James Johnson Watch Week 10: It's been some kind of year, hasn't it?

If there is one thing I know for certain about 2016 is that it will mark the end of James Johnson, Toronto Raptor. What will my life be like? Couldn't really tell you. Will James Johnson be plying his NBA trade in a different city? Yes, most definitely. This is some kind of transference, let me tell you.

Of course it dawns on me at the end of the year that I've probably written more words about Johnson than anyone else on the Internet. Is that possible to know for sure? I don't know, but it feels true. In that period I've tackled the concept of JJ in some strange ways. We discussed being a professional a la Bridge of Spies, there was that tweet to grapple with, we went full art film, and then, naturally, made Star Wars comparisons. Quite the gamut, really.

At the end of 2015, I'm left with one certain uncertainty. We will never get to the bottom of this, not even after it's over. And it will one day soon be over.

Did James Johnson Play?

At a certain point, the term "play" begins to feel relative. Have we reached that limit yet with Johnson? I don't know. He did play just over 22 minutes in three games this past week, but the team is at full strength again so as far as I know, that may be the last we ever see of him. It feels like the end of an era, even though there are still 49 games left in the season.

In any case, if you took the easy bet last week and went with the under, you have won. But have you really won? Have any of us? For these ten weeks, as we've reviewed the ups and downs of a man's career, his livelihood, I often wonder if we can ever really claim victory.

Game Highlight

I went casting around Twitter to see what I could find on Johnson highlights from the past week. A fool's errand perhaps, but I had to give it a try. I searched for "james johnson" and what I found shook my soul to its core:

A loaded image. An ominous omen. A bad sign for 2016.

Prediction for the Week

Didn't you read that last section? Things are looking grim, man! The Raptors have a packed first week of the year, as they take on the Hornets and Bulls at home before heading out on the road for games against the Cavaliers and Nets.

Johnson, much like us, will be there to bear witness.

Over/Under Minutes: 8.5

What a tumble in the line, from 67.5 last week to 8.5 for the first week of 2016. Does anything sum up the daily existence of James Johnson's playing career more than that?

Godspeed to you all. But most of all to James Johnson.

See you in 2016.