>4) Jakob Poeltl becoming the symbol of stagnation in Toronto
>The Toronto Raptors have arrived at a sad moment of clarity. They are 12-18, 11th in the East, 21st in offensive efficiency and 17th on defense. They don’t really do anything well.
>They are way short on 3-point shooting around Scottie Barnes. The Barnes-Pascal Siakam-OG Anunoby trio has too much of the same thing. We’ve heard this before, but unless Toronto turns this around in a big way in the next month-plus, I’d be surprised if we don’t see some direction-shifting trade at the deadline.
>The Raptors had chances at last year’s deadline but went the opposite way — acquiring old friend Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for a protected first-round pick. It helped them reach the play-in (hooray!). Poeltl and Fred VanVleet rediscovered their pick-and-roll chemistry. The Raptors blitzed teams with their best players on the floor.
>VanVleet bolted in free agency; Poeltl hasn’t been the same since. He has hit a league-leading 70% of his shots, but you barely feel that. It’s not entirely his fault, but there are too many nights when you struggle to remember anything Poeltl did.
>Dennis Schroder, VanVleet’s replacement, is a below-average shooter who can’t unlock Poeltl the same way, especially given Toronto’s awful spacing around them. (The Raptors in Wednesday’s win over the Washington Wizards replaced Schroder in the starting five with Gary Trent Jr., boosting their shooting at the cost of some playmaking.)
>**Poeltl’s minutes are down. He has dropped back to 51% at the line. Opponents have hack-a-Jak in the bag in fourth quarters, and Poeltl resorts to push shots — which he’s good at, but still — instead of forcing contact**.
>**His defense has been just OK; opponents are shooting 61% at the rim with Poeltl as the closest defender, around average among starting centers**. Precious Achiuwa has surged, and it might be worth examining how his perimeter-oriented game might fit alongside Toronto’s core starters
https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/39198178/lowe-ja-morant-back-sad-pistons-brandon-miller-deserves-attention
I think Zach is right here. We know Jakob clogs the paint up for our best players and his defense hasn’t been good enough to make up for his offensive deficiencies. Its worth trying out Precious starting as it might unlock our offence.
by efficientshelter69
22 Comments
Yep this is common knowledge to anyone except our FO. And people here were defending the poeltl move last year as if our core got the centre we badly needed. Whats the point of having a mid centre when the rest of your roster isnt good enough to compete anyways.
Great trade Masai…
Zach didn’t say Poeltl clogs the paint.
If Jak had a better pnr guard that would help – Dennis is dead average at that, while Jakob is among the best pnr finishers in the league.
Jakob not being sufficiently effective defensively, or on the offensive glass (used to be among league leaders), and being a completely liability at the line, are on him and I expect a major reason he is losing playing time.
Good Precious from two seasons ago could absolutely start and play 30+ per game. But that player doesn’t exist anymore.
> They are 12-18, 11th in the East, 21st in offensive efficiency and 17th on defense. They don’t really do anything well.
We the Mid. Good thing we traded a 1st and 2 2nds to be here.
If Zach Lowe has one fan, it’s me.
FIRE MASAI
Do we really need to bring this up 12 times a week
Precious surged?
Had me up until Precious
> Precious Achiuwa has surged, and it might be worth examining how his perimeter-oriented game might fit alongside Toronto’s core starters
That’s right NBA GMs. Precious is surging!! And his perimeter-oriented game can only benefit your team. Please contact Bobby and Masai to inquire about such a talent 👀
In b4 we make some mediocre, overpay, win now, move, then let pascal and og walk lol
Fuck me I love this team but the FO has had blinders on since kawhi left. Absolutely embarrassing to be where we are now. Can you imagine how much more exciting this team would be to watch with some youngsters and hope? Probably have the same record, but at least there would be direction for the future.
Only someone who hasn’t been watching the team would suggest more Precious minutes for any reason at all.
I’m honestly scared Masai is going double down and try to trade for more washed veterans to salvage this season. In these last 3 years every time it’s time to make the obvious decision this FO has done the opposite.
Could have easily just drafted Derek Lively and kept our pick next year
I like Yak. He’s been shooting 73% since November. This hack a yak thing is stupid. He’s shooting 2 FTs a game. In the one game where they did do hack a yak in the 4th vs Atlanta he shot 5/6 which makes this whole point lazy bullshit writing. He’s awesome in a PNR. His defence is more than okay. He did a great job containing Embiid and was instrumental in the raps winning the glass handily that game. It’s just SMH how people can’t actually see the huge improvements made on the raptors cuz they lost some games to elite teams during a tough part of their schedule.
This FO needed and deserves every bit of criticism this year until they wake up and pick a direction. You either think this core is it and not be stingy when a KD and Dame becomes available, or you go development. Stop playing guys like Jak and Dennis 30 minutes a night and still be 12-18
Every passing day makes me hate Masai and his bum FO
Masai lack of urgency to get a 3 shooter instead of Trent who should be traded is killing the team. While Schroeder is decent he really is a backup PG not a starter unless he can consistently score and dribble drive dish.
I would do a trade for Siakem for Hachamura and Prince from the lakers.
21st on O and 17th on D is abysmal… coach needs to do something because the FO won’t
If Zach is doing his tradition thing with Toronto beat writers, he’ll probably get corrected so fast on the Precious comment
It’s not his fault at all.
chat is precious surging ?!