The Official Site of JJ Redick

Thu, Jun 4th 2009, 10:40

J.J.: MAGIC READY FOR FINALS, KOBE BRYANT

Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick has watched Kobe Bryant up close, having practiced against him and shot with him after practice in Team USA drills three years ago.

The Magic have already faced Paul Pierce and LeBron James in these playoffs, but in Redick’s eyes there isn’t a better basketball player on the planet than Bryant. And J.J. knows his Magic have to find a way to slow down Bryant if they are to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in The Finals and win a NBA championship.

``Many have the opinion that Kobe is the most skilled offensive player in the world and I’d be one of those people who believe that,’’ J.J. said. ``He’s such a hard worker and he’s figured the game out and really he’s mastered it.

``He knows when he needs to score and when he needs to be a facilitator,’’ J.J. continued. ``We saw that in the Denver series from Kobe. He saw the way Denver was playing him and his teammates and he became a facilitator and got the job done.’’

J.J. is on The Finals stage for the first time in his three-year NBA career, and admittedly he’s awed by the magnitude of the moment. Growing up in Virginia, J.J. made it regular habit each June to watch the NBA Finals an analyze how great players such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan reacted to the pressure of playing on basketball’s grandest stage.

Now, J.J. is here on that stage too, and he admits that it all feels a little surreal to him.

``You think about growing up and I don’t think I’ve ever not watched a NBA Finals,’’ he said. ``Well, not up until last year because it was too hard to watch last year. You dream of these situations and it’s just a great feeling. I feel so blessed being a part of this team and in this great situation.’’

J.J. has played in 12 games this postseason, eight of them coming as a starter. He has averaged 6.2 points a game, while setting career playoff highs for points (15), assists (seven), rebounds (three), field goals (five), field goals attempted (nine) and free throws (four).

Because of Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s indifference to double-teaming the post, specifically Dwight Howard in this case, the Lakers will likely only dig down defensively and try to close back out on 3-point shooters. J.J.’s shooting range and the quick release on his shot could prove particularly beneficial for the Magic in this series.

J.J. experienced arguably the great college career of any player ever at Duke, but even he admitted that playing in the NBA Finals might be more significant. He said this experience is even different than his one trip to The Final Four.

``They’re similar, but this is a bigger stage,’’ J.J. said. ``This is more important in terms of your livelihood and your profession. The Final Four is more about pride for your school and all of that stuff. But when you turn professional, this is as big as it gets and this is what you play for.’’

Orlando defeated the defending champion Celtics and toppled James and the Cavaliers when few gave them a chance of winning, but J.J. said he doesn’t think the Magic the Magic are satisfied with just getting to The Finals.

That became quite apparent to J.J. last Saturday night after the Magic finished off the Cavaliers and were celebrating their Eastern Conference crown.

``Even the mood in the locker room after the Cleveland game we were all happy, but it wasn’t that much of a celebration,’’ he remembered. ``A couple of guys even made the comments, `This doesn’t exactly feel right.’ It’s not our ultimate goal. Our goal is to win a championship and that’s what we want to do now.’’