James Johnson and his lack of minutes

[lolwut]

I still can't believe Casey is starting Vasquez at the 3.

What in the world...?

[DellCurry4Life]

I think Leo explained pretty concisely during the game yesterday. JJ isn't playing because DD now starts at the 3 and there are just no minutes to be had at the 3. Because apparently, starting at 3 means you cannot play any other position the whole game and only Lou and GV are the 2's now.

I get the playing Ross thing as it tie's into the building for the future while trying to win today mantra, but it would be pretty easy for Casey to find some minutes for JJ at the expense of Lou if he wanted to. Lou provides some great scoring bursts, but when he's not scoring he's not contributing.

[DG88]

I still can't believe Casey is starting Vasquez at the 3.

What in the world...?

Um no, Vasquez is actually playing PG, Lowry is at SG and DD is at SF.

[DG88]

I still can't believe Casey is starting Vasquez at the 3.

What in the world...?

Um no, Vasquez is actually playing PG, Lowry is at SG and DD is at SF.

[DG88]

I still can't believe Casey is starting Vasquez at the 3.

What in the world...?

Um no, Vasquez is actually playing PG, Lowry is at SG and DD is at SF.

[DG88]

I still can't believe Casey is starting Vasquez at the 3.

What in the world...?

Um no, Vasquez is actually playing PG, Lowry is at SG and DD is at SF.

[DG88]

I still can't believe Casey is starting Vasquez at the 3.

What in the world...?

Um no, Vasquez is actually playing PG, Lowry is at SG and DD is at SF.

[Swervin81]

^

The patented quintuple post. Well done.

[Sherlock]

May be JJ's minutes are being cut to give DeRozan more minutes to get himself back into the flow of things. This is even more so with Ross on the bench and Vasquez starting. JJ's minutes become scares because of the new rotations. Before Ross and DD were both starting so JJ was able to get 20 minutes a game.

Fine, let's assume that is true that someone's minutes need to be cut in order to get DeRozan going again. Why does that person need to be JJ? Why can't it be Vasquez or Ross?

It just makes no sense to me that the solution to: DeRozan is injured and we need to find a replacement in the starting lineup or Ross has lost his mojo and we need to find a replacement in the starting lineup is Greivis Vasquez.

With Ross floundering we need to replace him with a 3 point threat on the starting lineup. Casey doesn't want to change the starting lineup that drastically.

Again, Vasquez has not been shooting well enough to argue that he's a huge threat in the Starting Lineup. But more importantly, he's a terrible defender and the Raps have completely lost their defensive identity over the month of January.

For someone like Dwane who's supposedly known to be a defensive coach first, it seems so strange that he would prioritize questionable shooting from range over defense in the starting lineup.

For me that makes more sense then JJ is in Casey's doghouse or that JJ did something wrong.

The only conclusion that makes sense is that JJ has pissed Casey off in some way or another. The alternative option is that Casey is an idiot who plays favourites.

Nothing else really makes any sense.

[Alfred]

Um no, Vasquez is actually playing the PG, Lowry is at SG and DD is at SF.

[kirkwood]

In other city the media would already have an answer for us, our media is almost an extension of mlse and won't say a thing


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[Tacoma]

I've always been a defender of Casey, but the benching of JJ really has me baffled.

Same here. And as much as JJ is this supposed hothead, he's been pretty quiet regarding this. I'm even more baffled that the reporters aren't asking Casey about it, ...

Casey was asked and he responded that JJ was voluntarily giving up his minutes to Ross to "get him going." There was a thread about this --> HERE.

But of course Casey's explanation makes about as much sense as his in-game substations.

[Ari_Emanuel]

I liked JJ the first time he was on this team, and love him the second. So it's taken me some time to wrap my mind around this.

JJ doesn't shoot 3s at an acceptable clip. Which isn't the worst thing in the world in isolation, but it's a major problem when your SG doesn't shoot 3s either. 3s are what's what today's NBA is all about. Everyone on Atlanta can shoot 3s except for Al, and he can shoot long 2s like other guys make lay-ups.

GV and Ross have shown the ability in the past to hit the 3-ball. Casey MUST try to get them going before the playoffs. Failure is not an option. So they (and Lou) get minutes, and JJ doesn't. It's a zero-sum game. It will be interesting to see what happens in the playoffs. The Jays World Series manager was all about the Jimmie's and Joes during the season, but became an X's and O's guy in the playoffs. Maybe Casey will be, too.

Brilliant breakdown. I personally don't think we can count on Vasquez to be a consistent shooter. Or if he is, it'll be vs bench players. So I think the team absolutely has to get Ross going. And I think it's totally possible if/when DeMar gets going. Not that complicated.

Great points, both of you.

Also remember that the franchise is committed to seeing Ross reach his full potential and they absolutely will not allow him to depreciate as an asset to the point where his value declines below that of an NBA starter. If management believes he's no longer worth keeping as a part of our core (which they may have already determined, we have no idea) they will not reveal their intentions and thus need to try and keep his minutes up.

Only way Ross gets relegated to the end of the bench is if it is on another team after we've traded him for another young prospect or as a part of a package for a star.

[NBJ13]

you know when you see a kid squeezing a balloon and it's only a matter of time before it pops...............

click click.....

[almatic]

I think Leo explained pretty concisely during the game yesterday. JJ isn't playing because DD now starts at the 3 and there are just no minutes to be had at the 3. Because apparently, starting at 3 means you cannot play any other position the whole game and only Lou and GV are the 2's now.

I get the playing Ross thing as it tie's into the building for the future while trying to win today mantra, but it would be pretty easy for Casey to find some minutes for JJ at the expense of Lou if he wanted to. Lou provides some great scoring bursts, but when he's not scoring he's not contributing.

...it doesn't even have to be at the expense of Lou.

James Johnson & Tyler Hansbrough are basically the same size at 6'9" 250 lbs.
I don't see what the heck is wrong with James Johnson at the 4 for some minutes, especially when interior defence is an issue right now & JJ is likely more athletic, quicker, stronger & probably even has a longer wingspan than Hands Bro.
Casey is a fan of small ball willing to play GV, Lou & Lowry all at once, but he can't give James Johnson minutes at the 4 spot? 2 of Amir/PPat/Jonas/Tyler always have to be on??? I just don't get it...

[DellCurry4Life]

I think Leo explained pretty concisely during the game yesterday. JJ isn't playing because DD now starts at the 3 and there are just no minutes to be had at the 3. Because apparently, starting at 3 means you cannot play any other position the whole game and only Lou and GV are the 2's now.

I get the playing Ross thing as it tie's into the building for the future while trying to win today mantra, but it would be pretty easy for Casey to find some minutes for JJ at the expense of Lou if he wanted to. Lou provides some great scoring bursts, but when he's not scoring he's not contributing.

...it doesn't even have to be at the expense of Lou.

James Johnson & Tyler Hansbrough are basically the same size at 6'9" 250 lbs.
I don't see what the heck is wrong with James Johnson at the 4 for some minutes, especially when interior defence is an issue right now & JJ is likely more athletic, quicker & probably even has a longer wingspan than Hands Bro.

I didn't mention Hans because his minutes are all over the place as well. But yeah same idea. The rationale for JJ not playing doesn't add up. There's either something happening behind the scenes (but it really doesn't seem so) or Casey seems to be unwilling to try JJ in different situations/positions

[Jermaine OBosh]

I would like Raptors to cut down Amir Johnson's minutes and give those minutes to James Johnson.

[TheSamMitchell]

Yes, this just supports the fact that Casey is a clown. We knew that already. There is no reasonable explanation for not playing JJ, when everyone else on the team is playing like complete garbage. JJ has stayed consistent through this whole rough patch. Leo Rautins says there are "other factors in play right now," so maybe there is something that we do not know...

You are just like the guy in the other thread. Stop contradicting yourself and making baseless assumptions to further your narrative of Casey. You claim there is no reasonable explanation for him not playing and then immediately point out the fact that Leo has mentioned that there are other factors at play. Is it all possible that those other factors are the reasonable explanation?
This isn't rocket science.

By quoting Leo, I'm giving Casey the benefit of the doubt. But, to me and you he is not playing JJ because he does not want to. Any other claims as to why JJ is not playing are purely speculation. The fact is JJ is not playing and Casey has not publicly given a reason as to why. What do you expect people to think of him, when is not playing one of the team's best bench guys?

[Mister Ze]

Um no

[hype_2004]

Casey needs to get fired, I can't fathom how this guy continues to play the lazy chuckers on the team while James sits on the bench. There is an agenda here anyone with some sense knows this.