J.J. Redick Is on the Right Path

“Frustrated because it’s been proven that even if I play well in the limited minutes I get that not much is going to change.” This was written by J.J. Redick on his personal blog in January 2008. The Orlando Magic drafted Redick as their 11th pick on the first round in the 2006 draft although many questioned the Magic’s pick considering they have already 5 guards on the roster.
J.J. has to battle minutes with everyone which found himself already far from the rotation. He wasn’t tall or athletic but he knows one thing that keeps him apart from all the other guards… He got his shooting.
He finished his college career in Duke with an NCAA record of 457 three point field goal with 40.4% from 3 point range. He knows that defense was his weakness but that did not deter J.J. to work doubly hard on it. Redick has slowly found his niche in the Magic’s roster and this playoff he serves as a backup guard for Vince Carter. I don’t know about Stan Van Gundy but I think Redick deserves more minutes than Carter although Game 4, J.J. had 33 minutes while Carter had 31. On Carter’s 30:56 minutes on the court he only scored 3 points with 3 turnovers and 4 personal fouls a big discrepancy to Redick’s 33:11 minutes producing 12 points with 3 out of 5 from 3 point range. We all know Carter’s stint in Toronto when he was a franchise player but hostage the city and demanded a trade to the New Jersey Nets. There you see a guy who is loaded with talent but refuse to play defense and erratically shoots the ball with fade away shots and dislike being physically hit while the other work hard for his minutes and plays his heart out in every game. Nevertheless J.J. has to be proud on what he had accomplished this year, he found his offense and his coach’s confidence giving him more time to be what he is.
Ray Allen move swiftly from screen to screen while Redick followed him closely, the shooting arc the graceful movement the work ethic it was like J.J. was following his future self and while J.J. is far from Allen’s level at age 25 he still has a leeway to work hard and be a pure shooter like Allen.
Shooters have no room for frustrations; there are no rooms for personal blogs and lack of playing time. You just have to be ready anytime the team needs you.
J.J. won’t mind being a substitute for Carter, he doesn’t mind sitting on the bench on crucial part of the game he just know that when Van Gundy calls him… he is ready.
A quote from Larry Bird “A winner is someone who recognizes his God- given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” It seems Redick’s career is on the right path.