| This Sun Must/Will Rise Authored by J.T. Magee - April 23, 2005 - 4:49 pm
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The Suns sitting atop the best of the west, winning 50 after losing 50.
And it’s all thanks to many reasons.
The players are starting to play under new coach Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense; Steve Nash being given the freedom to create on the perimeter; Amare being able to make highlight reel after highlight reel while establishing himself as a rising superstar, etc, etc.
And thanks to their starting lineup, Phoenix has imposed an all-out fast break offense that caught the league off guard. While the playoffs approach, only one of the Suns’ starting five is playing for a contract that could determine whether he will return to the Phoenix Suns next season: Joe Johnson.
Entering his fourth season, shooting guard Joe Johnson had started to live up to the hype that surrounded him during the spring and early summer of 2001. He is currently averaging career highs in points, rebounds, three-point percentage and field goal percentage, all the while being undetected on the national radar. He has brought his game to another level while his teammates are getting the spotlight.
That won’t matter, though.
Come playoff time, all the great guards step up, generally increased each statistical category while leading their team to victory. But Mr. Johnson is not your traditional shooting guard. Because of the Suns’ decision to go small, Joe has been assigned the task of guarding the opponent’s best shooter. And one thing is different than his previous seasons: he’s excelled on defense. He play’s right up to the player, generally trying not to give his opposition any air to breath. His feet have gotten happier, thus creating more steal opportunities. He has also come around on the offensive end. Instead of taking the unnecessary shot, he can go to any spot behind the three point line and either wait for the ball or create with it for his teammates to get open looks. He has begun to use his previously untapped and inconsistent potential.
Last season, before the deal that would eventually land them Steve Nash, Joe never got the chance to play enough minutes to prove himself. He was always playing behind Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway, never being given the opportunity to show what he was made of, just like he was never given the opportunity to play in Boston. While learning things from one of the best swingmen in the game in Paul Pierce, Johnson was never given a chance due to bad timing and the beginning of the coaching carousel.
Everything has changed now, thanks to Boston’s infatuations for Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk and a title shot. Even though the Boston front office’s taste for Joe Johnson had soured, they soon will realize that it only made the Suns sweeter. Now he can show what he can do off the dribble and off the ball. Now he can play to his strength’s while only raising his value in the free agent market. Now he can show why the Suns were 23-5 when he scored 20+ points. Now he can show why the Suns were 33-9 when shot over 50% from the field. Now he can show why the Suns were 48-10 when he had multiple three point field goals made. Now he is given the chance is show a larger audience who he is, and how he’s going to be one the top free agents in the summer.
Phoenix is one of the rare teams in sports that has become a winner without stretching the salary cap. While Joe is the fourth highest-paid member of the Suns, he is also the fourth lowest on the starting lineup. He rejected a reported deal worth $50 million over six years at the beginning of the season. That decision will soon decide for him that, if he shows other potential buyers, as well as the nation, what he is capable of doing.
Among one of the potential teams that is looking into signing Joe Johnson is Western Conference rival Denver Nuggets. Denver runs a fast-break offense as well, but hasn’t had much success at the shooting guard position. While the likes of Dermarr Johnson, Greg Buckner and Bryon Russell have filled in admirably, they are not what the Nuggets really want to consider as long-term options. They will be one of the teams actively trying to get a big shooting guard, which, unfortunately for General Manager Bryan Coleangelo and co., has Joe Johnson written all their needs.
The expansion Bobcats are another team that may go after him, as well. While their salary cap is smaller than every other NBA team, Bernie Bickerstaff has done an underrated job at acquiring talent for bargain prices while still being able to become a player in the free agency market. Orlando, Chcago and the Los Angeles Clippers have also been rumored to want to pry him away from the Suns. According to Colangelo, Johnson will not wear another uniform other than his number 2 jersey.
Is he right? We will find out once the Sun sets on the playoffs. |
