Breaking Down Toronto Raptors' Power Forward Position for 2014-15 Season
By re-signing Patrick Patterson and picking up the 2014-15 option on Tyler Hansbrough, the Raptors have maintained their depth at power forward and provided insurance for Amir Johnson should he miss any games next season.
The emergence of Patterson off the bench as a viable option in a post-Rudy Gay world gave head coach Dwane Casey peace of mind should anything have happened to his 27-year-old starter. Hansbrough provided the physical play around the basket while Patterson was more of a finesse big, stretching the floor with an efficient mid-range game and three-point shot.
It was a mix of styles that worked.
Now locked in to a new three-year deal worth $18 million, Patterson can continue to be the Raptors' primary weapon for the second unit while Hansbrough, who's set to make $3.3 million of his own, remains on as more of an enforcer.
The question now is whether or not their roles will need to expand in order to preserve the long-term health of Johnson. If the 2013-14 season showed us anything, it's that Johnson's never-say-die attitude may ultimately catch up with him.
Grading Last Year's Performance
If we were simply analyzing Johnson's intangibles and putting aside what he accomplished statistically, we'd probably be holding his past season in much higher regard.
A bothersome ankle began troubling him in January and consistently held him back for several months thereafter. Johnson even admitted to letting his injury deter him from doing things that would normally come naturally, per Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun (h/t Zarar Siddiqi of Raptors Republic).
“Just certain movements on the floor,” he said. “I feel like I can make a move and then I can’t just because I’m babying it. Just little stuff like being able to box out a defender and go grab the ball and do other stuff. That nagging pain is just bothering me.”
The decline in his numbers while still maintaining his steady workload raised even more red flags.
| Year | Minutes | Points | 3P% | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | PER |
| 2012-13 | 28.7 | 10.0 | 38.5 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 17.3 |
| 2013-14 | 28.8 | 10.4 | 30.3 | 6.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 15.4 |
Whether it was the heart of a champion or just being stubborn, Johnson always went against better judgement and played through the pain. As any true competitor would, the nine-year veteran felt he would bring more value on the floor than sitting on the sidelines with ice and tape around his ankle.
DeMar DeRozan has a great deal of respect for the tenacity Johnson shows night in and night out, per Holly McKenzie of Sports on Earth:
"He lays his heart on the line every time he steps out there. No matter if he's hurt, or if he barely can walk. He feels like he's obligated to always be out there with his teammates and give it all he's got. You've got to appreciate a guy like that. I really respect that because he could have every excuse in the world, but he will never bring it up. Ever.
"
Wonky ankle or not, Johnson's decision-making was also under fire. He fell in love with a three-point shot that was nowhere near ready to be a regular part of his repertoire.
The good did outweigh the bad, though. Johnson finished 16th in the NBA in the "Real Plus Minus" metric, which tells you how much better a team played on both offense and defense with a certain player on the floor, per ESPN.com. His defensive (3.1) and offensive (3.2) win shares were also third and fourth on the team.
His dedication to his teammates and the organization as a whole was demonstrated through his sheer disregard for his body. It was an admirable quality, yet one that left you on pins and needles every time he came crashing down on the hardwood.
Patterson found a resurgence north of the border after withering away in Sacramento. It was a transformation that many didn't foresee but were more than pleased to have occur.
| Team | Points | FG% | 3P% | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | PER |
| Sacramento | 6.9 | 41.0 | 23.1 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 10.3 |
| Toronto | 9.1 | 47.7 | 41.1 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 16.2 |
Unlike Johnson, Patterson's skill at knocking down daggers from behind the arc was apparent on far more frequent an occasion. Defenders had to keep their eye on the University of Kentucky alumnus from 20 feet and beyond because he would make them pay dearly otherwise.
Greivis Vasquez was looked at as the crown jewel of the seven-player deal with the Kings, yet Patterson was the one to take the bull by the horns and elevate his standing.
He came through in a big way against the Brooklyn Nets in Toronto's first-round playoff matchup, averaging 10.4 points on 54.2 percent shooting in 28.2 minutes of action. The "Patman" also chipped in 6.7 boards, a 1.6 rebound increase over his season average.
Hansbrough would swipe your lunch money, suplex you through a table, then pick up your lifeless corpse and do it again.
There was never a ball out of reach when he was under the rim. If guys were banging down low, you could bet your bottom dollar that Hansbrough was somewhere in the mix.
His 185 free-throw attempts were more than two full-time starters in Johnson (143) and guard Terrence Ross (98). He perfected the art of getting to the charity stripe by tossing his own body around and creating contact almost all of the time.
A lengthy absence due to a bum ankle cost him minutes in the rotation while others, including Patterson, got more opportunities.
Final Grade: B
What Can We Expect?
Barring some sort of major injury (knock on wood), Johnson will remain the starting power forward of the Toronto Raptors with Patterson as his primary backup and Hansbrough as the No. 3 option.
There will be times where Johnson suits up at center when either Jonas Valanciunas is in foul trouble or the team decides to play small ball. It would befit the team to have those circumstances be few and far between to help keep Johnson away from some of the NBA's larger bigs.
He even reiterated in a recent interview on CityTV in Toronto that his ankles are "perfectly fine," inspiring confidence in those who needed further reassurance.
The chances of there ever being a controversy of who should start at the 4 are slim to none, although National NBA Featured Columnist Adam Fromal of Bleacher Report may tell you otherwise. He ranked Patterson at No. 20 in his "B/R NBA 200: Ranking the Top Power Forwards of 2013-14 Season" piece back in May. Johnson was nowhere to be found:
"Patterson is by no means a glamorous player, but he's a workhorse who plays within his own limitations. The development of a more potent three-point stroke in Toronto helped turn his 2013-14 campaign around, and defenses have to pay attention to him when his jumper is starting to heat up.
"
Should an injury occur and Patterson be asked to step up as replacement in the lineup, he'll do so with a confident attitude and the full support of a team that continues to rally around him and urge him to shoot the basketball, per Stephen Brotherston of ProBBallReport.com:
"(Confidence is from) coaches, coaching staff, teammates just telling me to shoot the ball. Whether I’m missing three or four or I’m hot, just shoot the ball, take advantage of my opportunities out there and just having a good relationship with my head coach. I am definitely thankful that (Coach Casey) is a Kentucky alum so we have that type of relationship and we get along well. Whenever you get along well with your teammates and your coaching staff, it makes everything a lot easier and when you are knocking down your shots, you are going to play better.
"
At the end of the day, the likes of DeRozan, Valanciunas, Ross and Kyle Lowry are all ahead in the pecking order. The offense runs through the guards, and that's not going to change.
No one is going to complain, though. While power forward may be one of the most star-studded positions in the league today, the Raptors get by just fine without a big name like LaMarcus Aldridge or highlight-reel machine like Blake Griffin.
Can Johnson's ankles survive another season? All signs point to yes, but the minute we hear a peep saying otherwise, you'll probably see him try to downplay things yet again.
This will be Patterson's first full season as a Raptor after playing just 48 games in the red and white last year. He earned his contract and will look to show that the best is yet to come. I would't bet against him.
Hansbrough's role will continue to be short and sweet, playing spot minutes when called upon.
Depth is only viable if everyone is around to provide it. The Raptors have it in spades at power forward until the superhero antics of Johnson bite him in the butt.
Let's hope it never comes to that.
Christopher Walder is considered by many to be the "songbird of his generation" and the greatest center to have never played professional, collegiate, high school, house league or pickup basketball. His work has been published on Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, FanSided and several other online outlets. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports26.
Unless noted otherwise, all statistics are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com or ESPN.com.
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