Whats wrong with Joe?

[615Hawk]

I'm sure everyone has noticed that Joe's numbers haven't been the same. Since the Cleveland game when he had 4, he has had 15 and 18 twice, even though we are winning. It looks like he isn't very confident right now. What do you guys think?

[WraithSentinel]

Injured toe and teammates stepping up.

[tonegully]

as long as we win, i dont care if Joe average 10 pts if we are getting Ws

[DrReality]

The toe worries me. they seem to linger once they become a problem. But other guys have stepped up. Glad to see that. And we will have the Smoove Man back this week. Can't wait.

[Peoriabird]

I'm sure everyone has noticed that Joe's numbers haven't been the same. Since the Cleveland game when he had 4, he has had 15 and 18 twice, even though we are winning. It looks like he isn't very confident right now. What do you guys think?

He is a jump shooter! You expect inconsistent play from jump shooters. He played like this last year in the 1st 2/3rds of the season. I just wish the offense wasn't centered around him so much. I seems as though everyone gets upset when Joe is not leading us in scoring including the announcers which is silly to me. For example against the Wizard last night, Bibby was 6 for 6 from the field in the 1st half and we were leading by 10 but the coaching staff was disappointed that Joe didn't get enough shots. The side line reporter stated that the coaching staff wanted Joe to get more touches in the second half so we went to a lot of Iso Joe offense and you know what happened, the Wizards tied the game down the stretch. It is time for everyone to realize that we play better on offense as a team. We have enough offensive talent to spread the wealth and not force the ball to one player every offensive set.

[exodus]

He is a jump shooter! You expect inconsistent play from jump shooters. He played like this last year in the 1st 2/3rds of the season. I just wish the offense wasn't centered around him so much. I seems as though everyone gets upset when Joe is not leading us in scoring including the announcers which is silly to me. For example against the Wizard last night, Bibby was 6 for 6 from the field in the 1st half and we were leading by 10 but the coaching staff was disappointed that Joe didn't get enough shots. The side line reporter stated that the coaching staff wanted Joe to get more touches in the second half so we went to a lot of Iso Joe offense and you know what happened, the Wizards tied the game down the stretch. It is time for everyone to realize that we play better on offense as a team. We have enough offensive talent to spread the wealth and not force the ball to one player every offensive set.

The Hawks were up 14 when Flip came into the game and that is when the momentum quickly vanished. The Hawks have hit cold spells in the 2nd halves of the last two games right when Flip was playing.

[615Hawk]

I think Flip is hot or cold..and when he is cold he shoots the ball more than when he is hitting..i agree that we have offensive tallent especially if Josh comes back strong..but this stretch coming up we need Joe to be playing his best ball not relying on everybody else..he needs to drive more and even though the refs wont give him a call for anything he needs to get to the line more..we have enough talent for the Wiz and the Bucks but we need our star to show up to beat the good teams..maybe he will get some rest for his toe and go off for like 45 Wednesday!

[Peoriabird]

I think Flip is hot or cold..and when he is cold he shoots the ball more than when he is hitting..

Flip needs to play less than he does period and Acie more. Shouldn't be a problem when Josh gets back.

i agree that we have offensive tallent especially if Josh comes back strong.

That depends on how josh Smith approches the game. If he focuses on rebounds and being set up for dunks, he would definantly add offensively. If he comes back as a three point specialist or as the point guard trying to cross people over, he would be a negative.

but this stretch coming up we need Joe to be playing his best ball not relying on everybody else..

Joe just needs to focus on what he does best and let the game come to him and nothing else!

he needs to drive more and even though the refs wont give him a call for anything he needs to get to the line more..

I guess you think if you say it enough, Joe will eventually take your advise and do it. For some reason, I don't think that he is listening.

we have enough talent for the Wiz and the Bucks but we need our star to show up to beat the good teams..maybe he will get some rest for his toe and go off for like 45 Wednesday!

No, we need Joe to be smart with the ball and stop going one on 3. He seems to want to take those couple extra dribbles when the double team comes which gets him in trouble resulting in a bad shot or turnover. It is total nonsense to think that Joe has to score half of our points for us to win. Defense, rebounding and limiting turnovers is the key to winning my friend. And the key to efficient scoring is ball movement.

[TruJerz]

I'm sure everyone has noticed that Joe's numbers haven't been the same. Since the Cleveland game when he had 4, he has had 15 and 18 twice, even though we are winning. It looks like he isn't very confident right now. What do you guys think?

i dont think its about his confidence. i heard he is playing a little banged up and that may very much be the reason for his decreased scoring but as long as we win, it doesnt matter how much he scores. i just hope the injury isnt serious and doesnt keep him out for any games..we dont play again until Wed against the Grizz. if he doesnt feel better than maybe he should sit out for that game at least. We get JSmooth back on Wed i think so we will have some help.

also JJ is a shooter and his shot isnt falling like it was in the beginning of the season but u have to know that shooters have their nights. maybe his toe is making it harder to shoot well but we dont know for sure..we'll see how he does on Wednesday

[Wurider05]

No, we need Joe to be smart with the ball and stop going one on 3. He seems to want to take those couple extra dribbles when the double team comes which gets him in trouble resulting in a bad shot or turnover. It is total nonsense to think that Joe has to score half of our points for us to win. Defense, rebounding and limiting turnovers is the key to winning my friend. And the key to efficient scoring is ball movement.

I think that that is a very good point that I was going to make. I think that as long as we win. JJ is our superstar but he doesn't need to try to prove that at the expense of out team. I mean it is obvious that he is hurting right now but there is no way he should be logging 40+ minutes a game. Let someone get some of that shine (Marvin, Bibby, Smoove, etc). We are not the same team we were last year or the year before. I just don't like this notion that JJ has to "get his" in order for us to win. I would rather have a team that can hurt you many ways that one that can hurt you one way. We have to consider the fact that he may get injured and that we have to start getting plays ran for other guys instead of the JJ isolation play that we do 90% of the time. I really believe that JJ is the only player that Woody really trusts.

[gsuteke]

I used to think JJ was primarily a jumpshooter as well but he really does drive in the lane and shoot a good number of runners. He's certainly not a finisher in the lane near the rim, especially in traffic so that lends credence to the jumpshooter misconception.

The one thing about Joe is his FG%. There's alot of nights Joe shoot something along the lines of 6-17. In the past it sunk the Hawks. This year the team is finding a way to win when Joe shoots a poor % from the floor. The past few years that never would have happened.

[Peoriabird]

There's alot of nights Joe shoot something along the lines of 6-17. In the past it sunk the Hawks. This year the team is finding a way to win when Joe shoots a poor % from the floor. The past few years that never would have happened.

Well here is an Idea, give some of those shots to someone else who is shooting a higher percentage which would be every other starter. Joe will find that his shooting percentage would improve if he passed the ball a little more and I am not talking about just to set players up for a shot. Joe dribble way to much and it is time that the coaching staff told the truth during the film sessions. In fact Mo Evan says this all of the time, "when we move the ball, we get good shots and shoot a high percentage."

[615Hawk]

Joe is leading the team in assists..I think when Joe comes out of this slump we will be a much better team..

[Admin]

Wow it sure hasn't taken long for the worm to turn here. This is the same thing that was discussed last year when he got injured and he wasn't looking like an MVP candidate. Right now his toe is bothering him and I'd have to imagine that is affecting every area of his game. Once he gets healthy he'll be fine.

I absolutely DO NOT think it's a confidence thing with Joe.

[HawkItus]

come on guys, without Joe on the floor the shots others are getting wouldn't be as open as they are. It's the Bibby situation from last year. He wasn't 100%, but just his presence made others better. Joe is the same, but like 10x's more important.

[hawkman]

Wow it sure hasn't taken long for the worm to turn here. This is the same thing that was discussed last year when he got injured and he wasn't looking like an MVP candidate. Right now his toe is bothering him and I'd have to imagine that is affecting every area of his game. Once he gets healthy he'll be fine.

I absolutely DO NOT think it's a confidence thing with Joe.

Dolf, this is the Hawks fanbase at its finest. A hurt toe hinders your ability to stop and cut. People forget that a lot of Joe's game is based on hesitation moves and changing speeds. He can't do that now and you can tell by his play as of late. His toe is the reason he looks off balance on some of his shots. His toe is the reason he's not driving to the basket for his patented runner like he was earlier in the season. I wish for once that the fans of this team could stand by their superstar/stars. You would think that JJ has earned a pass by now. What's the matter with some of you?

[Peoriabird]

Joe is leading the team in assists..I think when Joe comes out of this slump we will be a much better team..

He also leads the team in turnovers with an assist to turnover ratio behind both Acie Law and Mike Bibby. Horford is a close 4th with Marvin not to far behind a 5 amongst players that get significant minutes. Look, No one is saying that Joe is not a star player on this team, He just needs to have a different mind set this year. We need fewer one on one plays from him and more ball movement, that's all!

[Traceman]

He also leads the team in turnovers with an assist to turnover ratio behind both Acie Law and Mike Bibby. Horford is a close 4th with Marvin not to far behind a 5 amongst players that get significant minutes. Look, No one is saying that Joe is not a star player on this team, He just needs to have a different mind set this year. We need fewer one on one plays from him and more ball movement, that's all!

The man has a sprained toe yet he is still playing big minutes and finding a way to have an impact on the game and help us win. It is CLEAR that he is not moving nearly as well on offense or defense since his injury just as it was clear that Horford wasn't moving as well for the first couple of games after his injury. JJ will be back to his All Star self once he gets healthy. Period. In the meantime, I'm just glad that he is enough of a warrior to gut it out and give us what he can.

[macdaddy]

Joe

Saw this link. We need to get Joe driving to the basket more. Right now he's definitely being a playmaker.

Joe Johnson is unequivocally one of the NBA's top players -- and the centerpiece of my fantasy team, the Pit Bulz on Krak* -- so why doesn't he get star treatment? In the NBA's celebritocracy, that translates to more phantom foul calls and more trips to the free-throw line. (And more creepy photos of you while you're sleeping, apparently.) The AJC's Sekou Smith argues that a scorer of Joe's caliber ought to be getting more calls:

Of the top 10 scorers in the league - Johnson ranks eighth with 24 points per night - he and San Antonio point guard Tony Parker average the fewest free throw attempts (5.4). Others like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and even New Jersey's Devin Harris average more than twice as many.

But our pal Tom Ziller over at FanHouse sees it differently. Johnson is such a good perimeter shooter, Ziller argues, that he doesn't drive the basket enough, which is where all those calls come from:

The real reason for J.J.'s relatively low number of FTAs? He doesn't attack the rim nearly as much as the others. According to NBA.com's Hot Spots data, 46.5% of Johnson's FGAs this season have come near the basket, while the other 53.5% are taken at least 15 feet from the basket. Harris, on the other hand, takes 58.6% of his shots near the hoop, and only 41.4% from distance.

Good point. The Hawks also run a ball-distribution offense, which for the most part means Johnson doesn't have to shoulder the entire load himself, DWade-style. Then again, it could just be Joe's sadly boring name -- he needs to change it to Dontravi'us Johnson or something cool like that.

*-Hey, shut up. It's a keeper league, and I've had the same name since 1993, when goofy spellings were, you know, kewl.

Posted by Jay Busbee at 11/26/2008 03:43:13 PM |

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Dolf, this is the Hawks fanbase at its finest. A hurt toe hinders your ability to stop and cut. People forget that a lot of Joe's game is based on hesitation moves and changing speeds. He can't do that now and you can tell by his play as of late. His toe is the reason he looks off balance on some of his shots. His toe is the reason he's not driving to the basket for his patented runner like he was earlier in the season. I wish for once that the fans of this team could stand by their superstar/stars. You would think that JJ has earned a pass by now. What's the matter with some of you?

I would say something, but . . . ummm . . you know. I'll just say that I co-sign this post.