Jakob Poeltl has been a stabilizing force for the Toronto Raptors.
Prior to missing the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 5, he had been in the lineup for every game for Toronto.
Poeltl is putting up a career-high 16 points per game this season to go along with 11.8 rebounds. He is also averaging over 30 minutes per game for this first time in his career.
Prior to the Raptors game against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 3, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was asked a question about where the game is headed. Carlisle decided to praise the job Poeltl has done this season.
“It seems logical that [the next step in the NBA] would be more speed and then the centre position becoming more skilled and being able to shoot from further out, top to bottom…Poeltl’s one of the more underrated players in the league right now.”
Carlisle then backed up his claim.
“He doesn’t have a stretch game, I think he leads the league in layups or something,” Carlisle said.
Following the game, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic replied to Carlisle’s comments on Poeltl.
“I have a huge respect for Jakob and what he brings to the team,” Rajakovic said. “I think he’s an outstanding teammate, outstanding competitor, and he’s proving it night in and night out. I think he’s playing outstanding basketball this year.”
Poeltl isn’t the Raptors best player but he is a valuable piece who contributes to the team being competitive. The Raptors went 4-28 without Poeltl last season and they did not look good without him against the Thunder, getting blown out 129-92.
Poeltl’s name has already come up in trade rumors and if the center continues to play well expect that to continue. He has emerged as one of the most impactful big men this season.
Darko Rajakovic praises Scottie Barnes’ career-high performance
Poeltl wasn’t the only one who received praise from this game.
Rajakovic also put Barnes in the spotlight for his career-high performance in a win over the Pacers.
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