James Johnson at the 4

[OldSkoolCool]

^JJ reaches a lot when he plays guys on the perimeter. He gambles and it leads to penetration. I think he would be better over the course of the game against post players.

Also the guards need to stop getting bailed out. Either defend, or sit. That is what the coach has to instill, we have Fields and Bruno who would love to get out there and will play hard defensively.

[planetmars]

JV/Amir do a pretty good job defensively against other bigs.. The biggest deficiency in my opinion on defense is with the opposing guards/wings.. so if JJ is the best defender on the team, then I'd rather have him out there defending those guys.

I'd rather have JJ in the starting unit over DD though. JJ/DD don't work very well together as neither spaces the floor well for the other. It would be okay if KL could shoot, but he's stinking up the joint. I'd rather have Lou with JJ and then bring DD up off the bench. Never going to happen, but that's how I would do it.

[S.R.]

I don't share any of these concerns. Defensively, he is as big, as strong, and quicker than pretty much any PF in the league.

Offensively he is useless >20 feet from the rim anyways, so why slot him as a wing player? Why not use him on the low block on switches/miss-matches. And since he is so quick with great hands, having him run a high PnR he will be able to destroy. Or you could just give him the ball at the high post and he could face-up and isolate from the FT line against slower PF's. Would lead to many dump off passes to JV, and kickout passes to the corner for Ross*

*which he is still good at, we just never use him there)



Thanks for rolling out the lineup I suggested a month ago...

It also was extremely effective last week in the first half of a game....can't remember who it was against. But it was very good.

One of the broadcasters (Leo?) claimed JJ has the best post up game on the Raps. I'd believe it - he has the size and strength for his position, quickness, and good footwork. That same good footwork lets him eurostep through multiple defenders and finish with a layup.

One of the simplest short-term solutions for the current bad play is to involve the bigs in the offense more - go to JV and JJ more often and more consistently.

[OldSkoolCool]

I certainly would like to see more of him at the 4.

However, my concern is this: you put him at the 4 and the most likely result is that other teams stay big, he's got a PF on him, and he'll lose the advantage that he has now in posting up smaller players. However, if you go small, put him at the four along-side a floor-spacing big at center, that could work.

The J.J. / P.P. combo just makes so much sense. Patterson pulls the PF out to the perimeter, and Johnson goes to work against the SF in the post. If the defense collapses, pass it out to Patterson for the wide open 3.

I don't share any of these concerns. Defensively, he is as big, as strong, and quicker than pretty much any PF in the league.

Offensively he is useless >20 feet from the rim anyways, so why slot him as a wing player? Why not use him on the low block on switches/miss-matches. And since he is so quick with great hands, having him run a high PnR he will be able to destroy. Or you could just give him the ball at the high post and he could face-up and isolate from the FT line against slower PF's. Would lead to many dump off passes to JV, and kickout passes to the corner for Ross*

*which he is still good at, we just never use him there)

New lineup i would like to see:

JV
JJ
Ross
DD
KL

Thanks for rolling out the lineup I suggested a month ago...

It also was extremely effective last week in the first half of a game....can't remember who it was against. But it was very good.

[Eric Akshinthala]

There are advantages and disadvantages to this move. While his agility would be an advantage over opposition bigs, rebounding may be a concern. It'll work though.

[raptors999]

New lineup i would like to see:

JV
JJ
Ross
DD
KL

Against smaller teams without a SF that's fine and replace Ross with JJ and use 2Pats vs larger teams. Another option is don't adjust at all with 20+ games left

[The Great One]

New lineup i would like to see:

JV
JJ
Ross
DD
KL

[stooley]

Green has such a different skill set than JJ, they're only similar in size, really.

I've wondered about using JJ as a point-forward 4 ex. how Kidd used Pierce in Brooklyn (or LeBron in Miami - don't laugh and don't take the comparison too far). Theoretically JJ has the handles and passing ability for the role, not sure he can ever develop the decision-making needed. It would be an interesting role to try with the second unit.

But yeah, the Raps need him to help with perimeter defense.

Are green and JJ really that different?

I think you may be overestimating JJ's court vision and distributing. I don't see him creating a ton of buckets - for himself or others.

[S.R.]

Green has such a different skill set than JJ, they're only similar in size, really.

I've wondered about using JJ as a point-forward 4 ex. how Kidd used Pierce in Brooklyn (or LeBron in Miami - don't laugh and don't take the comparison too far). Theoretically JJ has the handles and passing ability for the role, not sure he can ever develop the decision-making needed. It would be an interesting role to try with the second unit.

But yeah, the Raps need him to help with perimeter defense.

[raptors999]

I think he has a option for next year, or can become a RFA, but good idea.

Moe Harkless is also apparently very available and depending on who is available in the draft swapping first - second or straight 1st pick with the Magic for him and Nicholson could solve the 3-4 issues esp. with TH a UFA

[Cody73]

Middleton on the Bucks is also an RFA i think. Either he or Carroll could be gotten with a slight overpay.

I think he has a option for next year, or can become a RFA, but good idea.

[raptors999]

Yeah, that would be a nice "poor man's" version of JJ/Green. If we can't get Green I'd definitely want to make an offer to Carroll.

Middleton on the Bucks is also an RFA i think. Either he or Carroll could be gotten with a slight overpay.

[Primer]

One of the reasons why I'd like Caroll too, but with JJ at the 4 in that situation. Would be pretty hard to stop us then.

Yeah, that would be a nice "poor man's" version of JJ/Green. If we can't get Green I'd definitely want to make an offer to Carroll.

[Cody73]

I'd would absolutely love Green and JJ playing together. They'd be able to guard and score on any SF/PF combo out there. Imagine a player using a screen to get JJ off him only to find Green has switched onto him. That's only the defensive side. Green can stretch the floor while JJ goes inside, so they'd be very similar offensively to the JJ/PP combo people want to see (myself included).

One of the reasons why I'd like Caroll too, but with JJ at the 4 in that situation. Would be pretty hard to stop us then.

[Primer]

I'd would absolutely love Green and JJ playing together. They'd be able to guard and score on any SF/PF combo out there. Imagine a player using a screen to get JJ off him only to find Green has switched onto him. That's only the defensive side. Green can stretch the floor while JJ goes inside, so they'd be very similar offensively to the JJ/PP combo people want to see (myself included).