 50 games of KT, 40 games of TT, Jones, Diaw, and increased minutes for Bell is something I pull the trigger on. 2 extra draft picks at this point are just gravy.

 

[myrondizzo]

joe was medically cleared for play and came back 2-3 games later. his complaints were about the discomfort of the mask. the training staff wasnt sure about bell being able to play but he forced them to let him play.

 

[nurnay]

is there really any doubt that if amare had come back healthy in march, this team would pretty much be cake-walking to their 1st title?

I don't even want to think about it that way (although I do all the time). Let's just do it without him this year and repeat next year with him!

 

[TucsonDevil]

AZ Finest - I was thinking the same thing last night when they showed JJ going down, and then showed Bell going down. To be honest, I'm not sure I liked JJ all that much in the first place. That trade with Atlanta is going to go down in History... sort of like "Sam Bowie" being drafted #2 in front of #23.

 

[jibikao]

I hardly miss JJ and Q. Give me Bell and Diaw (and TT). All 3 of them have hit BIG BIG BIG shots.

 

[BillsCarnage]

One of the things the Suns wanted to do last off season was get smarter as a team. I'd say the definately did that with this group of players and Diaw and Bell are at the top of that list.