Raptors Report Week 14: Is Amir Johnson The Raptors Top Player?

The streak is over, and in this case, it's a good thing.

The Raps finally snapped their losing streak, which lasted a season long 13 games. Raptors fans everywhere struggled through this time period.

At least it's finally over.

I would like to take this time to bring up a case for Amir Johnson being the Raptors most complete player, offensively and defensively.

Over the past five games he's averaged roughly 18 points and 10 rebounds, which is more than solid stats for a guy who's not even close to 100% healthy.

He's easily the Raps most efficient player, and he shoots the 5th highest field-goal percentage in the league (for players who've played more than 40 games). Not bad for a guy who's been labeled with one of the worst contracts in the league.

While being an efficiency king, Amir has also been one of the Raptors best defenders and rebounders, and he's earning every penny of that contract.

On another note, the Raps gave the D-league's leading scorer Trey Johnson another ten-day contract.

Onto the report:

Record: 1-2

Performance on a scale of 1-10: 5.5

Here's a recap of the four games:

Raptors @ Pacers, L 93-104

Positives

For a team that was on an eight-man rotation, the effort wasn't bad. The Raps were down by a huge margin and battled back to make it a contest again, though it wasn't enough to secure the victory on the road. Amir Johnson was solid.

Negatives

For a team that was on a huge losing streak, the Raps sure didn't play like they wanted to snap it. They were down early and down big. That's not a recipe to win games, especially on the road. The Raps will have to do a better job on the road to win those games.

Raptors @ Hawks, L 87 - 100

Positives

The Raps hung around, but they never really had the Hawks worried. Amir Johnson was great.

Negatives

The Raps just didn't play good enough to win and it hurts. Joe Johnson exploded for a season high 37 points and this was just another bad road game. DeRozan and Bargnani continued to struggle.

Raptors vs T'Wolves, W 111-100

Positives

Whoo-hoo! The streak is over! The Raps finally won a game and got on track after a depressing stretch. DeRozan and Bargnani finally woke up, and Amir Johnson was great once again.

Negatives

The T'Wolves hung around for far too long, and that just can't happen.

Ask Sachin

Why do you think Sonny and DeMar cannot play together? Is it that there is competition between the two? - Kevin Ji

I don't know if it's a competition, or if their styles of play don't fit, but something is definitely up. DeRozan's numbers have taken a huge hit since Weems' return, and he's still been getting his minutes. Is he not getting the ball enough? Could be.

Regardless, if they can't play together, Weems needs to go.

Follow me on twitter for more exclusive Raptors articles and updates @Thesachman

Toronto Raptors Lose To Boston... Should The Raptors Tank?

The Cleveland Cavaliers tanked in 2002-03
for the rights to to draft LeBron James.

What is to make of the Raptors 2010-11 season? Despite a horrendous 12-24 record, the team sits just three games out of a playoff spot, yet only four games ahead of NBA-worst Cleveland. Last night, they lost by 20 points to a Celtics team without Kevin Garnett.

There were positives - DeMar DeRozan put up 20, Jose Calderon was efficient, Kleiza and Barbosa had good games.

But in my opinion, nothing on the current roster is worth getting excited over. Much to the disagreement of some local fans, the Raptors have perhaps the worst future outlook of any NBA team, being devoid of anyone harbouring potential to be a 'franchise player' that championships teams are built around.

Sure, you can argue your case about DeMar DeRozan and his explosiveness, but he's far from the full package, with a 2-22 campaign from three-point land this season. Or Andrei Bargnani, who can neither defend nor rebound adequately as a center. Or Amir Johnson, whose new contract was heavily questioned this offseason and despite casual fans believing he has taken the PF job with a stranglehold, is only averaging 9/6.

Ed Davis may have eventual 20-10 potential, but his future is too cloudy to properly dissect at the moment.

Just look at all the teams behind Toronto in the NBA Standings and you'll see what I mean: young superstars in the making all-around. Washington has John Wall, JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche. New Jersey has Brook Lopez and Devin Harris. Sacramento has DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans. Minnesota has Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Ricky Rubio (although overseas). The Los Angeles Clipper have Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon.

Cleveland is probably the closest to Toronto talent-wise but they're setting up nicely to nab a Top 2 or 3 overall pick in the draft.

So... should the Raptors try to tank and try to get the number one pick, improving their future significantly while throwing out this lost season for good?

Let's face it, even if the Raptors do make a turnaround and get the eighth-seed, they're not making it out of the first round of the playoffs.

And tanking does happen, it's not just some cheap scheme devised by fans that never happens in the real world. The 2002-2003 Cleveland Cavaliers tanked for the rights to select LeBron James and turn their franchise around.

In basketball, championship teams aren't built around full teams of players sharing the basketball around, without consensus go-to players. They're built around superduperstars putting up 35 nightly in the Finals.

Sure, the 2006-07 Golden State Warriors can dispatch the #1-seed Mavericks in the first round and the 2009-10 Milwaukee Bucks can, without Michael Redd, defy the odds by grabbing the sixth seed in the playoffs, but while these teams make noise, they aren't winning championships or even making the Conference Finals.

There's nothing to lose. The Toronto Raptors aren't going to be able to sign Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard or any other franchise players entering free agency soon.

They'll have to build through the draft.