Why Toronto Loves Amir Johnson - From Hoopsworld

by Buddahfan on Jan 20, 2012 1:34 PM EST

Why Toronto Loves Amir Johnson

Toronto is the fifth largest city in North America. NBA fans forget that because, frankly, the majority of the Raptors’ existence in Canada has been rife with lottery picks and sub-.500 seasons. Despite that fact, Raptors fans are some of the most devoted in the league, and they’ve been extremely supportive of a player many casual fans seem to have forgotten: Amir Johnson.

Since coming to the team in the summer of 2009, Johnson has been a pretty average player, but that hasn’t stopped Toronto faithful from believing in the kid. Lucky for them, 2011-2012 looks like his best year yet as a pro ball player. That, at least, is what his coach thinks.

“He’s been great for us,” Toronto head coach Dwayne Casey said. “His energy, his screening, his leadership has been huge, and he does a good job on the boards.”

Johnson is averaging a career-high 8.1 rpg so far this season, and he’s started every game. He’s got seven double-digit rebounding nights already this year, and even though his scoring has dropped a little, Casey admits that isn’t something that they necessarily look for him to, anyway.

“We don’t really depend on him a lot for big time scoring,” he said. “Some nights he’ll get some big, good numbers, but we really don’t depend on him offensively. He does what he’s supposed to, screening, moving the basketball, rebounding, and he’s one of our best interior defenders that we have.”

That, according to Johnson, sounds just about right.

“I’m supposed to come in everyday and guard their best big,” Johnson told HOOPSWORLD. “I’m going against some of the top 5’s in the NBA, so I’ve got to have my mind on set and be ready to battle every big I play.”

It’s his defense, rebounding, and athleticism that have driven so many Raptors faithful into his corner. Even through struggles, they continue to insist he’s a player with a future, and don’t think for a minute that he’s been oblivious to that support.

“The fans have been awesome,” he said. “The fans are actually what drives us, what drives this team, and they’ve been a big support. Even if we win or lose they still back us up. Even though Toronto’s like a big hockey city, they really love their (basketball) team, and the fans have been great.”

However, once again this year the Raptors look like they’re going to struggle. But part of that is a new—and very good—head coach in Casey that didn’t get a full training camp with a very young team. Losing all that training camp, even with a returning head coach, would’ve been a challenge, and the team with the #5 pick in last year’s draft didn’t even get their lottery pick, talented Euro Jonas Valanciunas, to help improve upon the team’s dearth of talent. They won’t see him until next season.

In short, it’s hard to win games with all that stacked against you.

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Comments

Time for a facelift?

A struggling pro sports team will often start hearing calls for a trade. Our Local Heroes are no different, as a six-game losing streak which has featured (?) some truly unsightly b-ball has fans and commentators up in arms. We can’t toss the coach overboard – he just got here – so all we can do is ponder the merits of swaps. The Raps don’t appear to have any malcontents a la D. Cousins of the Kings, so that popular lever (“Big Jim McBob was a cancer in the dressing room”) can’t be pulled. The only overachiever we have this year is Andrea, but he’s (1) hurt & (2) we’ve waited forever for this guy to emerge; we can’t dump him now. So who’s left? Jose? In return for what? You can’t dump any starter (in any sport) without a strong candidate already on board to step in. No one’s going to trade their PG for ours, and Jerryd isn’t ready. Ed Davis? We’d get precious little for him right now. We bought high, let’s not sell low. DD? Another guy whose stock has dipped. Leandro? I suppose he’d be my choice if we must make a deal for its own sake, although I like the guy.
My feeling: “Don’t just do something – stand there” until the trade deadline, by which time we can hope that contending teams feel Barbosa will give them the extra push they need, and BC can extract a high price.
What say you?

by Newmarket Brian on Jan 20, 2012 2:11 PM EST reply actions

Sorry - this has been moved to "New Posts", where it belongs

by Newmarket Brian on Jan 20, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

Amir's Passion

His passion for the game is something to marvel at. Every time you see him play, he plays hard. He gets energized, he hustles, and he does his job. He’s a man who understands his role on this team, and embraces it.

by keepit4real on Jan 21, 2012 2:58 AM EST reply actions