Brooklyn Nets: Is Joe Johnson Past His Prime?
Clutchest player in the NBA: Who you got? Kobe Bryant? Kevin Durant? Chris Paul? Carmelo Anthony? LeBron James? How about Joe Johnson? While I do not believe Johnson is THE clutchest player in the Association, I would still put him in top five, maybe top three. Here is a small sample size of Joe Johnson’s clutch resume:
Johnson’s clutchness hasn’t changed over the years. In his first season with the Brooklyn Nets, the six-time All-Star hit numerous clutch shots to help lead Brooklyn to a playoff appearance. His “clutch gene” was in full display in Game 4 against the Chicago Bulls when he and Nate Robinson took turns hitting buzzer beaters as the Bulls eventually won that game and the series. There is no denying his late-game ability, but the question I pose is: Is Johnson still a productive shooting guard in the NBA?
The numbers say no. Over the last four years, the majority of Johnson’s numbers have gone south. Take a look:
| Season | Age | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10* | 28 | SG | 76 | 76 | 38.0 | 8.4 | 18.2 | .458 | 1.7 | 4.6 | .369 | 2.9 | 3.5 | .818 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 21.3 |
| 2010-11* | 29 | SG | 72 | 72 | 35.5 | 7.1 | 16.1 | .443 | 1.2 | 4.2 | .297 | 2.7 | 3.4 | .802 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 18.2 |
| 2011-12* | 30 | SG | 60 | 60 | 35.5 | 7.1 | 15.5 | .454 | 2.1 | 5.4 | .388 | 2.6 | 3.1 | .849 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 18.8 |
| 2012-13 | 31 | SG | 72 | 72 | 36.7 | 6.2 | 14.6 | .423 | 2.1 | 5.5 | .375 | 1.8 | 2.2 | .820 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 16.3 |
| Career | 903 | 833 | 36.7 | 6.8 | 15.3 | .442 | 1.6 | 4.3 | .369 | 2.5 | 3.1 | .798 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 17.6 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/26/2013.
The alarming statistic to me is his 42.3 percent field-goal shooting. His average has dropped a good three points over the course of four years. Not only has he become less efficient, but the former Arkansas Razorback has also had a dip is assists per game. Is Johnson just getting old? Or was he getting used to playing on a new team with new players? Let’s take a look at his sabermetric numbers:
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/28/2013.
The sabermetrics don’t favor Johnson either. His player efficiency rating is now below the league average of 15. His rebounding and assist percentages have gone down over the last four years. If I was a Nets fan, I would be worried.
Now, I’m not going to completely dismiss Johnson just yet. Last year could have been an anomaly. New team, new city, new coaching staff–all three could have led to his somewhat disappointing season. Additionally, it didn’t help that Deron Williams was playing horribly the first half of the year. But now, its “put up or shut up” time for Johnson. Paul Pierce is going to take a major load off his shoulders. While his numbers might be lower then previous years because the same opportunities might not be there, Johnson should still drastically improve his efficiency in 2013-14.
This is a make or break year for the All-Star shooting guard. If he continues to regress at the same rate, Pierce and Williams could bite into his offensive opportunities. Keep an eye on Johnson. I predict that his numbers dip a little, but his PER and efficiency goes up. Look for him to have a bounce back year.
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