One of the many questions about the constellation of stars the Nets have assembled this offseason is who will have the ball in h𝔉is hands when the g🌱ame is on the line.
Jason Kidd seemed to at least partially answer that question Tuesday when he referenced Joe Johnson’✤s outstanding shooting in the clutch last seas🅘on.
“We🏅ll, if you’re into analytics, then Joe Johnson is a clear cut of the guy taking the last-second shot,” Kidd said. “He was 9-for-ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ10 with 24 seconds or less, so that will be your guy who is the closer.”
Johnson was a perfect 5-for-5 on shots with less than 30 seconds remaining and the game within one point for the Nets last season, by far the best performance in those situations in the league. But last season he wasn’t playing alongside Paul Pierce, who has hit as many big shots at the end of games — in both the regular season and in the playoffs — as any player of this generation.
Still, afte🃏r saying Johnson is a clear-cut choiceꩲ to hold the closer role for the Nets, Kidd went into his philosophy for end-of-game situations, which is also clear. Kidd said he may draw up a play designed to get Johnson a shot, but his only concern would be the ball moves to the open man and the shooter – be it Johnson, Pierce or someone else – gets a good look at the basket.
“The game of basketball is something that if you put five guys out there and draw up a play for one player, most of the time it’s not going to end up being that one player who takes a shot,” Kidd said. “[That player] creates a problem, which results in one of his teammates getting a wide-open look and, make or miss, it’s the right basketball play at the end.
“[But] if you’re looking at stats, and a lot of you guys do, Joe Johns🔯on’s name comes first.”