The ultimate Toronto Raptors fan favourite bracket: Round of 8

(6) Amir Johnson vs (2) Bismack Biyombo

How we got here

Johnson 54% vs Ross 46%

Tied for the closest matchup of the first round, Amir Johnson was able to squeak out a victory against the higher-seeded Terrence Ross.

On paper, Johnson should have been the runaway favorite. He played harder, outperformed expectations, and stayed with the Raptors for a longer period of time. Meanwhile, Ross was a moderate disappointment for his draft position.

But that’s what makes deciding a favorite an art, not a science. Ross loved the city of Toronto, but other than that, it’s unclear why he was so well-liked. He just was. Just as it’s hard to explain why you like your favorite actors, sometimes it’s hard to explain why you like your favorite players. You just sort of do.

Despite all of that, Johnson was able to beat Ross in a nailbiter.

Biyombo 83% vs Boucher 17%

Boucher — like an opposing rebounder during Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals — never stood a chance. He fires triples, swats shots, and plays with unbelievable energy. But fans remember what you do in the playoffs, and for that reason, they went with Bismack Biyombo.

Biyombo had one season with the Raptors and only two real moments, but up until this season, those moments might have been the high point in franchise history. That’s tough to argue against, especially from someone of Boucher’s stature — stature as in franchise history, not his 45KG frame.

Their matchup

Johnson vs. Biyombo

Long and consistent vs. short and exciting. How you vote on Biyombo vs Johnson, says more about you as a fan than any other individual matchup.

Johnson played in Toronto for six seasons, gave his all each game, and was a consistent part of important Raptors teams. Biyombo played in Toronto for only one year, was a backup essentially the entire time, and really only had a few games worth remembering.

But man were those few games fun. Biyombo can’t help that he came to play at the biggest stage. Could you even argue that his performance in the 2016 playoffs was more important than nearly everything Johnson accomplished in six years? I’m not saying that’s right, but I’d at least hear that argument out.

Soon, another round of names will be eliminated, and by approximately 6 PM tonight, we’ll be moving on to the final four.  There can only be one ultimate fan favourite, so make sure your voice is heard.