Joe Johnson, the Brooklyn Nets starting shooting guard and third-leading scorer during the regular season, is a game-time decision for Game 3 of Brooklyn's seven-game series against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago according to reports.
Johnson has been battling plantar fasciitis, the same injury slowing Bulls center Joakim Noah, since February, and aggravated the condition in Game 2. "I think it was a little bit of plantar in February when it first started, but now it's deep into the plantar fasciitis,"" Johnson said. "It'll be something I just have to fight through." He also said his injury affects him differently than Noah's affects him. "It's a little different for me and Noah," Johnson said. "I'm chasing guys off screens, penetrating and cutting, and he's a big man so it's a lot different."
During the regular season, Johnson missed 10 games with what the organization termed a "sore left heel." Clearly, that injury was the plantar fasciitis Johnson is complaining about now that is threatening his availability. Johnson said he is "hopeful" he will play Thursday. "I'm a little sore, but I'll be able to give them what I got," Johnson said. "We've battled, we've been through ups and downs all year. For us to come this far, I'm gonna do whatever I can to be out there."
Through two games of this series Johnson is giving the Nets 16.5 points, four rebounds and four assists while shooting 41.9 percent from the field. He is also a crucial part of Brooklyn's defense, because of his size and length. Johnson is listed at six feet, eight inches and 225 pounds, which allows him to guard any position besides center.
If Johnson can't go, his minutes will likely go to C.J. Watson, Jerry Stackhouse and MarShon Brooks. Watson is much smaller than Johnson, but provides a reasonable replacement for his shooting, while Stackhouse replicates Johnson's size. Brooks is the best scorer of the three options, but his minutes have been limited all season because of his deficiencies on the defensive end of the floor.
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