Raptors center Jakob Poeltl was inactive on Wednesday vs. Houston and is considered day-to-day with back tightness, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. While Wednesday’s contest was the first one Poeltl has missed this season, the injury has impacted his performance in the early going — he averaged just 6.5 points per night in his first four outings, and the Raptors were outscored during his time on the court in each of those games.
“It’s definitely affected him quite a bit,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said (Twitter link via Lewenberg). “He was not himself in those games. He was not moving the way we know that he can move and, definitely, his performance was not where we know Jak can be.”
Rajakovic hopes that Poeltl will benefit from a little rest and won’t have to manage the issue long-term. However, even when their starting center is available, the Raptors are short on size, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca, who notes that the issue was exacerbated against a big Rockets team with 6’8″ rookie Collin Murray-Boyles starting at center.
Toronto was out-rebounded on Wednesday by an astounding 53-22 margin in the 18-point loss, with Houston grabbing nearly as many offensive rebounds (17) as the Raptors did on the defensive end (18).
“I thought our guys were fighting, they were trying as much as they could,” Rajakovic said. “They just manhandled us inside the paint, and we did not have an answer for the rebounding.”
We have more from around the Atlantic:
- The Celtics, who opened the year with their longest regular season losing streak since March 2023 (three games), are preaching patience as their newcomers get comfortable and new roles are established, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscription required). “We’ve got some guys who the information is comprehending, they’re learning,” Jaylen Brown said earlier this week. “They’re becoming better basketball players. I’m here to help our guys learn in that process as I’m trying to lead as well. It’s gonna take some time. We lost four All-Stars last season, we lost some big-time players. To replace those guys don’t happen overnight and it doesn’t happen in a week either.”
- After getting their first win of the season on Monday, the Celtics made it two in a row with a decisive 20-point victory over Cleveland on Wednesday. Offseason free agent addition Josh Minott started both games and made a significant impact, averaging a double-double (13.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG) while registering an outrageous net rating of +44.4 in 61 total minutes. Minott, who didn’t play much during three years in Minnesota, called it a “blessing” to be in Boston, per Jay King of The Athletic. “They’re not really asking for much,” Minott said of the Celtics’ coaches. “Just do my best to defend the other team’s best player, rebound, defend and space the floor on offense. And truthfully, after that, they see everything as a plus. I’m just trying to hone in on what they expect out of me and just help my team to continue to look the best they can.”
- In his latest mailbag for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Keith Pompey discusses a handful of Sixers-related topics, including Joel Embiid‘s minutes restriction and what the rotation might look like when Paul George and Jared McCain are healthy. In Pompey’s view, if the roster were fully healthy, the 76ers would start either Dominick Barlow or Kelly Oubre Jr. alongside George, Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe, with McCain, Quentin Grimes, Trendon Watford, and either Adem Bona or Andre Drummond among the first players off the bench.
Mobley and Allen got their аsses handed to them by Neemias Queta and Luka Garza. I’m not even a Boston fan, but that was an enjoyable game, lol.
I remain impressed by that 2021 draft, which had a super strong lottery, almost equally strong 1st round outside of the lottery, and plenty of quality players in the 2nd round. And it is possibly the strongest year ever for undrafted players.
Queta and Garza are both 2nd-rounders from that draft.
Queta is good. He boards, blocks shots, rim runs, sets screens. His main issue is dumb fouls. Lets not forget he was playing behind Porzingis, Horford and Kornet. If he gets 25 minutes a game you can pencil in 10 points, 10 boards and a couple of blocks.
I’m not sold on Garza.
He was behind KP, Horford and Kornet, and for a good reason. That was an excellent rotation.
We had this conversation when Boston traded away KP, and we both agreed that there’s a decent NBA-level player in Queta. And yes, he fouls way too much. Bench centers often foul a lot because they are using their foul allotment on opposing bigs, so their pf stat can be misleading. But Queta is a starter now and still gets an absurd number of fouls. He needs to work on it. It might seem straightforward – “just foul less”. But it’s often difficult to weed out, as seen with JJJ and some other players.
I agree that Garza is not a revelation and is unlikely to become one. There just isn’t that much in him to work with. But he plays rather confidently, the moment isn’t too big for him, seems to be a quick thinker.
Boston’s first 3 losses can be attributed more to Pritchard, White and Brown having a slow start, rather than inadequate play at the 5. Considering all the centers are on minimum deals, that’s not too bad.
Garza might be our Hartenstein. He has that shovel shot from in front of the basket. Wonder if he will get to shoot threes, like Horford, or be told not to as likely happened with Luke?
Garza shooting 3s at an acceptable rate? On top of what he’s doing right now? That’s a lot to ask from a guy who has a total of 1000 minutes of NBA basketball (less than half of what a starter gets in just one season), and who’s fighting for his place in the league.
Garza will do well if he does the basics. Continue with what he’s doing right now: rebound, good on hand-offs, don’t bog down plays, be in the right places, finish at the rim when you get a good look.
Don’t expect him to become a threat from behind the arc or develop a reliable move in the paint away from the basket. That’s just not realistic. I mean, it’s great if he does, but don’t expect it.
Yeah that was a good win by Celtics. I agree 2021 is a deep draft. Most of those players started showing out last yr. Thats 4 yrs later.
Always liked Garza. Player of the year in college. Classic NBA player they believe has no upside. cause he came out a senior. He is a smart big. Not a big time athlete. Knows how to play and use his size. He is a capable backup imo. All real talent gets better in NBA. It’s a step up in competition. It’s a weird thing to put limits on talent. Jalen Johnson was the 20th pick that year. I was praying he fall to Knicks at 25. Grimes was also a great talent at 25.
I was shouting at my screen when Washington drafted Kispert in 2021 while Sengun was still there to be picked… I knew of him, heard that he was wonderfully creative, that he was the best player in the tough Turkish league at age 18, and was emerging as the best young player on the continent.
Some other players from that draft could have been good in this league, too, if they weren’t so dumb – Primo, Kai Jones. But they are young and still have chances. Bones Hyland is making a comeback.
There were also several international picks in the 2nd round that I feel could have become good contributors. But NBA teams do what they do, so they were stashed, never getting a chance. A mistake and missed opportunity, imo.
Yeah Sengun is a great pick. I believe the Rockets traded up for him. Have to admit never knew him till he got to States. I was really high on Green. I’m hoping he find his way. Doesn’t get disillusioned by trade.
Thanks, just checked the 2021 NBA draft and saw all those now successful pros! Lots of players take a few years to get going. I hope Queta and Garza … and Minott too are such.
It’s hilarious that NBA teams now load up on so called wings. When they don’t even have an offense for it. You find a core you believe in. Then you build the offense around them. Or you have an offense and draft the players for them. How you don’t have a backup C on a 15 man roster. Is incredible.
The Thunder who are champs. Went out and overpaid for a big. Then drafted one this year. This is a team with no true PG. That runs an offense for its wings.
Size is what the NBA is all about.
Grimes should be starting. No reason to rush VJ. His time will come. Sixers are all about “If they are HEALTHY” …… what a way to run a franchise.