Redd lacks the strength to contain the bigger and quicker Johnson.
I see why Hoyo gets so upset that nobody reads posts on here. Doesn't actual -- rather than theoretical -- performance count for anything?
Head to head, Redd has outscored Johnson 11 of the past 12 times. Isn't that the point of the game? To score more than your opponent? In 17 career games, Johnson is averaging 16.0 points per game against Redd. The last time they met, in late January, Johnson scored 9 points. Redd has held Johnson to 15 or less in 8 of their past 12 meetings.
But, regardless of the facts, people will continue to underrate Michael Redd. Obviously, he's much worse than Johnson. Why? Conventional wisdom, rather than actual performances in actual games.
Since when does scoring stats tell the whole story? JoJo is a more complete guard than Red who is a pure shooter. Johnson handles the ball more and helps facilitate the offense more than Redd Does. Not to mention Redd is coming off a major injury right now and he was an average defender at best before the injury. I'd be surprised if Redd could guard his way out of a wet paper bag right now.
I took Portland in this matchup in 6 simply because over a 7 game series I just don't think Shaq can be denied. But Portland's backcourt defensively is swiss cheese and Lewis at the 3 spot isn't much better. Houston's penetration and fast break ability will steal at least a couple of games before bowing out.
If Redd is "swiss cheese", though, why is Johnson only averaging 16 points and 5 assists against him?
Late to the argument, but the answer, Roy, is in the stats. Redd built up a formidable point advantage over Johnson in the first 4 games Johnson played in Atlanta dring the 2005-06 season, when Johnson was the only good player on the whole team and was still trying to get used to being "the man" on a team. Double Johnson or concentrate on stopping him and you won most mights. That team was 26-56 and just god awful.
During that 4 game stretch Johnson got outscored by Redd by 50 points or 12.5 per game. Remove that 4 game stretch from the stats and Johnson's and Redd's stats stand [dang] near identical in most categories and since Johnson is a year younger and not coming off a huge injury, I would now give him the advantage.