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J.J. Redick Plays Defense?
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By Kevin Arnovitz | TrueHoop
LOS ANGELES -- When a team loses as soundly as the Orlando Magic did Thursday night, you have to dig deep into the data to find any positives. Beneath the wreckage, there was one interesting item: Kobe Bryant went only 1-for-5 from the field when being guarded by J.J. Redick. Yes, it's a small sample size, and yes, it was garbage time. For Redick, though, Thursday night's stint on Bryant was another piece of evidence that the much-maligned guard might -- just might -- not be the defensive liability critics make him out to be. Scroll down to the middle of the page and read the rest of the article here ... |
Jun 07 2009 11:05 am by lazee
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J.J. on 850 The Buzz
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JJ Redick stopped by the morning show and covered numerous topics. Was LeBron James wrong to not shake Dwight Howard's hand? What's up with Superman's sweaters? What did he think of Dahntay Jones getting chippy with Kobe Bryant? Listen here... |
Jun 02 2009 2:20 pm by shell
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JJ Redick -- Ex-Afterthought
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Great article on JJ based on his performance during the Boston series, as well as transforming himself into a NBA player and not just a shooter. 
Read full article... |
May 20 2009 10:34 pm by lazee
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Orlando Magic's J.J. Redick: Intangibles Still Have Value in NBA
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by Patrick Reynell
Bleacher Report
I probably need to clarify that I have no invested interest in what I am about to write, which concerns one of the most celebrated and equivocally detested college basketball players of all time.
I'm not a Duke fan, nor am I a Duke hater.
Former Duke University star J.J. Redick is much more valuable to the Orlando Magic than the stat sheet may reveal. In fact, the Magic cannot win a playoff series without him.
(Please refrain from coarse language and crass comments until further reading).
Sure, the numbers don't jump off of the stat sheet thus far in the playoffs (6.1 points, 2.1 assists in just about 23 minutes a game), but he brings certain qualities and a basketball IQ that makes everyone around him a little bit better.
Redick started playing a more active role when Courtney Lee went down with an injury in the Philadelphia series. Prior to game five in that series, he played only 12 total minutes. From game five onward, he averaged nearly 27 minutes per contest.
Read full article... |
May 20 2009 7:57 pm by shell
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Magic's Redick Ejected From Game 2
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BOSTON (AP) - Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick was ejected from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night after picking up his sixth foul and then arguing with the official about it.
Redick fouled Eddie House as he came around a screen and was called for a foul. As he went to the bench, he whispered something in the referee's ear and was ejected shortly after.
Redick finished with 15 points. |
May 07 2009 9:29 pm by shell
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Magic's Redick looks to make new name for himself
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -J.J. Redick has been called every dirty four-letter word. He's dodged plastic cups and garbage, and he's read all the signs that mock him in almost every arena he plays.
For a guy his Orlando Magic teammates call the most-booed player in the NBA, Redick sure has a lot of confidence going into the biggest game of a professional career that has had more disappointments than highlights.
The former Duke star that so many fans love to hate is expected to start in place of injured guard Courtney Lee in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston or Chicago. In perhaps the most critical spot for the Magic, Redick has a challenge for fans on the road.
"I just want some creativity, that's all I want,'' Redick said Saturday. "I haven't heard creative things since college. Like really, I don't know if it's the alcohol consumption at NBA games, but there's nothing remotely creative or funny ever said to me. It's boring. I'm so conditioned to it now.''
The Magic are hoping his play matches his confidence.
The No. 11 pick in the 2006 draft, few players have ever entered the NBA with such a household name and such high expectations as Redick. He made more 3-pointers (457) than anyone in NCAA history and was one of the most prolific free throw shooters ever at Duke, a premier program fans already love to abuse.
Combine all that with his surefire attitude, and Redick might be the most maligned reserve in the league.
"That's the first time I've seen a guy like that get booed in almost every arena we go to,'' Magic forward Rashard Lewis said. "I don't know why, but a lot of people don't like him. You either love him, or you hate him.''
Living up to the high billing has been a struggle.
Redick has averaged 5.5 points in his NBA career. Although he played more minutes (17.4 per game) this season than ever before, he hasn't always been a consistent member of the Magic's rotation and at times is still "reduced to cheerleading,'' as he described it.
Playing time got so thin last season that Redick and his agent went public with his frustration, asking to get more minutes or be traded. Redick's nearly month-long slump between this March and April shook his confidence to the point he even joked he was going to watch his own instructional shooting video, "Better Basketball.''
But things have since cooled between Redick and the Magic, and the streaky shooting guard now finds himself with an opportunity that never seemed like it would come in Orlando.
"It's been a process,'' Redick said. "It hasn't always been enjoyable when I've been in the moment, but I'm ecstatic that it's happened the way it has because it has forced me to be a better player. It's also humbled me a little bit, made me a better person.''
Redick surprised most in his first playoff start.
He scored 15 on five 3-pointers in the Game 6 clincher against Philadelphia in place of Lee, who is expected to miss at least the first two games of the second-round series - and probably more - after having surgery on his fractured sinus. The Magic will play the winner of Saturday night's Game 7 between Boston and Chicago, and the pressure for Redick to perform will be even greater.
"I've been telling J.J. the whole season, 'Keep shooting the ball, the shots are going to fall,''' Magic center Dwight Howard said. "He came out, and he was on fire. He just has to keep it up.''
That could be difficult.
An undersized guard who's often criticized for his lack of defense and dribble penetration, Redick will face either Boston's Ray Allen or Chicago's Ben Gordon. The pair of guards present matchup problems for Redick, but Magic coach Stan Van Gundy insists Redick's assertiveness will help make up for what he lacks in size and strength.
"I think he knows what we want from him more probably as well as any of our players at both ends,'' Van Gundy said. "He's a guy that I think helps the other guys play well on the floor.''
One thing Redick knows he can prepare for is being mocked by fans and players. Of course, he said that's the one thing that doesn't get him rattled.
Redick said players love to taunt him by saying in a high-pitched voice, "The greatest college shooter of all-time.'' And the North Carolina fans, who are seemingly everywhere, will be sure to tell him that Duke stinks.
"It's a big opportunity at a very important time of the year,'' he said. "With every game, the stakes go higher. I'm sure the boos will, too.''
Reprinted from Sports Illustrated, May 2, 2009 |
May 07 2009 4:44 pm by shell
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