Joe Johnson Knee Injury Threatens All-Star Apperance For Hawks Guard

by SB Nation NBA News on Feb 21, 2012 3:45 PM EST

(SB Nation, Mike Prada) Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Joe Johnson will miss the next two games with an injured left knee, the team announced on Tuesday. Johnson initially suffered the injury in the Hawks' loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday, and he is undergoing an MRI to determine if the injury is even more serious. He would miss the team's games against the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic.

It also appears that Johnson will not play in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game over the weekend, according to Zach Klein of the Wall-Street Journal.

If Johnson cannot play, that opens the door for teammate Josh Smith to be named to the roster. The league could also name Kyrie Irving or Jeremy Lin to replace Johnson if they pass over Smith. Johnson would also need to be replaced in the Shooting Stars and Three-Point Shootout competitions.

(Peachtree Hoops edit:)

Our guess is that Joe will play over the weekend. It's Joe's chance to be seen as among the best. But if he doesn't, I wouldn't wager on Josh getting his spot, especially since the bloom is off the rose of the Hawks season as they are now battling the lower end of the playoff seeds rather than fighting for home court at this time, leaving the league less likely to feel the need to represent the team.

Though Josh being named as a replacement for Joe's slot in the Three-Point Shootout would be a must-see event for All-Star Weekend.

Tweet Comment 50 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Gotta rest these next 2 games for his big weekend

I got money riding on you joe for the 3 point contest lol

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 3:58 PM EST reply actions

I swear to god if Jeremy Lin is put on that roster spot..............................

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 3:59 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I was just typing this

by frootbooty on Feb 21, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

i know seriously, he is good but my god the guy is getting tebow hype for just playing 2 weeks

compared to everyone playing 3 months on a condensed schedule. Its just so annoying now.

Im trying hard to keep my Lin rant at a minimum right now

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

I was mad when he got in the Rookie-Sophomore game over Ivan after 5 games

I honestly didn’t even think about him being in the ASG until I read this article. Now that I have read it, I can honestly see Stern doing it

by frootbooty on Feb 21, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

That's a media event anyway,...

he should be in it. If Joe’s out though, he should be replaced by Josh, although I’d assume they’d add a G for a G instead.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Feb 21, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I know it was 20 years ago

But michael Adams stepped in for Larry Bird in ’92.

Damn it, that makes me feel old.

Do not anger Ivan Johnson, or he'll have to go Kermit Washington on your ass

by Nique Fan on Feb 22, 2012 12:39 AM EST up reply actions

You just added more fuel to my dislike by mentioning that

I just makes me so mad that the guy is getting MVP consideration for beating teams that are under 500 with possibly the most disappointing team in the nba this season. So yes the guy has talent on his team but everyone wants to act like he doesnt. I mean the only 2 teams that were above 500 that I can think of that they beat recently are the super depleted dallas mavricks who are nowhere near where they were last year and the Lakers with their corpse of a pg in derek fisher defending him.
Plus he is just a product of the mike d’antoni run and gun system. The same guy who made steve nash who he is, Goran Dragić relevant, aaron brooks appear good because he apparently won MIP, and lastly Chris Duhon who many people thought he was a decent guard but is now stealing money in Orlando while sucking it up with the magic.
I mean Mark Jackson isnt a bad coach, so i doubt that he got rid of Lin for no reason. it just makes me mad the no one will even realize that D’antoni has made crappy players look good on more than one occasion.

i promised myself I wouldnt rant until Wednesday, dam you frootbooty

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

You mean like

Joe and Josh beat up on poor competition. I just gotta say – you gotta lotta hate in your heart if you’ve reduced Lin to a product of the system. The dude can ball, period. I won’t even try to address the inaccuracies you have in this message, but seriously – don’t let the media spoil the fact that the dude is pretty damn good.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Feb 21, 2012 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

time will tell

by frootbooty on Feb 21, 2012 8:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

so what your saying is you can make this assessment

that he’s “pretty damn good” from 7-8 games and most against losing teams? And your also possibly saying that joe and josh only play good games in their career against bad teams? huh okay well im sure he got cut from previous teams for a reason

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 8:14 PM EST up reply actions

I'm absolutely saying

that based on the games we’ve SEEN of Jeremy Lin – he’s a good player. Is he an All Star? Don’t know. Is he the next Steve Nash? Don’t know. I do know this – he’s done more with his starting stint than anyone I can recall (and NBA history is looking long and hard). Teague sat on the bench for 2 years and there wasn’t a good reason for that, but it happened. I am not going to throw out that getting cut wasn’t just a big mistake. I mean he wasn’t taking Curry or Ellis’ spot and you have the most improved player in Lowry this season, so I don’t see it as some indictment on Lin that he ended up gone from those teams. And I bet they ALL would take him back and try to figure out how to use him now.

Now, to your final point, I didn’t say the word ONLY – I am saying that the majority of their monster games (esp. Joe) are against poor competition. When we play great teams, these guys don’t put up elite production, so to see a guy put up 28 and 14, 38 and 10 no matter WHO it is says – he’s a baller. Esp. when the folks who you consider ballers aren’t doing the game thing vs. the same competition. That’s Chris Paul territory and we don’t discount when he does it to the Kings, so why are we discounting it for Lin. I’d do cartwheels no matter who Teague did that to. In fact, I’d trade Lin for Teague straight up and I said that on game 4 of the Lin era. I believe that Lin is the type of player who would use that harvard brain to say – hey, uh Josh/Joe – I don’t care that you are the captain, I’m the point guard and you will not get a ball passed to you out on the perimeter Josh. You won’t pound the ball Joe – that’s not what we do. Teague doesn’t have that in him and I love Teague, so yes – I’m making the assessment that Jeremy Lin is good. He’s not 28 and 14 every night good, but he’s closer to 17 and 8 good and that’s plenty damn good to me.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Feb 21, 2012 11:48 PM EST up reply actions

To me and maybe others

d’antoni has shown he can make crappy players look good in his offense(chris duhon gets the big nod here). I never said he was a terrible player, I just dont that think he is the “baller” that you and everyone else on this planet thinks that he is. In terms of getting points, im sure there are other players in the nba that have scored a ton like 38 or more in a game but are considered slightly above average and never made an all-star or all nba team (andre miller 52 in a game) that receive hardly any recognition. I mean if you wanna look at just strictly points, look at someone like brandon jennings who dropped 55 his rookie year but no one talks about as much. heck c.j. watson was able to put up 40 in a game at one point in time, and im sure nobody has heard of that.

Plus, its not like the knicks are a bad team, they have tons of talent on the roster and it was only a matter of time that they finally got their act together. People are acting like he is the savior because he is making a team look good against bad teams that has a former coach of the year, 2 all stars, an all-nba rookie first team player and an athletic center(which i find odd he hasnt had his annual foot injury yet).

But anyway back to my main point, after 7 games he seems more of a product from the system than a “baller” that got cut from previous teams and played in the d-league. Chris Duhon who played for d’antoni a couple of years ago was able to average 11ppg and 7ast in NY that season under his system when people thought he was decent, but now we see how he is doing when taken away from it. So again, im just saying that there is a possibility that after 8 games the coach who has made previous players look good is doing the same thing with this one.

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 22, 2012 12:48 AM EST up reply actions

Me - I'm just gonna say

and I don’t mean this in a personal way, but you’re a hater. Period. So, you can take EVERY player that ever played in D’Antoni’s system and guess what they didn’t do – score 20 and 8 in their first 10 starts. You’re using Chris Duhon as your litmus on this. So, Duhon did have of what Lin has done and so, ok – he’s half the player. What does that prove? Nothing… So, my point to you is why didn’t anyone else do what Lin’s doing – you make the point that he’s playing crappy teams – I simply say …ALL the NBA does. Every single team plays crappy teams, so what…there are only like 12 good teams in the league – he played 3 of them and still balled, so what’s your point?

Listen, the guy isn’t Isiah Thomas. I’m not suggesting it, but I’m also not going to tell you that Steve Nash is a system player – he’s awesome. So, it could be that the players MAKE the system, not the reverse. Shumpert isn’t awesome as PG, neither was Bibby, neither was Toney Douglas, neither will be Baron Davis.

So, I’m not looking at points to make a case, but I am saying that after TEN games – the dude has consistently put up the goods. You can try to use these one game anomalies to make a different point or that he has all these other things to help him, but that team had ALL of that working for them last year and this year and they did what…SUCK. This dude starts and he’s 8-2. Sorry, but that to me is savior-esque. To say otherwise is hate of the highest order. So, let’s stop the discussion because your points defy what everyone else is watching. If this was one game – fine, but it’s not – we’re rolling up on 1/6 of the season. Does he have more to prove? Sure, but to date – there’s nothing that can be dismissed about those first 10 games other than he turns the ball over more than he needs to and I’m giving that a pass since he’s only 10 freakin’ games into his NBA career for all intents and purposes. I’ve forgiven Teague for far more…why not Lin?

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Feb 22, 2012 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

Me - I'm just gonna say

and I don’t mean this in a personal way, but you are drinking the kool-aid and jumped on the tebow-esque bandwagon. As for me I may being a hater, probably true, if that means looking at all the angles before making a statement like “he is the savior” and “the guy is a baller and probably deserves the all-star game”. I never said he was bad, but for the third time Im saying there are other factors involved that everyone is ignoring while making these statements. I also just cant ignore that he is putting up impressive numbers, but im putting into consideration that again its POSSIBLE that he is a product of the system.

As for these one game anomalies that you claim im only using, it was only a response because you mentioned 28 and 14, 38 and 10 as your one game anomalies. I just wanted to throw out some names of people that have put up numbers but arent considered “ballers” and dont get half the credit that the 8 game wonder gets in probably 1 day.

And as for the other pg’s on the team, I believe that it is possible that they didn’t fit the system. Barron Davis was injured and couldnt play for basically the entire year and Mike Bibby……… well If you can tell me 3 starting point guards in the NBA that he can beat off the dribble then I will concede the argument and not post again on the subject.

So again for the third time, Im saying that yes his performance is good and he is playing well but IM pointing out that could this possibly be a product of the system? Yes I see that he could be a good player but then again I have the nagging thought that he could just be the Matt Cassel of the NBA and a product of a system that fits him perfectly. So like you say and I agree with, lets stop the discussion before you start making up more stats and eventually just change from being a hawks fan and go all out for the knicks. i would have thought that the #1 pessimist on this site would have looked at all the possibilities before jumping on the newest bandwagon sweeping across america. guess I was wrong

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 22, 2012 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

Yep, pretty wrong

first, I’m not the #1 pessimist at all. In fact, I’ve never been negative about this season. It’s played out early and now how I thought it would which is why I wonder why folks panic so much – the Hawks will make the playoffs – challenge in the first round and maybe lose, definitely 2nd round…we had hope that the bench might be a savior, but that’s fading fast.

Now, to your point, you didn’t say what you said in this last post. In fact you made up some things…I said did not say one word about him being a savior. I just used that terminology that you used. If you go back, I said that Joe and Josh also (like every other good player) beat up on poor competition and that he’s not just a product of the system. My basis for that is – Steve Nash is a great player – he’s not just a product. Other plyaers have played in D’Antoni’s system they didn’t approach Nash or at this point Lin’s production. The guy is averaging 24 and like 8 or 9. No other PRODUCTS are putting up THOSE numbers. So, I did say – he will do some regression to the mean and then, I’ll say that at 17 and 8 – he’s going to be considered by me (and most everyone else) to be pretty good. I didn’t say savior and I said I wouldn’t have a problem with him in the game. Does that mean I would PUT him there, no? But just for fun – no, it wouldn’t be a travesty to me. So, maybe you should read what you said. You certainly did not lay out all the factors for his rise to make the point that maybe he’s not good – you were pretty clear with what you were saying – I just disagreed. I watched 5 of those games and said – no, the dude is just good. F the system. So, my point is a good player makes the system, not the system makes any player. The system that makes Duhon 11 and 7 as a starter means Duhon ain’t a good player. That’s my point. So, you can lay out your points and I’ll respect your right to say it. I’m just saying I disagree – he’s good and I’ll leave it to you to figure out a way to discredit what he’s done. I don’t know of a system on earth that can make a mediocre guy score the most points in the history of the game as soon as he gets a starting job and win 9 of his first 11 games fortune scheduling or not.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Feb 23, 2012 2:38 AM EST up reply actions

I think you just made a Kris Humphries argument as well.

He’s having a hell of a season and he has played every game.

Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl Google+: Ed G

by Duff_Man on Feb 22, 2012 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

I think an argument could be made for him

its just the stern would not allow it

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 22, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Smooooove

I touched the garment of Ivan Johnson and I saw the Rapture

by a hooter's baby on Feb 21, 2012 4:07 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

lol I thought you would say something of the possibility of Lin getting in

But dammit Josh had better get in if Joe cant play

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Appearance

I really wanted to see a hawk win the three point contest. Oh well

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Feb 21, 2012 4:13 PM EST reply actions

So if joe is out who do we get for the shooting stars? I vote marvin just to keep him happy

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:15 PM EST reply actions

One-armed Al

I touched the garment of Ivan Johnson and I saw the Rapture

by a hooter's baby on Feb 21, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

hahaha wait just entertaining the thought

if Josh takes joe’s place in the allstar game does this mean josh will represent team atlanta in defending its title in the shooting stars?

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Josh is at home like "I got this"

He’s warming up for the 3 pt shootout now

by frootbooty on Feb 21, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

ROFL

no seriously I fell on the ground laughing imagining this

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Damn guys...I'm in a library. Spat all over the key board! Youre gonna give me away. ROFL

pg Jeff Teague
sg Joe Johnson
sf Josh Smith
sf Marvin Williams
c Al Horford
----
* {#40 Pick PF Jon Leuer is better than Marvin Williams and Hinrich cost us the pick}

by PointGuardSlim on Feb 21, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

At least he's actually working on his shooting.

Twitter: twitter.com/edgrohl Google+: Ed G

by Duff_Man on Feb 21, 2012 4:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Just imagine the thought of josh standing by the 3 point line with a rack of balls next to him

how long do you think it will take to advance

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

That would be so very entertaining.

pg Jeff Teague
sg Joe Johnson
sf Josh Smith
sf Marvin Williams
c Al Horford
----
* {#40 Pick PF Jon Leuer is better than Marvin Williams and Hinrich cost us the pick}

by PointGuardSlim on Feb 21, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions

he'd run out of time on the 4th rack

because he was shooting fadeaway 3’s.

Do not anger Ivan Johnson, or he'll have to go Kermit Washington on your ass

by Nique Fan on Feb 22, 2012 12:41 AM EST up reply actions

i wonder if the embarassment would force him to stop jacking up shots

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 22, 2012 12:50 AM EST up reply actions

Something tells me 'no'

He doesn’t seem to get embarrased when they’re not falling during games.

Do not anger Ivan Johnson, or he'll have to go Kermit Washington on your ass

by Nique Fan on Feb 22, 2012 12:58 AM EST up reply actions

worst case scenerio he magically makes the first shot an gets more of this confidence

shuddering just thinking about it

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 22, 2012 1:07 AM EST up reply actions

Just imagine the future if it's Josh and they win on his shooting....

by wjb1492 on Feb 22, 2012 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

ha, that would be the day

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 22, 2012 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

Josh

Do does anyone think he doesn’t get in because he said he didn’t kiss enough ass to get in it

by frootbooty on Feb 21, 2012 4:21 PM EST reply actions

Won't help.

by Jason Walker on Feb 21, 2012 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

David Stern

Doesn’t he personally choose the replacements?

I touched the garment of Ivan Johnson and I saw the Rapture

by a hooter's baby on Feb 21, 2012 4:26 PM EST reply actions

I believe so

The commissioner of “nothing but associates”

by frootbooty on Feb 21, 2012 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Dam, I guess Lin will get in

I only say this cus Rondo “threw” the ball at the ref

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

I'd be fine with

Carmelo giving up his spot for Josh and Joe giving up his spot for Lin. But more importantly, I don’t want Joe in this condensed season for Joe rushing his ass back to play in the All Star Game. It’ll tell me everything about him if he comes back for that game.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Feb 21, 2012 7:19 PM EST reply actions

I don't care if he can ball or not

Lin has no business in the ASG after only playing 7-8 games.

by frootbooty on Feb 21, 2012 7:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

That's the truth, Truth

I touched the garment of Ivan Johnson and I saw the Rapture

by a hooter's baby on Feb 21, 2012 7:57 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

so basically Lin skips rondo in point guards in the east deserving of an all-star spot after 7-8 games

yeah that makes perfect sense.

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 21, 2012 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

you guys act like this is

more than an exhibition. I’d rather watch that guy than about 50% of the players in the game. I’d rather my players be All-NBA than All-Star. So, Lin can be in the ALl Star game and we can get Joe or Josh to focus on being All-NBA.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Feb 21, 2012 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

......................point taken

in hindsight, I guess being on the all nba team is more of a privilege than being on the all-star team. Though honestly if someone were to take his spot, shouldnt Iguodala be on the team since not a single 76er made the roster?

Ivan Johnson doesn't cut his grass, he stares at it and dares it to grow.......

by Throw on Feb 22, 2012 12:53 AM EST up reply actions