Jimcs50
05-27-2005, 06:38 AM
No question: JJ says he's ready to go
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 27, 2005 12:00 AM
Joe's a go.
After his second day of live basketball action with a protective mask, Suns guard Joe Johnson said there was "not a question" that he would play Saturday in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals at San Antonio.
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni is on board with plans to start Johnson and give him 30 to 35 minutes of floor time Saturday, 17 days after Johnson fell face-first while attempting a dunk and fractured the orbital bone near his left eye. advertisement
"As of right now, I don't think there's anything that will keep me off the court," Johnson said after finishing his first five-on-five work since the surgery that inserted four metal plates into his face.
Final approval must come from Johnson's surgeon upon re-examination this morning. He cleared Johnson for basketball activity a week ago. Johnson's eyesight was a chief concern but his latest vision test went so well that plans to have an eye doctor re-examine him today were canceled.
"Joe's a great gamer and he'll give everything he's got," D'Antoni said. "We'll see how much it is. I expect it to be a lot. Will it be Joe being the best guy in the league for a couple months (at the end of the season)? I don't know if he can get to that level. He might. Whatever he'll give us will be a lot."
Johnson will mean the most to Steve Nash. He can relieve Nash more often as a backup point guard. He also has guarded Tony Parker in past meetings with the Spurs, allowing Nash to defend Bruce Bowen. Johnson's size makes him the most effective defender on Parker's running floaters and he also has defended Manu Ginobili in past games.
Phoenix does not need much offensive help against San Antonio but Johnson's ability to score and create shots will be a boost. It is Phoenix's best hope to escape its 0-2 hole on the road.
The Suns were in position to close out victories in the fourth quarters of the first two games but had defensive and hustle breakdowns that might have been averted with Johnson. There were doubts about whether Phoenix could finish off Dallas without Johnson, let alone topple the favored Spurs.
Johnson's work during a light practice Thursday encouraged his coach.
"No hesitation," D'Antoni said of Johnson's play. "Right in there with the flow. He didn't look winded. He looked like the old Joe."
Johnson picked up a spare mask Thursday from Tempe-based Cranial Technologies, which customized the masks with technology used to make headbands that repair babies' misshapen heads.
Besides sweat rapidly collecting under the high-impact-resistant plastic, Johnson said the mask does not hinder him.
He has taken direct blows to the face from Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson with no problem. The mask is designed to direct impact away from his fracture.
Cranial Technologies CEO and founder Jeanne Pomatto-Hertz crafted Johnson's masks and refined them Thursday to relieve areas above and below his nose. She has worked with Johnson while handling another high-profile case for conjoined twins who were separated in New York.
"It's been hectic and it's been fun," she said. "This (Johnson's mask) has been a lot of pressure. I've got more information about how well I'm supposed to do."
She hears in her office halls about how important Johnson's health is to her employees' kids and even her contact person at the company delivering the plastic.
"If you need anything more, let me know because we need Joe playing," he told her.
Two craniofacial specialists cleared Johnson to play basketball, leaving the decision for him to play in games to Johnson and the Suns' medical and basketball staffs. He said his impending restricted free-agent status was not a factor.
"I don't think that has anything to do with what has happened," Johnson said. "I'm not worried about it (his next contract) at all."
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
May. 27, 2005 12:00 AM
Joe's a go.
After his second day of live basketball action with a protective mask, Suns guard Joe Johnson said there was "not a question" that he would play Saturday in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals at San Antonio.
Suns coach Mike D'Antoni is on board with plans to start Johnson and give him 30 to 35 minutes of floor time Saturday, 17 days after Johnson fell face-first while attempting a dunk and fractured the orbital bone near his left eye. advertisement
"As of right now, I don't think there's anything that will keep me off the court," Johnson said after finishing his first five-on-five work since the surgery that inserted four metal plates into his face.
Final approval must come from Johnson's surgeon upon re-examination this morning. He cleared Johnson for basketball activity a week ago. Johnson's eyesight was a chief concern but his latest vision test went so well that plans to have an eye doctor re-examine him today were canceled.
"Joe's a great gamer and he'll give everything he's got," D'Antoni said. "We'll see how much it is. I expect it to be a lot. Will it be Joe being the best guy in the league for a couple months (at the end of the season)? I don't know if he can get to that level. He might. Whatever he'll give us will be a lot."
Johnson will mean the most to Steve Nash. He can relieve Nash more often as a backup point guard. He also has guarded Tony Parker in past meetings with the Spurs, allowing Nash to defend Bruce Bowen. Johnson's size makes him the most effective defender on Parker's running floaters and he also has defended Manu Ginobili in past games.
Phoenix does not need much offensive help against San Antonio but Johnson's ability to score and create shots will be a boost. It is Phoenix's best hope to escape its 0-2 hole on the road.
The Suns were in position to close out victories in the fourth quarters of the first two games but had defensive and hustle breakdowns that might have been averted with Johnson. There were doubts about whether Phoenix could finish off Dallas without Johnson, let alone topple the favored Spurs.
Johnson's work during a light practice Thursday encouraged his coach.
"No hesitation," D'Antoni said of Johnson's play. "Right in there with the flow. He didn't look winded. He looked like the old Joe."
Johnson picked up a spare mask Thursday from Tempe-based Cranial Technologies, which customized the masks with technology used to make headbands that repair babies' misshapen heads.
Besides sweat rapidly collecting under the high-impact-resistant plastic, Johnson said the mask does not hinder him.
He has taken direct blows to the face from Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson with no problem. The mask is designed to direct impact away from his fracture.
Cranial Technologies CEO and founder Jeanne Pomatto-Hertz crafted Johnson's masks and refined them Thursday to relieve areas above and below his nose. She has worked with Johnson while handling another high-profile case for conjoined twins who were separated in New York.
"It's been hectic and it's been fun," she said. "This (Johnson's mask) has been a lot of pressure. I've got more information about how well I'm supposed to do."
She hears in her office halls about how important Johnson's health is to her employees' kids and even her contact person at the company delivering the plastic.
"If you need anything more, let me know because we need Joe playing," he told her.
Two craniofacial specialists cleared Johnson to play basketball, leaving the decision for him to play in games to Johnson and the Suns' medical and basketball staffs. He said his impending restricted free-agent status was not a factor.
"I don't think that has anything to do with what has happened," Johnson said. "I'm not worried about it (his next contract) at all."