Washington vs. Phoenix - game thread

Chaplin

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Originally posted by elindholm
JJ = WOW

In games that don't matter. I'm still reserving judgement until he can do it with the pressure on.

Implies that since the rest of the season is pretty much done, that any kind of good play from JJ "doesn't matter". :rolleyes:

Has he totally turned opinions around? Probably not, no. But what exactly is a game that "matters"?

Elton Brand is a great player, but if you follow that same logic, you have to reserve judgement until he plays in a game that "matters."
 

elindholm

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Implies that since the rest of the season is pretty much done, that any kind of good play from JJ "doesn't matter".

Yes, I've said that before.

But what exactly is a game that "matters"?

A game where, if the team loses, its fans don't say, "That's just as well, it improves our lottery position!"

Elton Brand is a great player, but if you follow that same logic, you have to reserve judgement until he plays in a game that "matters."

To some extent, that's a valid point. However, Brand also plays well at the start of each season, when his team theoretically is in the playoff race. And he also played well in his contract year, when the pressure was on him to command big money.

Basically, with Brand, we don't see a big difference in his play depending on how much pressure is on him. But with Johnson, we certainly do.
 

Chaplin

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Originally posted by elindholm
Implies that since the rest of the season is pretty much done, that any kind of good play from JJ "doesn't matter".

Yes, I've said that before.

But what exactly is a game that "matters"?

A game where, if the team loses, its fans don't say, "That's just as well, it improves our lottery position!"

Elton Brand is a great player, but if you follow that same logic, you have to reserve judgement until he plays in a game that "matters."

To some extent, that's a valid point. However, Brand also plays well at the start of each season, when his team theoretically is in the playoff race. And he also played well in his contract year, when the pressure was on him to command big money.

Basically, with Brand, we don't see a big difference in his play depending on how much pressure is on him. But with Johnson, we certainly do.

Well, his previous inconsistency is definitely a concern, but this past 3 weeks or so have been the best basketball he's ever played since wearing a Suns uniform. It also is better than any stretch that Penny Hardaway ever had. In fact, I think statistically he's playing better than Kobe Bryant right now.

But you're correct, the consistency issue is still a factor. But I'd love to see you walk up to him during the last Spurs game and tell him that. Or the Nuggets.

Another question, and you may be able to answer this, but when was Elton Brand's team in a playoff race? Last year? Wasn't he injured most of last year?
 

slinslin

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Joe Johnson is basically in a contract year as well because he will be eligible for an extension this offseason.
 

Chaplin

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Originally posted by slinslin
Joe Johnson is basically in a contract year as well because he will be eligible for an extension this offseason.

I'm not sure that can be a valid excuse since he didn't play that well before Penny left.
 

JS22

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jeez elindholm,

do you ever have anything positive to say? First you hamper on Lampe (A kid who is 18, and should have just graduated high school!) and now Johnson?

Give Johnson some credit. He is really tearing it up now that he knows he is "the man." And you are saying that these games down count? Did they count a week ago when the suns were putting a winning streak together? Hell, I think people fail to realize that we still havent hit the all-star break yet.

When you are six games out with 40 to go like phoenix was....I wouldnt consider that a dead season. Now, their chances look dim, very dim. But the fact is, is that JJ has had 14 impressive games since Penny stopped being 2 inches behind him.

Give these guys a break.
 

elindholm

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He is really tearing it up now that he knows he is "the man."

But we have seen this before, most conspicuously in this summer's RMR -- when Johnson was among the best players in the "league" -- and exhibition season. And it faded as soon as the pressure was turned up. So why is everyone all excited about it now?
 

ehale911

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Originally posted by elindholm
But we have seen this before, most conspicuously in this summer's RMR -- when Johnson was among the best players in the "league" -- and exhibition season. And it faded as soon as the pressure was turned up. So why is everyone all excited about it now?

Probably because he's doing it against real NBA competetion rather than a bunch of guys who probably won't make it past summer leagues or the preseason.
 

George O'Brien

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Originally posted by elindholm
JJ = WOW

In games that don't matter. I'm still reserving judgement until he can do it with the pressure on.

I think the hardest games are ones where there is nothing at stake. It takes a lot more effort to get "up" for those games. I don't think the issue is the nature of the games but the nature of the defender. Great teams have great defense.

As for the Wizzards game:

The Suns were outrebounded by 18 boards and the Suns made 16 turnovers. Add in the Suns horrible shooting and it is hard to believe they almost won.

I know I sound like a broken record, but Voskuhl and White aren't good enough. The Wizzards had 21 offensive rebounds and 46 points in the paint. White had 9 boards, but could only play 17 minutes due to foul trouble. The Wizzards shot an amazing 47 foul shots (to only 20 by the Suns) and if they had hit more than 60% of them would have blown the Suns away.

What is is about zones that make every Sun think he should be jacking up three's? 6 of 26 against a good rebounding team is STUPID. What are these guys thinking. :confused:

Getting Vujanic next season may be valuable if for no other reason that he seems to be able to actually hit from beyond the arc. Then maybe the Suns can simply forbit Marion from shooting from that distance.

:mad:
 

elindholm

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Probably because he's doing it against real NBA competetion rather than a bunch of guys who probably won't make it past summer leagues or the preseason.

Fair enough. But I think most of us felt that Johnson's failures in the past weren't because he lacked the talent, but because of his frame of mind. In other words, it wasn't his opponents who were holding him back; he was doing it himself. So the quality of opposition may not be the issue with him.
 

jbeecham

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I'm excited about JJ's play over the past 13 games for a couple of reasons:

1) This is the longest streak of good games he's ever had.
2) He's being aggressive every night and looks like the best Suns player on the floor almost every night.
3) He's become a go-to guy and has still put up good numbers while being the guy that defenses try to shut down.
4) He Takes the ball inside better than anyone else on the Suns and usually gets a good shot off.
5) He's also getting teammates involved and has led the team in assists on most nights (he had 9 in the last game).

What I don't like:
1) Amare's been out most of these games, how will JJ do when he is back?
2) JJ has been playing SF (although usually still guarded by the best defender or 2nd best defender on the other team).
3) There really is no pressure because the Suns don't have playoff expectations for this season.


Overall, I'm really excited about JJ's improvement since the trade. I still think he still has a fragile ego and he could lose his confidence, but right now he's playing great and I'm happy about that.
 

George O'Brien

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Originally posted by jbeecham

Overall, I'm really excited about JJ's improvement since the trade. I still think he still has a fragile ego and he could lose his confidence, but right now he's playing great and I'm happy about that.

The longer JJ plays well, but more confident he will be. In any case, I am becoming more and more convinced that he simply did not fit well into Marbury's drive and kick out offense.
 
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