Raptors' Casey on not playing James Johnson: 'It's not a backup QB controversy'

Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey has been getting an earful for two days now. Specifically, questions as to why he didn't play forward James Johnson in Toronto's 93-86 Game 1 loss to the Washington Wizards.

Johnson, one of the defensively challenged Raptors' better stoppers, was ostensibly brought back to the team this season to defend players like Paul Pierce, who scored a game-high 20 points on Saturday.

But Casey thinks the criticism is much ado about nothing.

"It's not a backup QB controversy," Casey told reporters. "James has been in this role all year."

Johnson's playing time fluctuated during the regular season, when he averaged 7.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.6 minutes off the bench. It was tough to predict how much action the fifth-year forward would see game to game, and he received a handful of DNP-CDs from Toronto's coach.

Casey said after Saturday's loss that he heard fans chanting for Johnson during the game, but had no room for him in the rotation. He added Monday that it was a collective decision by the coaching staff.

"We understand what we're doing," he said.

For his part, Johnson said Monday that he was flattered by the fan reaction.

"I really appreciate it, but cheer for the Raptors," he told reporters. "I'm the fill-in, and I'm OK with that."

Game 2 of the Wizards-Raptors series goes Tuesday night in Toronto.