Dejected Deron Williams. (AP)
Joe Johnson (AP)
AP
To say that Brooklyn Nets basketball has suffered without Joe Johnson on the court would be an understatement. At times, they've looked like a lottery team: sloppy, underwhelming and disappointing. with Johnson on the court, the Nets are +3.5 per 100 possessions, best of any player on the roster. With him off the court, they're a -4.3 -- the worst of any off-court player on the roster.
The Nets have taken their time with Johnson, unwilling to rush him back too early with the playoffs right around the corner. "I am alright," Johnson said after the game. "I'm maybe a little limited on some of the things I can do out there on the court, but the guys and the coaches are telling me that my presence being out there makes the difference. So I'm giving all I got."
Johnson, who missed five games with a quad contusion and is also shaking off a sore heel, says it's not something he thinks will linger.
“It is actually getting better," Johnson told reporters after the game. "Slowly, but I'm just doing the necessary things to really stay on it by icing it and stim to try and make it feel better each and everyday.”
"My only concern with Joe is the time and his health," Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo said after the game. "If he’s able to recover from his injury in a timely manner, that would be great. We need Joe Johnson and his big shots."
Joe Johnson has been the Nets closer this year, hitting a barrage of game-winners and playing solid man defense. With just six games remaining in the regular season, the Nets seem locked into the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference. A possible playoff matchup with the Chicago Bulls looms -- a series that the Bulls won 3-1 this year -- and if they want any chance of moving on to the next round, they'll need Johnson 100%.
AP
The 43-32 Brooklyn Nets take on the 76-0 18-58 Charlotte Bobcats tonight in Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Here's three things to watch.... MORE →
Joe Johnson (AP)
Johnson, a veteran to crunch time play, had some advice for the 25-year-old Lopez.... MORE →
The Nets went to Brook Lopez late vs. Chicago. (AP)
Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson and forward Gerald Wallace are both game-time decisions tonight against the Chicago Bulls, according to the Nets.
Johnson has missed the last five games since suffering a quad contusion against the Los Angeles Clippers, using the time off to also rest his sore heel. Wallace, who arrived at Barclays Center around 3:30, has a sore left foot that kept him out Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Bulls have even bigger injury issues: along with playing without star point guard and former MVP Derrick Rose all season, they'll also be without center Joakim Noah, forward Taj Gibson, guard Rip Hamilton, and swingman Marco Belinelli.
The Nets are back home in Brooklyn tonight for the first time since March 17th, going 5-3 on their eight-game, 17-day road trip.
With just twelve games left in their inaugural season in New York City, the Brooklyn Nets have clinched a playoff spot and are on their way to somewhere between the third and sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. They've got a talented enough roster to beat most teams in the East (the Miami Heat excluded -- sorry), but have struggled with inconsistency this season: an 11-4 start followed by a 3-10 collapse followed by a coach firing followed by a 12-3 start to the interim coach's career... you get the idea. It's been a roller coaster.
But: there is the potential for a smooth ride into the playoffs. Here are five things the Brooklyn Nets can improve on heading into their first postseason in Brooklyn.
| Start Here: 1 of 5 |
News out of Brooklyn Nets practice today was that guard Joe Johnson as well as forward Gerald Wallace did not participate due to injuries.
Johnson was unable to practice due to the right quad contusion suffered against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. When asked whether or not he would play the Nets' final three games of their current road trip, Johnson responded "I don't know, man, to be honest with you." He is listed as day-to-day.
Wallace, who missed the practice with two sore feet, told The NY Post that he will play Wednesday night in Portland.
The Nets have four games remaining on their 8-game "circus road trip." They return home to face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, April 4th.
A day after defeating (read: surviving) the Phoenix Suns, 102-100, the Brooklyn Nets stayed in Phoenix on Monday to model for "player rendering" of 2K Sports next basketball game. The latest edition, NBA 2K13, was "Executive Produced by Jay-Z," because of course it was.
Joe Johnson did an interview afterwards to talk about the photo shoot and his gaming experience. The Nets starting shooting guard and video game aficionado said 2K13 was "all he played," adding that his virtual Nets were "working on a three-peat," as they had already completed two seasons in the game and won the championship both times. (Suck on that, digital LeBron.)
Johnson has been a gamer from an early age, stating that his first basketball video game was "Double Dribble," an original Nintendo Entertainment System game released in 1986. JJ had some advice for anyone (read: Hipsters) that still plays the NES game. "I think anybody knows who plays Double Dribble, you shoot from the corner, off glass, it's going in every time."
While a fan on the early games, Iso-Joe has been impressed with the progress in gaming since the days of 8-bit graphics. "Technology has gotten crazy since Double Dribble, obviously. It's a lot more freelance, hands on, you got a lot more control; and the graphics are crazy now. It's definitely a big jump from when I first started playing."
Asked if he could play Joe Johnson's game on the virtual court as he does in the real world, Johnson said, "I had to make a couple tweaks and adjustments, but I can get it to where I'm OK with it."
Video: - - 2K Sports Photoshoot - Joe Johnson Interview (Video) - Ben Couch - Brooklyn Nets
Tipoff at 9. (AP)
Tonight: The 40-29 Brooklyn Nets will be halfway done with their Circus Trip tonight, taking on the 23-47 Phoenix Suns at 9:00 P.M. EST at US Airways Center in Phoenix. The Suns have dropped two straight to the Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively; the Nets won their first two games of their road trip against the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks before dropping last night's contest against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The BK Game Streak: Play "The BK Game Streak," where you can build a streak of wins along the betting line over the course of the season. Three prizes will be awarded at the end of the year, with first prize a $200 Amazon Gift Card. Log in with Facebook to get started, vote in the box above, and good luck !
Watch & Listen: Tonight's game is broadcast on YES Network. Chris Carrino and Mike Fratello are on the call. The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.
More on tonight's game, including injuries and stats, after the jump... MORE →
After suffering a quad contusion Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson will sit out against tonight his former team, the Phoenix Suns. Nets guard Keith Bogans will start in his place.
Though I've touted Bogans here many times as the preeminent fourth-fifth option on this team, I'm concerned about playing him with two other offensive liabilities in Reggie Evans and Gerald Wallace. Bogans is best when he's able to hide away from the team's most effective scorers and get open threes; with Wallace struggling to score and Evans struggling to dribble, Bogans might be forced to create more of his own offense than usual.
That said: the Nets playing the 23-47 Phoenix Suns.
Johnson is unsure of his status beyond tonight, telling Stefan Bondy when asked about the possibility of playing Wednesday "I couldn't even tell you right now."
Needed this good down south breakfast in my life. Reminds me of my grandmas breakfast she used to cook… http://t.co/6OSlDuOdEE
RT @NOTSportsCenter: REPORT: Jason Kidd has been offered the #Nets head coaching job. Deron Williams is already working on how to get him fired.
More JVG @ESPNNY98_7FM " His impact on the #Nets cannot be denied and he has to make sure he gets areally good staff around him."
RT @NorthJerseybrk: Popper: Jason Kidd as head coach is risky idea for both retired player and #Nets | http://t.co/7BmTZ1SXZB
Didn't say that. Think it'd be really interesting. Just trying to wrap my head around it. RT @BKhoops4Life: you dont want him as coach? Team source says as of this morning there was no indication Kidd had been offered the Nets job yet. Shaw interviews tomorrow.
