enetric wrote:
see I think the problem is you're perhaps simplifying the dichotomy too much. I disagree with your assessment of Joe Johnson's game obviously.
Thats fine, agree to disagree on some of it i guess...
Sure I can concede that over time he has tried to be more of a system player. However I think you're laying it on a bit much about most unselfish player in the league. And I believe his teammates are probably thinking behind the scenes bad enough we got to get trashed in the media not once but twice and the guy who is saying it has literally had me doing jumping jacks to let him know I was open and he didn't pass the ball. maybe not as often as he did in his Atlanta days but still often enough that his comments may not be received with the fire and brimstone jock leadership you and other fans feel pumped up to hear.
See, this is where i disagree... i mean sure, with the suns he was more a off ball catch and shoot guy. but i though his prime in atlanta he played some really outstanding team ball. he always got a rap for playing in isolation, which he did alot of, but he really was always an outstanding and willing passer. A guy taking 16-18 shots a game who dishes out 5-6 assists a game. He was never a black whole and i think the mantra of him getting so many iso's for him has led to a myth that he was some shot jacker, which really was never the case.
And here, that certainly hasnt been the issue. Joe has been finding guys out of the double, out of the post, and on penetration pretty regularly. other then the occasional heat check, you really dont have any "that was a bad shot" moments from joe or "oh he missed that guy in the corner".
you have someone who was a 22/5/5 guy on a perrenial playoff team and #1 option, who came here and without even a single word took a back seat as the third option. he has always been about the team.