Which Raptor would survive a zombie apocalypse? Who has the most impressive autograph collection? Did Luis Scola get emotional at the end of Fast & Furious 7? (Hint: hell yes). Why is Terrence Ross singing Alice Cooper? Every day until the season starts, a new player steps in front of the lens and answers the tough questions so you can get to know your Toronto Raptors. Up next, James Johnson doesn’t want to flip any more burgers.
|Know Your Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas|Terrence Ross| DeMar DeRozan| Norm Powell| Patrick Patterson| Anthony Bennett| Bismack Biyombo| Cory Joseph| James Johnson|
Let’s just get this out of the way: James Johnson is the most enigmatic Raptor there is. And, frankly, it’s not even close. Maybe the most athletically-gifted (the guy can kick the rim) and a player with strengths in most of the Raps’ greatest areas of need (defensive versatility, toughness, ability to get to the basket), you’d figure Johnson would play a big part on this team.
Then you look at his game logs and quickly realize he’s a man without a defined role (or position). Starting some games, playing 20+ minutes one night and seven the next, his Raptors tenure is one long roller coaster ride.
It all comes down to trust, and whether or not head coach Dwane Casey feels comfortable knowing what he’ll get from Johnson when he checks in a game. Will he lock down opponents on D and expose them on offence? Or will he gamble too often and chuck ill-advised long jumpers? You don’t really know, and that’s the problem. Part of the issue, of course, is that Johnson is super-skilled. He really can do a bit of everything, but, you know, too many cooks…
Through pre-season, Johnson is yet to establish his role in Casey’s rotation. It could be an ongoing frustration for both the coach and player this season. But if they can get on the same page…
2014-15 stats: 70 games played (17 starts), 19.6 mpg/7.9 ppg/3.7 rpg/0.8 spg/1.8 bpg/58.9% shooting (21.6% 3PT)
|Know Your Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas|Terrence Ross| DeMar DeRozan| Norm Powell| Patrick Patterson| Anthony Bennett| Bismack Biyombo| Cory Joseph|