Johnson will be asked to adapt to survive
Casey needs his athletic power forward to fill different role this coming season
It’s never been about the physical attributes with James Johnson, because those are indisputable when it comes to the Raptors forward who is big and quick and strong, a nearperfect specimen for this era’s NBA.
It’s the other parts of the game that have held him back, not playing much, not being a focal point and not trying to do too much when a chance to perform presents itself.
And if it’s been hard for him in the past it’s going to be even harder this season, and it’s not an overstatement to suggest how he handles it could determine the fate of his career.
Seen primarily as a power forward who could move to centre in some small lineups, Johnson is behind Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson for the former, with Anthony Bennett also in the mix, and Jonas Valanciunas and Bismack Biyombo in the lat- ter. It has to be maddening and frustrating but now, in the final year of his contract, Johnson simply has to handle it.
“It’s very difficult because I know how hard James has worked, my heart goes out for him, but he’s got guys in front of him here so he’s always going to be in that role,” coach Dwane Casey said Saturday.
“That’s what’s going to keep him in the league for a long time . . . him embracing that role in a positive way and being able to play multiple posi- tions because he is such a valuable tool.”
Johnson, at six-foot-nine, is the most freakish athlete on the roster. Casey calls him “the best driver in the league at his position” but finding the patience to wait for his chance and to not attempt to dominate games on his own when he plays is the secret.
“He understands what his role is and what’s being asked of him,” Casey said. “The key is his fight for consistency . . . be positive and embrace the role.
“There are a lot of guys in the league who’ve been in the league a long, long time who embrace that role, and there’s a lot of guys who don’t make it in the league because they don’t embrace that role.
“He’s got an opportunity to embrace that role.”
Johnson always has come across publicly as someone who knows the reality of his situation and is willing to accept it.
He talked Saturday about the difficulty of learning the nuances of playing two different positions — how to set up defenders with screens on offence, how to force opponents to their weaknesses rather than their strengths as a defender — but also how his game and body are perfectly suited for today’s style of play.
“It’s just learning the plays that’s really hard from the four to the five and the three, but it’s fun though,” he said.
“In this day and age, there really are no numbers when you go small, everyone’s just out there. The fives could be the twos or the threes, the fours could be the twos or the ones these days. The game is evolving, and it’s nice.”
The undeniable fact is Johnson has the capability to do it, as long as the mental aspect of the game doesn’t get to him. He may never be an allstar — his jump shot needs improvement, the rogue nature of his play sometimes irks coaches and teammates, but being prepared in both aspects will help him.
“The key for James is keeping his head up, making sure he stays positive, stays ready no matter what happens,” Casey said.