Updates
Thu, May 8th 2008, 21:36
Playoff Update
Hey y’all- sorry for the time between blogs. Things have been busy with travel, practices, and games so I haven’t had a good chance to sit down and write. Things are pretty good here. We obviously advanced past Toronto by winning the series 4-1. I wasn’t that surprised. All season we proved to be better than them and the playoffs were no different. Dwight had a tremendous series and dominated the paint just like he has all season. On a side note, I’d like to congratulate him on being named First Team All-NBA. I know he’ll be named to many more All-NBA team. Entering the Detroit series, I felt we had a great chance to beat the Pistons. We let one get away in Game 2- people can talk all they want about the play at the end of the third quarter but the truth is we shot ourselves in the foot countless times with turnovers and poor shot selection. However, we did get a big win last night and have a chance to even the series up on Saturday night.
On a personal note, I have not gotten to play much in either series. Of course, I’m not surprised by this. I didn’t expect to- but it has been fun to be a part of the playoff atmosphere. I’ve enjoyed rooting my team on. The reason that I was not active for Game 3 vs. Detroit was because I’m suffering from some tendonitis in my right foot. It’s pretty painful and it kind of came on suddenly, but I hope to be back in uniform Saturday for Game 4.
Other than that, everything is well. I know I promised you guys pictures- I tried to email them to my guy to put on the website but that didn’t work. We came up with another way for me to get the pics to him but now I can’t find the disc they were on. Typical. As soon as I find the pics (they were from our charity gala at the end of March) I will put them up on the website.
Two final things-
1) I’d like to personally thank all of you guys for your support and encouragement. I know you guys haven’t gotten to see me play much the last two years. Trust me, as frustrating as it is for you, it’s even more so for me. I hope that next season I get to ball. In the meantime, I’ll keep cheering and staying ready.
2) One of my favorite things about my website is answering questions from the fans. I don’t always get a chance to answer the questions you guys post in response to my blogs. But as most of you know there’s a feature on the main page where you can submit a question. Please submit any interesting question you may have and if your question gets selected I’ll answer it to the best of my ability. And please don’t ask, “When are you gonna update your site?” Not cool, Adam.
Comments
sarah | on 4/6/08
jj. i think u are an amazing basketball player. i have followed u from the very beginning and hopefully i dont sound creepy when i say this but i love u so much! for years my dream has been to just be able to meet u, but my friends told me u have so much status that u wuldnt even spit in my direction lol i dont believe them tho. u play so well and u look so good doing it..if u ask me that takes some super talent! okay i think im done now. one day before i die i will come see u play in real life! okay bye. and good luck in all u do!
ralph | on 19/5/08
I would like to see you in a Celtics uniform.
brett smith | on 17/5/08
it would be great to see you play for the cavs, jj! seeing lebron drive and kick it to you spotted up. i know there’s a lot of fans of yours around here, too, and we would love you in cleveland. keep up the hard work.
Patrick | on 13/5/08
Dear JJ:
Ralph Marston once said “The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen.”
Your fans will always support you and pray for you.
Jonathan C | on 13/5/08
not sure if anyone on here’s asked ya this before, but if ur friend’s list isn’t full could you give me ur xbox live gamertag
Philip Marino | on 11/5/08
who is your best friend in the locker room
Stephanie | on 11/5/08
I am hopeful you will be a “key” player next season. Keep the faith.
-Steph
PS: Thanks again for keeping the fans updated.
erika | on 10/5/08
we love you JJ.. we love your site and we know you have little time for yourself-its all good we enjoy your blogs.. keep your composure and train hard your doing great.. we all know you’ll get playing time sooner or later.. no matter what your fans will be behind you.. much aloha.. muah erika
Susan | on 10/5/08
Oh my gosh JJ!! I was just browsing to find out why you’re not suited for today’s game when I came across this blog. I had to write. I miss not seeing you play for Duke. It’s just not the same. Don’t worry about the lack of playing time. You obviously deserve it and it will come for you. Would you ever consider coming to the Suns? :) You and Grant could play together again. We love him here in Phoenix. Anyways, do you ever get back to NC to visit Duke? I will definitely be taking a trip in June when I head out there to visit my family. Well, take care and good luck in the series!
Ashton | on 10/5/08
Hey JJ. I think you update your website quite enough. Trust me, your playing time will come. I have been dying to see you play again. I have like 25 Duke games on my iPod of you playing, so I cant wait until I can get some NBA footage of you. You are doing a great job of keeping your composure together, I am proud of you. Someday, you are going to get into a game and catch on fire, and stay on fire. You have to make it happen. When you play, come off of screens hard and shoot the lights out. Hope your foot heels soon and fast, tendinitis STINKS!
p.s. I know you can shoot free throws better than anybody in the NBA, the playoff free throw percentage stinks!
Nicole | on 10/5/08
I was asking everyone how you got injured and nobody could tell me anything…thanks for clearing that up. I think im going to do what steve is going to do & pray for you to get PT everyday until you do. Everyone wants you on the court so bad and if trading you is what will make that happen then go for it!
Stephanie D. Smith | on 10/5/08
JJ, I’m sorry that you have had a frustrating season, but your time is coming. You will have the chance to be the player you hope to be. Just continue to be faithful. As for the website updates, don’t worry about it. You are very good and keeping us posted and telling us about what is going on in your life, on and off the court. And as a fan, I appreciate that. CONGRATS to Dwight! And CONGRATS to the Orlando Magic for advancing to the second round. You all are awesome.
I am excited to see Duke play this coming season, it should be great!!!!
Take care and have a great playoff series against Detroit.
pong from philippines | on 10/5/08
hi JJ!! please dont get frustrated..we r all hear to support you..i know its been a lot different from ur years in duke and here in magic..but we all pray that u stay healthy so u can play whenever u r called..i know time will come and u’ll have what you want, a genuine plaiyng time..i hope r words of encouragement and support will let u feel LESS frustrated, somehow…as always, good luck and God bless!! beat beat beat the pistons!!!
pong from philippines
Steve | on 9/5/08
I hope you get to play some in game 3! I can’t understand why you didn’t play more at the end of game 2 with out players not making much of anything.. I have to say, though, it was great to see Augie get in there and shot a hook in the final minutes of game 3!
Trey | on 9/5/08
Man I was getting pumped waiting to see you play at the end of game 3, but then I didn’t see you on the sideline. I was thinking man this would be an awesome time for JJ to pick up a good 5 minutes in the playoffs, with Garrity, Gortat and Augustine all in at the end. That’s the best part of the game honestly whenever you and James get in there and light it up even though its at the end.
Ciera | on 9/5/08
Glad to hear you’re dealing with things so well! Way to stay positive! I’ll be praying for your tendonitis to get better. That’s not a good feeling. You’ll always have my love and support!
God Bless! Love, Ciera
Brad Johnson | on 9/5/08
Will you be working at any camps this summer that I could try to get my kids into? My son Jake (JJ) calls himself your biggest fan in TN. He got to meet you before a game your rookie season and has adored you even more, ever since. We came down for three games this past year and caught you on the road in Memphis and Atlanta, but didn’t get to really talk to you. Maybe another setting besides pre-game would be easier.
Jeff | on 9/5/08
Actually, I think you update your website more often than a lot of other athletes do. It may be a little thing to some but it shows how committed a person is to the things that they have a passion about. There isn’t anyone who can take that away from you except yourself. So stay committed and don’t let your love for playing ball fade, a wise person will recognize those qualities eventually and let you take it to the next level on the nba court finally for all to see. It’s gonna happen!! It may not happen the way you imagine it, but it’s gonna happen!! In the meantime, enjoy the journey there!!
Steve | on 9/5/08
Love you JJ! it’s nice to see a fellow christian poet has a place in the nba. anyway, i’ve decided that in order to get you more playing time, i will pray every day until next season’s trade deadline that somehow Detroit takes a shine to you this series and calls you to come play for us here in the D. talk to Chauncey, talk to Rip, talk to Sheed, Joe D, whoever, together we can make this happen! okay, so i’m rooting for the Pistons, but i wouldn’t mind seeing the series go 7 to be able to watch you get some more court time, even though i know a shorter series means more rest before boston… best of luck to you and your team (sorry, though, not your coach) in this series, take care, ok?
Danny | on 9/5/08
hey jj. i was just wondering if through the years college or nba coaches have changed your shot at all. if they have, what did they change about it? thanks a lot and good luck the rest of the way.
Kyle J. LeBlanc | on 9/5/08
How different is strength and conditioning training from when you were at Duke to now in the NBA with the Orlando Magic?
Tom | on 9/5/08
do you think kobe deserved the MVP? If not who?
Jen | on 9/5/08
Hey JJ, thanks for keeping us updated! I have been trying to catch as many games as I can on TV! Just been busy! Hey so yesterday I heard on the radio they were going to make an Anchorman 2 movie, and I thought of you!!! Hope everything else is good! Thanks for being so awesome!
~Jen
Nancye | on 9/5/08
It amazes me how the media likes to throw little barbs into an article they posted about the reason you were not suited up and sitting behind the bench. One such Orlando site posted that this proves you are at the end of your career with the Magic while another posted the truth. Your fans appreciate you’re keeping us posted so we know the real truth. I do know that you didn’t look too happy sitting back there which would lead us to believe it was not your idea to be there. Stay positive and by the way I like your hair and the suit you were wearing is super sharp.
diana | on 9/5/08
well sorry to hear about your foot hope you feel better. and i hope you get to play against detroit. but magic are doing pretty amazing right now. well peace it easy and good luck.
Jordan | on 8/5/08
JJ,
I was wondering why you weren’t suited up. Hope your foot heals quickly. Excited to see the magic advance. Everyone keeps asking who I’m cheering for and when I say the magic they ask, “really why?” “Cause JJ plays for them, he’s the bomb!” haha….. Hope you get to nail some clutch playoff shots soon. Rock on JJ
Jordan
kk | on 8/5/08
what do you believe would be the most rewarding job to have, regardless of money, fame, hype, etc.?
Patrick Garrett | on 8/5/08
Hey J.J. just wanted to say i hope you get some more playin time man.I really dont know why you dont considering you can shoot the ball better then alot of’em out there.I Also Just Wanted To Say Thanks For Everything.You’ve made such a diffrence in my life.Im closer to god than ive ever been and its because of you and they way you live.Ive also been tryin to work on my jumpshot like yours in hopes to make it on my highschool basketball team next year(ill be a freshmen).You’ve inspired me to work hard at what i want and that is to play basketball at Duke one day.Im fourteen right now so i got about 4 more years.But I just wanted to say thanks.For Everything.
Tyler | on 8/5/08
Great to hear that things are going well. Really excited for Duke next year, I think they will have a awesome team. Hey ive been looking for some workout songs, do you have any that you like to listen to?
Peace out,
Tyler