JJ an All-Star Reserve

[CAM]

Johnson said he was informed before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers that he would be making his second straight trip to the NBA All-Star Game, which is next month in New Orleans. He will represent the Eastern Conference as a reserve, chosen by the Eastern Conference coaches.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sport ... _0131.html

Wow. Didn't expect this to happen. But congrats to Joe, now lets get the team back up and winning some games with energy and enthusiasm.

STAY POSITIVE GUYS, WE ARE STILL IN THE PLAYOFFS (as easy as that is in the east)

Go Hawks.

[HoopsGuru25]

I don't understand how the coaches chose him this year and not last year especially when it seems like competition for that spot is tougher this year. Joe doesn't really deserve this..he hasnt' played like an all-star. Hopefully it's because he is playing through pain and not using it as an excuse like alot of other players. Some player(Butler,Jamison,or Pierce probably)is really going to get snubbed. I'm not even sure that Joe deserves to make it over Josh.

[Jjforprez]

I don't understand how the coaches chose him this year and not last year especially when it seems like competition for that spot is tougher this year. Joe doesn't really deserve this..he hasnt' played like an all-star. Hopefully it's because he is playing through pain and not using it as an excuse like alot of other players. Some player(Butler,Jamison,or Pierce probably)is really going to get snubbed. I'm not even sure that Joe deserves to make it over Josh.

Me either.... this is a surprise. But I'm glad to see a Hawk get recognized. I just hope this doesn't deflate Josh... I'm sure he feels if they were going to choose a Hawk, he could have been just as deserving as Joe.

[atlsun]

Good for joe, but I cant bring myself to care.




I just dont care. Team is losing yo.

[evildallas]

I think Josh is more deserving than Joe this season based on overall play with defense being the real separator. I think they both should have received consideration from the coaches but ultimately neither should have made the final cut (based mainly on the performance of the competition). I think they both have room to play a lot better than they have and the team as a whole isn't among the upper half of the conference. However, I won't argue with some recognition for a Hawk however since we have the least televised exposure of about any team in the East. The members of the team can use any recognition that they get because they toil in relative anonymity. Good luck in the game Joe.

[HoopsGuru25]

OK the starters are going to be Kidd/Wade/LBJ/KG/Dwight

The players off the bench most likely to go are
Bosh(seems like a lock)
Pierce(seems like a lock)
Butler(seems like a lock)
backup center(Haywood,Z,Okafor,Shaq legacy vote maybe)
Billups(seems like a lock)
Jamison(you would think hes gotta be in if Joe is)
Joe if the article is true.

That means Calderon is going to be this years snub. Hedo and Hamilton can also make cases. Looking back I can see why Joe made it. He's not having a better year... but I can see why a coaches instincts would just tell him to pick Joe over Calderon. Plus the other 3 closest candidates(Hedo,Rip,Calderon)all have other all-stars reprsenting their team.

[Jjforprez]

This really just shows how little attention is paid to the Hawks. Cause if any of those coaches actually watched the Hawks, they'd have picked Josh if they were going to pick a Hawk at all.... He just does so much more for this team. He impacts the game.... he's the only defense we've got most nights, his assists are always up there, and if he doesn't bring the energy flying all over the place, nobody else does. Joe really is one dimensional for this team. He scores, and if you double him you can pretty much shut him down... occassionally he has good assist numbers, but they don't usually come from aggressive play on his part. I love the guy, but I just need to see that will coming from our leader. Just one game where he shows me he's determined not to let his team lose. But again.... congrats to him. We'll take recognition where we can get it.

[reazun]

yeah this guy thinks he should make it.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=7049

I remember Kenny Smith mentioned on his blog that he thinks Joe should be an all-star this year. Im glad for him.

[Raptors90102]

No offense guys, but thats a bad selection on part of the coaches.

If Joe got voted in, this means probably 3 players out of Jamison/Rip/Calderon/Hedo are getting the snub. Heck, it could be all 4 if somehow the coaches voted Ray Allen in. I don't agree with picking Joe over any of the above mentioned 4 guys. Statistically, he's having a bad year when compared to his last, the team record is way below .500, and he's not the best player on Atlanta.. if they had to pick an Atlanta player, it shud have been Smith.

I guess I can't blame the coaches, some of them really seem like idiots. Milwaukee coach actually voted in for RASHARD LEWIS as one of his forwards. What a bummer.

[JoshB914]

None taken, Raptors. Almost everyone on this board woulld agree with you.

Is this a joke? Seriously have any of these coaches watched JJ play this season?

[Skyhawk1]

Man, there's no way in the world they should select him. I love the guy and have huge respect for him for all he represents for the Hawks, but he's been playing way below all-star level for most of the season. I'm shocked.

[tontoz]

Cause if any of those coaches actually watched the Hawks, they'd have picked Josh if they were going to pick a Hawk at all....

Smith is a forward not a guard. The competition at guard is much weaker, especially shooting guard.

Definitely a surprise though.

[HoopsGuru25]

I don't think there is a specific backup SG spot. The coaches just vote on the top two reserve guards,top two reserve forwards,top reserve center,and two wild cards(which I suspect will be Butler and Jamison). There's no way Joe "deserves" to be in over Calderon or Hamilton. I think the coaches just gave it to Joe because Calderon and Hamilton already had other players representing their teams. If Ray Allen and Joe made it....then that means there will be two snubs(but that's not likely).

[tontoz]

Calderon and Hamilton already had other players representing their teams.

That has to be the reason JJ got in.

But the idea that Smith should go in before JJ doesn't really make sense because JJ is a guard and Smith is a forward. They are competing against different players.

[DirtybirdGA]

What are these so called coaches smokin?

[UGA Hayes]

I like Joe, but this may be the worst all star selection ever made outside of Magloire. First, Joe has not even been the best player on his team as it has been Josh by a mile, and second his numbers this year are horrible. If you put his numbers by Turkoglu they are worse, and not even hedo numbers are really all star worthy

[jentoniodavis]

I love JJ and I don't think he should make it either.

He's having a down year AND his team is losing. I 'm thinking last year's coaches gavev him an I.O.U

[Joe Kleazy]

WOW, reading the article Joe seems like a good humble leader to me. Not mentioning his selection because he was focused on winning the game and crediting his team for his success.

While Joe's stats are lower from last year it is due to the other guys getting better and him attracting double teams now.


BY the responses in this thread it is no wonder why ATL has not been able to progress like they should, it is a pure trajedy how you complain in a situation like this. The last allstar you have had was what mutombo or nique?

Josh will be a allstar soon enough and there is no doubt about that but the complaints are wack. Success as a franchise starts at the fanbase and your support for a guy that believed in you team when no one else would touch it is piss poor.

He is leading the team in scoring and your team while under .500 is in the playoffs hunt as we head into the allstar break.

[conleyorbust]

Joe really is one dimensional for this team. He scores, and if you double him you can pretty much shut him down... occassionally he has good assist numbers, but they don't usually come from aggressive play on his part. I love the guy, but I just need to see that will coming from our leader. Just one game where he shows me he's determined not to let his team lose. But again.... congrats to him. We'll take recognition where we can get it.

I don't know why but I loved this part of your post... I gues it was the part where you called him out and then said, "But again.... congrats to him."

Calderon should have gone, he's awsome. BK should have done something about making that man a Hawk this past summer.

[evildallas]

I'm pretty sure Bosh gets selected as the backup C not a less deserving legacy. That opens up a F spot for another deserving candidate.

Wouldn't Calderon only be the second Raptor after Bosh? However I see him getting left out because he was a backup for part of the season (14 games). I think Hedo gets snubbed in spite of a great season.

While I don't think JJ should have made the cut, I don't think it is one of the worst choices ever or even probably the worst this year. I expect Ray Allen made the cut on rep and his performance hasn't been up to snuff either although team success gives a bonus push.