Clutch performer Joe Johnson looking for bounce-back year for Nets

Witnessing Joe Johnson fill up the net at a breakneck pace against his former team used to ignite a slow boil inside Jarrett Jack.

No wonder Jack was thrilled when he was shipped from Cleveland to the Nets via trade in July, knowing the bothersome nights of seeing Johnson torch his team was a thing of the past. He can almost pull up a lawn chair and enjoy the festivities now.

"Yeah, I'm tired of being on the other side and him busting our [butt]," Jack said Tuesday. "We've been neighbors for a while, we've known each other for a nice little minute. He's a cool dude and I'm happy to play alongside him."

Preparing for his third season in Brooklyn, Johnson remains the Nets' go-to guy, the steady cog in their offensive wheel. As he settles in for his 14th year as a pro, Johnson has his mind set on bouncing back from what he believes was a mediocre 2013-14 regular season, eyeing improvement in some targeted areas.

Johnson will focus on getting to the free-throw line more and helping the big men out on the glass. He also will work on not settling for the easiest shot when the team is in a funk and digging in deeper defensively.

But he'll have to do all that while picking up another change in philosophy, particularly offensively. New coach Lionel Hollins is moving away from the isolation scheme prevalent in the Nets' small-ball approach under Jason Kidd a year ago after Brook Lopez was lost for the season with a fractured fibula. Avery Johnson and P.J. Carlesimo were also big proponents of running isolation offense, a strength of Joe Johnson's.

Hollins' approach calls for more motion and ball movement, a style the versatile Johnson believes he easily can adapt.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, to be honest with you," said Johnson, whose love of hot yoga helped him drop some weight over the summer. "One thing about me is I'll never complain. I'm a basketball player, I'm a hooper. So whatever offense you want to run, I'm capable of running or adjusting to it. Whether you want a catch-and-shoot or you want me to go off the dribble, post up.

"Whatever you want me to do, I can do it. So that's one thing I try to predicate in my game, is not to have a weakness as far as being able to help this team."

He certainly hasn't shown one in the game's waning moments and is the definition of clutch. He connected on his first seven shots in the final 10 seconds of regulation or overtime when the Nets were tied or trailed by three points or fewer. Still, people are quick to point to Johnson's $119-million contract, suggesting he's overpaid and doesn't deserve the type of money that's doled out to Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant or many of the game's other elite scorers.

"I think that's what's going on with Joe," Jack said. "Maybe because he doesn't have the explosiveness or the super, super sexy game, so to speak. But he's always a guy that gets the job done."

That's why it's hard to imagine where the Nets would be if they had not acquired Johnson leading into their big move back across the Hudson River in 2012. He's been as responsible for their success as anyone.

"It's been amazing," Johnson said. "Obviously, my role has changed. But I've had a lot of fun playing in the big city. I never even thought I would play in New York, so to be able to play in Brooklyn starting off a new franchise has been unbelievable for me

"This has been a great ride and hopefully I can continue it."