J.J. Redick: The Time Is Now?

It's been two years since we've had the luxury of seeing one of college's most prolific scorers perform. I mean, truly perform.

I'm not talking six minutes a game, perform. I'm talking lighting up defenses for 43 points, hitting seven treys, and leading his team into the NCAA tourney, perform.

I mean, really, what the hell ever happened to J.J. Redick?

I thought the purpose of drafting a player 11th overall was to...oh, I don't know, actually play him. But ever since Redick has suited up for the Magic, we've seen nothing but an awkward hand-holding session between him and the bench.

Keyon Dooling and Keith Bogans played ahead of him. Why?  Because they earned it? Because they were better defenders? Come on, Van Gundy. Come on, Orlando. You're running out of excuses.

Of course, Redick, much like Adam Morrison, might be another cliched "great white hype," who lights up the college floors but can't transition his game into the next level.

But if that's what they're really trying to sell me, I'm not biting. I don't buy it for a second. Even Steve Kerr found a way to get playing time. And he played behind Michael Jordan. And don't you dare call Kerr a point guard. All the guy did was shoot.

Look at Michael Redd. He can't rebound (not for a guy who's 6'6", anyways), he darn sure can't pass, and he couldn't play defense if his life depended on it. Yet, the guy averages 20 points per game and hits over 35 minutes a game.

And let's go back to last year for the Magic. Keith Bogans? Really?

Okay, okay, I'm done raining on Orlando's parade. Afterall, it's difficult to bash a team for not playing some former college star when the team did get back to the playoffs last season. True, to really give them a hard time about it would be a little unfair.

But what about this season?

Dooling and Bogans are gone—and now they have another rookie, Courtney Lee. And despite Redick supposedly being ahead of Lee (he earned it, just like Bogans), he's still projected behind him in the rotation. How does that work?

However, in preseason action, Redick has been nothing short of money. Just like the limited action in the past two regular seasons, he makes the most of his garbage time, hits solid percentages, and routinely puts in double-digit points in barely double-digit minutes.

The guy can flat-out score the ball. He shoots, gets to the line, drives, whatever. Watch the game tape. That's what it's there for.

This season, there is no logjam at shooting guard. There is no flux in the rotation. There's just Redick and an uphill battle of excuses and reasons to not allow him the chance to succeed.

It's time for Redick to get his opportunity. Not a 12 minutes per game opportunity, but a real shot at realizing his potential. It's time for Redick to assume a sixth man spot, or at worst the seventh, allowing him to play a good 20 minutes a game.

I dare you, Stan Van Gundy. I dare you. Play Redick 20 minutes a game and bet he won't score at least 15 points per game. Because you will lose. He's simply that good of a shooter.

And it's time the rest of the world finds out about it.