James Johnson and his lack of minutes

jalenrose#5 · Post #1 » by **jalenrose#5** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:06 am

I still don't get why Casey has shut this guy out of minutes. When he's in the game, the Raptors defence just plays better. They play with an edge, they play with confidence, and for the most part, they close out shooters better.

I still don't get why Vasquez is starting over Johnson, and I don't get why James rubs Casey the wrong way. It happened two years ago, they dealt him for **** all and likely regretted trading him for nothing. They get him back and they treat him worse. He's producing, taking good shots and defending like a beast yet he gets the short straw while others get far more slack than him—whether its Lou "I haven't met a shot I won't take" Williams, Terrence "What's D?" Ross and Greivis "Pillsbury" Vasquez.

I said it over a year ago that the one player the Raptors missed was Johnson. They missed him last year in the playoffs to man-up to Joe Johnson, and right now, in the slump they're in, James needs more minutes...period. I don't care about spacing, he's a glue guy, and he's the straw that turns the Raptors defensive drink.

Did Johnson say something in the media to get into the doghouse or something? Because I'm dumbfounded as to why he's getting benched.

Throwback24 · Post #2 » by **Throwback24** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:08 am

JJ obviously said something that left Casey butt hurt and Casey already knows that he can always neuter JJ and Lowry if the situation ever arises. Vasquez is not on the table though.

Randle McMurphy · Post #3 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:17 am

Casey doesn't know how to manage his players properly. Has been obvious for quite some time now. This JJ situation is just a particularly egregious error.

PenguinBoxer · Post #4 » by **PenguinBoxer** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:33 am

3-3 in 5 minutes and nothing but pine meanwhile the rest of the guards just chuck brick after brick and PP pretrend hes a guard

Clementine9 · Post #5 » by **Clementine9** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:42 am

If anyone ever sees JJ in Toronto, assure him we love him even if Casey doesn't.

MikeM · Post #6 » by **MikeM** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:51 am

Who needs a good defending wing who shoots SIXTY PERCENT?

J-Roc · Post #7 » by **J-Roc** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:51 am

You'd think we're starting Vasquez as a temporary measure because someone is injured. Casey needs to figure out a rotation to take into the playoffs. Ross should still be in the starting lineup. Keep the rest the same.

PenguinBoxer · Post #8 » by **PenguinBoxer** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:58 am

he played what? 2 minutes in the 4th? insane

Bobbcats · Post #9 » by **Bobbcats** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:04 am

MikeM wrote:Who needs a good defending wing who shoots SIXTY PERCENT?

yeah but did you see his turnover? keep that man on the bench

Asif16 · Post #10 » by **Asif16** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:36 am

Because casey is a **** idiot. I swear if JJ leaves again before casey im gonna lose it. Casey needs to leave. Not JJ.

jalenrose#5 · Post #11 » by **jalenrose#5** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:40 am

Well I think Lowry's play in the 4th is exactly what the team was missing.

It wasn't him making shots, it was him with the ball in his hands. Having him play off the ball when DeRozan returned was hard to watch. The spacing was screwed up and the team was forcing a ton of shots. Lowry's ability to drive, draw and dish with the BALL IN HIS HANDS, is what the team was missing.

Bench Vasquez, move Ross back to SF and get back to what Lowry does best..drive, draw and dish or drive, draw and get to the line. The lanes will open up for Ross and DeRozan for open jumpers.

I honestly still don't get the experiment with Vasquez at the 1 and Lowry at the 2 on offence.

Raps do this, JJ gets his minutes back...easily.

orbesnet · Post #12 » by **orbesnet** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:41 am

tonight really exemplified how messed up this situation is... jj looked the best out there and got the least burn, something must of happened behind closed doors. Free JJ!

Tyrone Slothrop · Post #13 » by **Tyrone Slothrop** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:43 am

When pretty much all of realgm can agree on something you know it's incredibly obvious.

kplooksafterme · Post #14 » by **kplooksafterme** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:43 am

Something must have happened behind the scenes because he has been very good all season.

Tomhomes33 · Post #15 » by **Tomhomes33** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:49 am

PenguinBoxer wrote:3-3 in 5 minutes and nothing but pine meanwhile the rest of the guards just chuck brick after brick and PP pretrend hes a guard

Why media don't ask Casey about this after the game?
Someone should ask and present these facts and demand detailed explanation!

Mister Ze · Post #16 » by **Mister Ze** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:50 am

It's honestly mind boggling but I think DC uses Vasquez over Johnson to stretch the floor for KL, Demar, and JV.

But there is no question that DC has something personal going on with JJ; he has been one of the few consistent players this year who works hard on defense.

I seriously hope Vasquez isn't our starting 2 guard for the playoffs.

tecumseh18 · Post #17 » by **tecumseh18** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:54 am

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.

Volcano · Post #18 » by **Volcano** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:05 am

yeah..sometimes the JV benchings make sense

JJ is getting screwed over worse than JV. It's scary that a defensive-minded coach can't recognize the value of defensive players.

J-Roc · Post #19 » by **J-Roc** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:08 am

tecumseh18 wrote: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.

KL78192020 · Post #20 » by **KL78192020** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:23 am

If you play JJ then you have to bench Amir, which Casey did do in favor of Patterson. Might as well give it a shot, with JJ and PPAT in and Amir/GV out.