Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Joe Johnson Reflects On His Arrival, Brooklyn Fans Exceeded Expecations

In an effort to start the era of the Brooklyn Nets with a bang, the Nets from office made several attempts at assembling a team filled with marquee names via "the Miami Heat" method, but through trades. The first of failures occurred when they tried to lure Carmelo Anthony, who was leaning towards the Knicks, to the then New Jersey Nets. Just as they had with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and several other free agents, the Nets tried to sell the idea of being the face of a new franchise, to sell the idea that they would have the support of over two million Brooklynites instantly. The vision was there, the progress was being made, but ultimately it was the Knicks who ended up with Carmelo.

A depressing end to the Melodrama, King redeemed himself with a surprising trade to bring in Utah Jazz superstar Deron Williams to the Nets. A move so spontaneous, that Deron found out he was traded by watching ESPN. It happened like a finger-snap, quick but loud. The Nets now had hope, and now looked to grab yet another superstar. This one, however, expressed his want to play for the Nets. Dwightmare began, and ended, and began again, and ended again. It was a cycle that I would rather not repeat, but in the end, King failed to finalize a deal that they had worked so hard on. But what was the consolation prize this time? Gerald Wallace? What looked like an awful trade is now showing its positives as Wallace entwines his energy and defense within the team. A Carmelo loss followed a Deron arrival. A Dwight loss was proceeded by just a Wallace arrival and the possibility of both the losses of Wallace and Williams? The future was not looking to bright.

Not too long after, King pulled off yet another move that shocked, and shook, the NBA. In order to keep Deron Williams, King brought in six-time All-Star Joe Johnson. Joe Johnson, the player with a contract that seemed immovable. But it happened, and King once again redeemed his failure to bring in Dwight Howard, whether it be his fault or not.

Yet again, the player did not know that he was traded to the Nets. From an article by the Brooklyn Magazine, Johnson was quoted to have said the following on his surprise arrival to Brooklyn.
“I heard about it, like, two days before it happened. And they were telling me there was a good possibility it won’t happen.”
A chance to change the league's outlook on his isolationist playing style and to possibly recreate himself, Joe Johnson was excited by the move to a new city with a new team, new expectations and new respect. Even then, it took a while to take in.
“It didn't sink in that I was moving to New York City until I came here to start looking at places.”
With the vast New York City for his to explore, Johnson had to find a place to stay. With his abundance of money at hand, it was just the adjustments and decisions that needed to be made. 
“It was tough for me. Coming from the South, you get a lot for your money. New York is kind of like the opposite. I made my decision last minute.”
The Brooklyn Magazine goes more in-depth on his move from the South to Brooklyn, including the transferring of all his luxuries. With all the help he was receiving in moving, choosing a new home, and adjusting his lifestyle, the BK Magazine asked Joe Johnson how he felt now about the change of scenery.
“Kind of, sort of. I’ve taken to the lifestyle pretty well. It hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be.”
Followed by the move came talk of the rivalry (of course). With a squad sporting Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez (deemed the "Core Four"), Johnson was asked about Prokhorov's original plans: Can the air of Brooklyn cool and a roster ready to contend right away cause eyes to wander across the Hudson for a few Knicks diehards?
“Hopefully. Our main focus is not necessarily stealing Knicks fans, though,” says Johnson. “I think Brooklyn, period. Just that borough alone can fill up that space and make it a very noisy, tough place to play. So far it’s been beyond my expectations.”
Honestly, I was expecting Johnson to follow the comment on not stealing Knicks fans with stealing NBA fans. The team has high aspirations for the future. But he did answer the question at hand, and was fully correct by saying garnering the support of the two million people of Brooklyn can easily fill Barclays Center. It will take time, and the currently slumping Nets will need to find ways to win games against better opponents (and the Knicks) to create a consistent fan-base.

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