ducks
05-25-2005, 09:17 PM
Johnson works out in mask, aims for Game 3 return
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
May 24, 2005
PHOENIX (AP) -- Wearing a clear mask that stuck to his cheeks more with every drop of sweat, Suns guard Joe Johnson on Tuesday went through his longest workout since breaking a bone near his left eye, then said ``there's a good chance'' he'll return for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
``I don't want to speak too soon, but we're shooting for it,'' Johnson said.
Johnson joined his teammates for some offensive drills about eight hours before they played host to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2, then was the last player on the court while working on his shooting.
ADVERTISEMENT
The way he was swishing 3-pointers, Phoenix -- which lost the opener -- could've used him in Game 2, but coach Mike D'Antoni said the club was sticking by its Monday decision to keep Johnson out at least one more game.
``He's progressing really well. He's just not ready,'' D'Antoni said following the shootaround. ``He hasn't played in two weeks. We can't afford to have any unknowns. We'll have to adjust as a team to him also coming back, so we need a couple practices.''
Those will come Thursday and Friday, following a team day off Wednesday. If all goes well, Johnson could be back in the starting lineup Saturday in San Antonio.
Johnson is Phoenix's third-leading scorer, but his impact goes deeper. He often plays point guard when MVP Steve Nash rests, and he's a solid defender. In this series, he'd likely go against Spurs point guard Tony Parker, as he did when the teams met in the regular season.
Johnson was hurt May 11 when he fell from the rim and crashed face-first on the court. He had surgery the next day. There's still some blood in the eye and a bit of swelling left, but Johnson says his vision is fine.
Getting the mask to fit has been tricky, partly because of the swelling. Now the big obstacle is getting comfortable with the shield, which goes from his hairline to his top lip and practically ear to ear, with circles cut out for his eyes and nose.
In his first big test with it Tuesday, Johnson repeatedly pried it up to let some air in. During games, he expects to take it off and dry it during timeouts.
``It's a little funny-feeling, but it doesn't bother me or anything,'' he said. ``I'm ready to get out there.''
Johnson took a few whacks on the mask from a trainer and came away unfazed.
``I really didn't appreciate that, but I guess it's part of the process,'' he said, laughing. ``He gave me a couple of hard shots where I had my fracture and I withstood it. Like I said, we've got high hopes.''
Johnson also isn't worried about the layoff affecting his conditioning. It's hard to question his endurance considering that until this injury he'd played 287 straight games since joining the Suns.
``I'm so ready to get out there and play, that I'll be fine,'' he said.
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
May 24, 2005
PHOENIX (AP) -- Wearing a clear mask that stuck to his cheeks more with every drop of sweat, Suns guard Joe Johnson on Tuesday went through his longest workout since breaking a bone near his left eye, then said ``there's a good chance'' he'll return for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals.
``I don't want to speak too soon, but we're shooting for it,'' Johnson said.
Johnson joined his teammates for some offensive drills about eight hours before they played host to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2, then was the last player on the court while working on his shooting.
ADVERTISEMENT
The way he was swishing 3-pointers, Phoenix -- which lost the opener -- could've used him in Game 2, but coach Mike D'Antoni said the club was sticking by its Monday decision to keep Johnson out at least one more game.
``He's progressing really well. He's just not ready,'' D'Antoni said following the shootaround. ``He hasn't played in two weeks. We can't afford to have any unknowns. We'll have to adjust as a team to him also coming back, so we need a couple practices.''
Those will come Thursday and Friday, following a team day off Wednesday. If all goes well, Johnson could be back in the starting lineup Saturday in San Antonio.
Johnson is Phoenix's third-leading scorer, but his impact goes deeper. He often plays point guard when MVP Steve Nash rests, and he's a solid defender. In this series, he'd likely go against Spurs point guard Tony Parker, as he did when the teams met in the regular season.
Johnson was hurt May 11 when he fell from the rim and crashed face-first on the court. He had surgery the next day. There's still some blood in the eye and a bit of swelling left, but Johnson says his vision is fine.
Getting the mask to fit has been tricky, partly because of the swelling. Now the big obstacle is getting comfortable with the shield, which goes from his hairline to his top lip and practically ear to ear, with circles cut out for his eyes and nose.
In his first big test with it Tuesday, Johnson repeatedly pried it up to let some air in. During games, he expects to take it off and dry it during timeouts.
``It's a little funny-feeling, but it doesn't bother me or anything,'' he said. ``I'm ready to get out there.''
Johnson took a few whacks on the mask from a trainer and came away unfazed.
``I really didn't appreciate that, but I guess it's part of the process,'' he said, laughing. ``He gave me a couple of hard shots where I had my fracture and I withstood it. Like I said, we've got high hopes.''
Johnson also isn't worried about the layoff affecting his conditioning. It's hard to question his endurance considering that until this injury he'd played 287 straight games since joining the Suns.
``I'm so ready to get out there and play, that I'll be fine,'' he said.