Raptors center Jakob Poeltl is already making a major impact on the defensive end, observes Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca. Heading into Thursday, the Raptors had allowed 103.6 points per 100 possessions in Poeltl’s 79 minutes with Toronto this season, with an incredible plus-20.5 net rating.
While he is unlikely to make such a strong impact every game, Poeltl’s rim protection, rebounding, screening, finishing and passing have all been extremely impressive early on. Murphy also lists 11 other things he’s watching down the stretch, including Scottie Barnes‘ terrific play at the end of games.
Poeltl’s addition provides some hope that the Raptors might be able to make a late-season run, but they’re out of excuses if the team fails to make the postseason, according to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. Head coach Nick Nurse says the Austrian big man’s addition has made the team deeper.
“I think that just adding [Poeltl] kind of moves things around a little bit,” Nurse said following Tuesday’s practice. “It certainly strengthens our starting unit which therefore strengthens our guys coming off the bench as well.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic:
- Poeltl set a career high in rebounds in Thursday’s win over New Orleans, notes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. The 27-year-old was outstanding, recording 21 points, 18 boards, two assists, three steals and one block on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. Poeltl was especially great in the fourth quarter, with 10 points and six rebounds, Smith adds.
- New Knicks wing Josh Hart continues to say he’d love to remain with the team long-term, per Zach Braziller of The New York Post. “That’s something I definitely want to do,” Hart said on Thursday after practice. “I want a home. I want to find a home. This is a place where I would love that home to be. On the court, there are so many things that align with my principles as a player and off the court just being around with friends and close to family. This would be an amazing spot. Hopefully they feel the same. It’s a perfect situation for me on and off the court.” Hart can be an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his $13MM player option for 2023/24.
- Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscriber link) believes the Celtics are well-positioned to win the team’s first championship since 2008 and says there’s no reason they shouldn’t be able to achieve that goal. One key down the stretch will be maintaining their narrow advantage over the Bucks for the No. 1 seed in the East, Washburn notes — the Bucks have the second-best home record in the league, so playing a potential Game 7 in Milwaukee would certainly be less than ideal for Boston.
Poeltl fits. I was sketchy about Masai “believing in this group” at the deadline.. But they have won 6 of 7 and Jakob is playing well. Schedule gets tough soon but they have some momentum and may get out of that play in spot.
Agreed. Well said.
Gary Washburn knows very well the Celtics turn the ball over way too much, especially Tatum and Brown. Also they way the both of them turn it over is predictable and they still do it, they are easily drawn into trying to go 1 on 3 and get stripped. If they have to face the Heat and Bucks fully healthy very little chance they make it past both with the way those two, especially Brown, just throw the ball all over.
For real. They constantly charge the rim with 3 opponents in front of it and 20 seconds on the shot clock.
Boston is 8th in the NBA for the least team turnovers.
Milwaukee turns the ball over more than Boston does.
.
Go look at how many elite players who turn it over if not more then just as much as Tatum & Brown:
Trae, Giannis, Joker, Doncic, Embiid, KD, Ja, Harden, Curry, Lillard, Lebron, Jrue, SGA
Its not really that big of an issue when you have numerous AllNBA/AllStar players who are just as “bad.”
link to espn.com
Most of the players you mentioned are the primary ball handlers and playmakers for their team. Where as Smart is the one who runs the offense for the Celtics along with Brogdon and to some extent Horford. So there is reasoning behind their turnovers Before Kyrie, Doncic had nobody, imagine he had the same supporting cast as Tatum.
You also didn’t read the other person’s full comment. The difference with Tatum and Brown as they mentioned, is they are predictable. It’s why they lost the finals. In the regular season you can get by being predictable, but in the playoffs it’s harder. So against smart teams like Miami and GSW they were able to force those guys in positions where they would give up the ball. Which is why Wiggins outplayed Tatum
First off,Smart just missed close to a month and while he’s been out Tatum & White have been the primary ballhandlers,Brogdon really only when they’re off the floor and Horford rarely is that guy,he’s more of a p&r/p&p guy when he’s not stationed in the corners. You should try actually watching their games once in awhile.
Second,His comment had nothing to do with GS and how they defended these two,it was more of a prediction of how Boston would fare against a fully healthy Heat/Bucks. A fully healthy Heat team is a hyperbole and when they are healthy Tatum & Brown feasts on defenders like Herro/Strus/Vincent/Robinson/Martin. You could go ahead and add Love to that group now. As for the Bucks,Giannis has had considerably more TOs than Tatum or Brown in the last 10 games against each other so not worried there.
Giannis 51 TOs
link to statmuse.com
Brown 32 TOs
link to statmuse.com
Tatum 32 TOs
link to statmuse.com
These two combined for 8 turnovers last night,let’s not act like the 2 games played over the past 10 days for Tatum and 12 days between games for Brown had anything to do with it.
Great point, I forgot about Derrick white. Celtics have so many ball handlers, absolutely no reason Tatum and Brown should have that many turnovers. Thanks for proving my point
No,I didn’t just make your point,I’m proving you’re wrong. Tatum & Brown both have a usage rate that compares with all of those high turnover players that you want to call “primary ballhandlers.”
link to nba.com
Just admit that you don’t watch Celtics games and we’re all good.
As for the predictable part,again,watch some games this season. The team has 7 players shooting 38% or better from three not named Brown or Tatum. In those Bucks/Heat/Warriors series they had two.
With more ballhandlers that can drive & kick to more shooters ready for open looks, this team is much less perdictable than last postseason.
Brown gets stripped on his drives while Tatum throws those telegraphed weak backcourt & long cross court passes. But I’ll take ’em both! Go Celtics!
Raptors are better with Poeltl. This is a team that will get better and better. As he fits in better.
Poeltl with 21 pts, 18 reb against Pels ……
With Nets losing their stars. We will see other teams move up. Can Nets stay a top 8 team. Heat, Raptors, Knicks all made good additions. Hawks still looming around (will they get it together finally). To me the top teams in East. Are all very competitive. And I see a very competitive playoffs. This is the yr a top seed can fall in playoffs.
Celtics have a good chance but so do a whole bunch of other teams. Probably comes down to health and the coach! Go Celtics!
P.S. I like the fact Celts Brad Stevens says Coach Mazzula has “galvanized the Celtics around a mission.”