Friday, October 7th, 2011 at 12:02 pm  |  114 responses

Top 50: Joe Johnson, no. 22

The definitive ranking of the NBA’s best players.

by DeMarco Williams

Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 2. Al Pacino’s 88 Minutes. Pizza Hut’s stuffed-crust pies.

See, if we all just calmed down and thought things through, we’d come up with lots of instances when great folks did forgettable things. That said, it’s probably best that we put Joe Johnson’s ‘10-11 campaign behind us. During a season that showcased the so-so stat line of 18, 4 and 4, the Atlanta Hawks‘ standout played without much urgency. Sure, he was an All-Star. He just wasn’t a star all the time.

Many of the game’s great shooting guards have gone through similar years though. Earl “The Pearl” Monroe had ’72. Reggie Miller had ’99. And if we’re being completely honest, Brandon Roy, Tyreke Evans and Andre Iguodala’s ‘11 weren’t the stuff of Springfield lore either. So, do all the folks down in A-town a favor and cut Joe some slack. His last season was substandard, but his next one will make up for it.

M. Night Shyamalan. Lauryn Hill. Barack Obama.

Clearly, Joe Johnson isn’t the only big name with consistency issues. We saw glimmers of the man’s greatness this past January when he averaged 26 per for the month. And then there was the 2011 postseason when he scored 20 a night in six home games vs Orlando and Chicago. But because the Little Rock native was cashing a $16 million annual check, the media rightfully said it wasn’t enough. In fact, by the time the Hawks had checked out of the Playoffs—Johnson did have a five-point stinker against the Magic on April 26—the masses had joined in the stoning.

People were quick to call Johnson out for a 15-point outing here and there, but little did they care to focus on the fact that Joe was ailing. For half of the season the quiet assassin was dealing with serious elbow and thumb issues. Elbow. Thumb. Two pretty vital weapons to a shooting guard’s arsenal, no? He’d miss 10 games for the injuries. Heaven only knows how many others he played through hurt.

It’s cool, though. That’s all in the past. The only thing you need to worry about now is the spot on the right baseline of the Philips Arena that’s gonna get worn out from a healthy Joe Johnson’s 20-feet daggers.

Know why else ’10-11 was such an anomaly? Joe is too good for a repeat so bad. Lest we forget that the five-time All-Star had five straight campaigns where he averaged over 20 per game.

And for two, he’s focused. Johnson didn’t get wrapped in all that playing overseas mess. He stayed home. Got some rest. Worked out. Polished his game.

Robert Downey Jr. Kurt Warner. General Motors.

We all love good comeback stories. Joe Johnson’s ’11-12 will be one to remember.

SLAMonline Top 50 Players 2011
Rank Player Team Position Pos. Rank
50 Luol Deng Bulls SF 8
49 Andrew Bogut Bucks C 7
48 Ray Allen Celtics SG 9
47 Marc Gasol Grizzlies C 6
46 David West Hornets PF 15
45 Kevin Martin Rockets SG 8
44 Andrew Bynum Lakers C 5
43 Brandon Jennings Bucks PG 11
42 Lamar Odom Lakers PF 14
41 Gerald Wallace Blazers SF 7
40 Brook Lopez Nets C 4
39 Joakim Noah Bulls C 3
38 Carlos Boozer Bulls PF 13
37 Kevin Garnett Celtics PF 12
36 Eric Gordon Clippers SG 7
35 Tony Parker Spurs PG 10
34 Andre Iguodala 76ers SG 6
33 Al Jefferson Jazz PF 11
32 Al Horford Hawks C 2
31 Stephen Curry Warriors PG 9
30 Tim Duncan Spurs PF 10
29 Josh Smith Hawks PF 9
28 Manu Ginobili Spurs SG 5
27 Tyreke Evans Kings PG 8
26 Rudy Gay Grizzlies SF 6
25 John Wall Wizards PG 7
24 Danny Granger Pacers SF 5
23 Monta Ellis Warriors SG 4
22 Joe Johnson Hawks SG 3

Notes
• Rankings are based solely on projected ’11-12 performance.
• Contributors to this list include: Maurice Bobb, Shannon Booher, David Cassilo, Bryan Crawford, Sandy Dover, Adam Figman, Jon Jaques, Eldon Khorshidi, Ryne Nelson, Doobie Okon, Ben Osborne, Quinn Peterson, Dave Schnur, Abe Schwadron, Dan Shapiro, Irv Soonachan, Todd Spehr, Tzvi Twersky, Yaron Weitzman, DeMarco Williams and Ben York.
• Want more of the SLAMonline Top 50? Check out the archive.

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  • ctkennedy

    hes OVERPAID not overrated ….can he be your best player n win u a chip no…but dont underrated what he has done as a franchise player either…in 4vs5 matchups his LED team has beat Wade n DHoward
    …with Bron n Bosh this past yr Wade didnt win a series SINCE the title …Pierce wont winnin series either ..Ray Allen when he was the MAN wont even makin the playoffs …Melo one time out the first round..McGrady NEVER…Garnett NEVER(before big3 of course) Dirk before this past yr was losin n the first round every yr for about 4yrs straight ….Do i wish JJ was show more emotion n etc ..of course i would ….but he has done more than people think…REMEMBER Dominique Wilkins never past the second rd either n he WOULDNT stop shootin to save his life…Lls

  • ctkennedy

    Besides this past season he 20,5,n 5…only him Wade,Bron,n Kobe do it on the regular…he should be ALITTLE higher on the list not much though

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    So….just because he avg. 26per for one month that somehow showed glimpses of his “greatness”? The word great and JJ should never be in the same article let alone sentence.

  • Jono

    Wow really SLAM? Making excuses for this guy? Imagine if LeBron had a year where he averaged only 21-6-3? Wow, the public would be out with lightsabers! I totally agree with this rank. But the article just makes me cringe. I don’t see how anyone making that much money can be excused. Paid like a superstar, play like a superstar. At this rate, why don’t we start defending Rashard Lewis too?

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Also, you can’t compare Monroe, Miller, Reke, AI and BRoy to him because those guys never signed a 120 million dollar contract. When you’re making more than Wade, Bron, DHow, DWill, CP, KD, RGay, Manu, and PP, people tend to expect more than an 18/4/4 on 44% season from you.

  • http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/10/4/2468098/nba-lockout-2011-owners-david-stern-robert-sarver-the-hook Allenp

    Still my pick as the third best shooting guard in the League.

  • http://Slamonline.coM nbk

    ^ yeah me 2

  • http://www.gil1906.com Pve_2

    The Bulls would be so much better off if they pried Joe Johnson away from the Hawks rather than signing Boozer…I agree with JJ being the 3rd best two in the league, but the drop off from #2 to #3 is significant. That contract Atlanta gave him was too much, but get that lock-out inducing paper, homie. It’s ain’t your fault.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    I know I’m in the minority with this but I leaning towards Ellis as the 3rd best SG. JJ is the better all-around player but he’s too inconsistent for me. One night he goes for 27/5/5 and the next night, he goes 12/3/3, that’s unacceptable for a 11yr vet. Consistency plays a big part in my opinion, which is why I have Ellis above him.

  • MUBWAR

    i like that: YOU ARE BEING PAID LIKE A SUPERSTAR SO YOU GOTTA PLAY LIKE 1

  • http://Slamonline.com Caboose

    Cosign JT. Also, this list is not about contracts so stop arguing that he’s overpaid. He is. We get it. This is about on-court production. I’d drop Joe down about 5 spots only cause he’s getting older, plays too inconsistently, and had some vanishing acts in playoff games.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Not to mention Ellis is only 25 making 11 mill a year while JJ will be 30 by next season and is set to make 107 mill over the next 5 yrs. Give me Ellis.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    I’ma just put this out there – I don’t think he’ll have a better season than John Wall next season.
    Or Rudy Gay.
    Or Monta Ellis.
    Or even his own teammates, Al Horford and Josh Smith, for that matter…

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    if this was offense only then I would prolly agree with you JTaylor. But as a two way player I’d take Johnson. Plus he plays in such a horrible system out there, it’s not very conducive to individual accolades. His versatility is also another thing that puts him ahead of Monta IMO, he can play and guard 2 different positions. 3 against the right opponents. Monta can play 2 positions, but only can defend 1 (and its not his natural position).

  • http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/10/4/2468098/nba-lockout-2011-owners-david-stern-robert-sarver-the-hook Allenp

    I think that Johnson suffers from inconsistency because of how he’s used.
    Golden State is just a much better situation for scoring consistently.
    If Joe Johnson played for the Warriors, he would kill.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Though I do think Joe Johnson is better than Monta as well.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    With JayTaylor on this one. I think Ellis took over this spot last year. JJ just seems to be on a consistent decline of being less effective every year for the last 3. Can’t believe he has what, another 4 years on the contract? Shoot, good luck Hawks…

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    If this list took contracts into account I wouldn’t put Joe Johnson in the top 40.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Don’t know why I named you Jay, Taylor.. lol probably not your name.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    Not his fault Hawks management is dumb enough to give him a huge contract…who wouldn’t take that kind of $$$? He’s still a solid all around player. He’s not a franchise guy, but he’s pretty darn good.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Y’all are making good points but are you telling me that Ellis wouldn’t be able to score “consistently” in Atlanta aka the land of isos and one-on-one”?
    JJ’s biggest problem is inconsistency. He possess all the skills and talent needed to be a big time scorer (shooting, handle, size and touch around the basket) but lacks the moxie. Go back to the playoff series vs CHI, after a great showing in Game1 (34pts) and a decent game4 (24pts), here are his numbers for the other 4gms (16/5/1, 10/1/3, 15/2/3, 19/3/4). Where’s the consistency in that?
    When your team relies on you for scoring and you have on and off nights like that, it more than the Hawks lack of offensive schemes that’s the problem.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Lake, it’s cool. You’re closer than you think.

  • don

    i’d take ellis over JJ right now. besides, ellis is more highlight material, if your team ain’t winning the conference title anytime soon, you might just as well have highlights to at least fill out the seats.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Also, what does it say about the Hawks best player that the only time the home crowd is out in full force and making noise is when the Roses, Kobes, LeBrons, Dwights and KDs are in town?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Well Joe Johnson shouldn’t be the number 1 option on any team that wants to win. I think that’s where his lack of consistency was. Just like Monta Ellis, who was not that consistent. Lets just look at the last 15 games of the season, (points only, I’m too tired to list more then that) 39, 16, 15, 26, 8, 18, 10, 15, 37, 20, 16, 32, 30, 26, 7. That is anything but consistent.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Fair enough. Can we all just agree that the gap between the top 2 SGs and the 3rd SG is grand-canyon huge?

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Hell yeah we can all agree to that.
    Two sure-fire future first ballot Hall of Famers.
    And whoever’s third will most likely be forgotten by most within 15 years.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Yeah I’ma double-stamp the triple stamp on that cosign JT.

  • http://Slamonline.com Caboose

    You can’t double stamp a triple stamp, you can’t double stamp a triple stamp! (Actually, I agree with nbk and JT completely…)

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    No erasies Caboose!!!

  • http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/10/4/2468098/nba-lockout-2011-owners-david-stern-robert-sarver-the-hook Allenp

    Exactly NBK.
    Monta would struggle too in the slower pace and isolation heavy offense in Atlanta. That offense is like the old Cleveland offense with LeBron only Joe JOhnson is far inferior to Bron.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    It’s funny how playing in Golden State totally screws up peoples perception of how good a player is. And vice versa for Atlanta & Portland.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    Luol Deng is better than Joe Johnson
    ……………………………………
    LOL just kidding, y’all.
    I think at this point, it’s safe to say there is no f*cking way Deng is better than any of the remaining players on this list so he should stop being brought up from now on, much to the excitement of MUBWAR…

  • http://www.gil1906.com Pve_2

    I will throw this out there–When Brandon Roy was the third best shooting guard in the league (’08-’10) the gap between top 4 SGs Wade(!), Kobe, Roy, Johnson, was not as significant as it is the current gap between the current top 3 SGs. RIP Roy’s knees.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I always thought BRandon Roy was overrated and not better than Joe Johnson. But I’m in the minority there.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    that was not me.

  • BAWSE

    You are the minority nbk! Roy was clutch and balled when it mattered the most. I live in atlanta and have gone to games. I have PERSONALLY seen in the playoffs JJ disapearing and sometimes never showing up! It is one thing not to have the skill set to dominate but this dude has everything BUT heart. Jamal Crawford is their best player to be flat out honest. If he had JJ’s body and full arsenal he would be a SURE FIRE HOF. Dude plays big in the clutch and ISNT SCARED! JJ is a glorified #3.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    It may have not been as huge as it is now but it was still a significant gap between Wade/Kobe and BRoy.
    nbk, so….what if SCurry explodes for 22/5/9 on 50%/40%/90% next year (which he’s capable of) does that change your perception of how good he really is?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    LOL Jamal Crawford is your best player? Might want to tell that too the other 4 guys on the team that are better then him. Dude shoots 41% for his career, but if he was 2″ taller and 40LB’s heavier he’d be a hall of famer. now that’s funny

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    No it doesn’t Taylor. If he brought his assists up to 9, and turned the ball over less then 3.5 times a game my perception of how good he is would change a little bit I guess. But that’s because he’d be doing things he is not doing now, on the same team. Like I’ve been saying, Monta Ellis is the same player he has been for the last 4 years, he just plays more minutes with more responsibility now then he used to. For example, in 2010-11 he averaged 21 Points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds on 45% shooting per 36 minutes. In 2007-08 he scored 19 Points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 Assists on 53% shooting. And his numbers have been similar every year.

  • http://Slamonline.com Caboose

    Hey Lake, wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world? Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Lakers.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    I used to like joe johnson… and from a two way standpoint he’s still better than monta… but i’d take monta over him in a heartbeat

  • http://stapledesign.com Spaceship Jay

    I think Monta can score without the ball… JJ can’t which significantly slows Atlanta’s offense. At times their offense looks like a pick-up game. Now than I think about it, positions 2-5 (and 6th man) play that way. And yeah, Wades been better than Kobe for at least 3 seasons now.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Joe Johnson led the league in 3pt % off the ball in Phoenix. Scored 18PPG and shot 47% from 3. Lets just say, he’s much more effective off the ball.

  • http://www.listerblister.blogspot.com rainman10

    The commenters do realize that these rankings have nothing to do with salaries and paychecks right?

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Spaceship Jay are you on crazzzzzy pills?? D-Wade better than Kobe for the last 3 years? WTH you talking about? How many games has he even played? How far in the playoffs did he take his team? Geez man.. lay off the crack in the morning. It’s arguable that this year Wade may be better than Kobe for the first time. I suggest not driving till the effects wear off homie.. dammmm

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Oh Wade was better then Kobe last season. That is not arguable.

  • http://slamonline.com datkid

    nah spaceship jay is right. wade has been better than kobe for a good 2-3 years… I feel like he was basically on his level in 08

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Lake, I have to agree with Spaceship on this one (surprise!). Has kobe taken his team further in the playoffs the past 3 seasons (apart from ’11), yes but you can’t hold that against DWade based on the lack of talent around him.
    With regards to individual brilliance, Wade has been the better player since the 08 Season. More efficient, better passer, rebounder, defender and has out-performed Kobe in the playoffs (individual standpoint). Now, before 08, Kobe was without a doubt the top 2 guard but ever since then, Wade sits at the top of the SG hierarchy.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Oh weird, nbk, datkid, and JTaylor all showing up to tell me how much Kobe sucks. What a shock. LBJ Fellowship Unite!! You guys are not intelligent. Just not smart people at all. Do I need to get stats are accomplishments or video proof? What do you guys need? New brains obviously.

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