Jakob Poeltl is coming home!
When the ball went up, everyone was where they were supposed to be.
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet had gone through all his typical pre-game routines. Pascal Siakam did his. As veterans and holdovers from the Raptors 2019 championship team, each stopped and signed autographs on their way off the floor and were announced as starters moments before the time. Gary Trent Jr. was the fourth starter announced, per usual.
And on the other side of the floor, there was old friend Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors’ first-round pick in 2016, a champion with Raptors 905 and one of the pieces that Toronto used to acquire Kawhi Leonard in the summer of 2018.
And when the ball went up, he was where he was supposed to be too: jumping at centre.
So for the moment, all was as it should be.
What will happen next remains a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, until it all gets revealed on Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m., if not sooner.
As of Wednesday afternoon the Raptors intentions remained a question mark.
“There’s no clarity on what direction their going,” said one league executive.
It’s been the same for weeks now. It could all be a smart use of smokescreens, the Raptors disguising their true intentions by providing wrong information or no information at all until they perceive the timing is right to jump in. Or it could be because the Raptors prove too passive and miss an opportunity.
But something will have to give. Even doing nothing is a choice and the clock is ticking.
Closer to game time Marc Stein – a well-connected NBA journalist with his own substack – began reporting that the Spurs were open to trading Poeltl, a 27-year-old, seven-year veteran who doesn’t really fit their rebuilding timeline. He added that Raptors were among the teams interested with a deal that could involve Gary Trent Jr. heading to San Antonio.
It checks out: while the Raptors have given plenty of consideration to dealing away members of their core as part of a retooling strategy, there have been plenty of talks also about adding a piece or two that could fill some of their considerable gaps. A defensive-minded big man is one of those. The Raptors have long considered Poeltl “elite” in that niche category.
There did seem to be some legitimacy to the report that Poeltl could be moving. One league source texted me just before the game just to double-check that Poeltl was indeed dressing and playing for the Spurs – had he been held out, it would have been an obvious tell that something was up.
Poeltl did play, though he didn’t have a notable impact. The Spurs aren’t very good, and the Raptors– no great shakes themselves – won 112-98.
The big Austrian finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes but was just 4-of-11 from the floor while dropping some passes and missing some easy looks at the rim, which is unlike him given he came into the game shooting 62.5 per cent.
Small sample size and all that, but it’s hard to imagine the Raptors or anyone else meeting the two first-round picks the Spurs have been holding out for since teams began sniffing around Poeltl this time last year. It will be interesting to see where it goes. Like Trent Jr., Poeltl is a pending free agent and expected to be looking for a deal in the $20 million range over four seasons.
It was Toronto’s third straight win and improved their record to 26-30, the closest they’ve been to the .500 mark since mid-January. They’ll have a chance to get to three under the break-even point for the first time since Dec. 16th when they host the Utah Jazz on Friday. The Spurs fell to 14-41.
By then, Toronto will know who is playing for them and who’s not.
If it should come to pass that Poeltl ends up in Toronto again? Well, it sounds like Raptors head coach Nick Nurse would be thrilled.
“We loved him when he was here,” said Nurse, who worked closely with Poeltl in his role as an assistant to then-head coach Dwane Casey. “Just a really good, smart, tough, hard-working, does a lot of the game, right? He’s a screener, a rebounder, rim protector, pretty smart on ‘D’, not necessarily a shot blocker but a body-up rim protector kind of guy … his passing has really improved.
“That’s pretty good on the list of big guy things to do: If you can rebound, protect the rim, and pass the ball, set a few screens, he can handle it and get it to the rim and finish a little bit, too. Yep, we really liked him when he was here.”
All that said, it wasn’t a particularly impressive audition by Poeltl – or maybe he really doesn’t want to leave Texas, a no-state tax jurisdiction. He was often a step slow defensively and wooden offensively, even by his standards, though he did find his teammates on cuts with some nice passes, including an especially nifty one-handed pass backwards out a post-up in the second quarter.
But in the early going, Siakam worked switches so he could isolate against old teammate Poeltl and proceeded to have the best first quarter of the season with 18 points on seven-of-seven shooting as Toronto jumped out to a 34-24 lead. Siakam led all scorers with 37 points on 15-of-21 shooting (3-of-3 from deep) while adding nine rebounds and seven assists in his best outing in weeks.
Still, the Raptors relaxed a little bit at that point, something Nurse was concerned about given they were coming off a two-week road trip and hosting a 14-win team aimed squarely at improving their draft lottery odds. The Spurs jumped out on a 23-11 run against the Raptors bench and briefly took the lead. Toronto responded with a quick 8-0 run capped by a fastbreak lay-up from Trent Jr., who scored nine of his 15 points in the first two quarters, helping Toronto take a 57-54 lead into the half.
They took control of the game in the third quarter as Trent Jr. hit a pair of quick threes and Siakam and Scottie Barnes hit one each as Toronto jumped out to a 13-point lead that grew as large as 18 with 3:35 left in the quarter. They didn’t allow the Spurs to get within double digits the rest of the way.
All five Raptors starters finished in double figures while Chris Boucher continued his excellent run of play off the bench with 18 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Whether adding a much-needed rim-protecting big is worth giving up your most reliable three-point shooter (Trent Jr.) from a roster that is woeful in that category too, well that’s why Raptors president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster are one of the best-paid executive pairings in the league.
It’s their job to figure this stuff out.
One way or another we’ll get to see what they’ve been thinking soon enough.
By: Michael Grange
Title: As Poeltl auditions in Toronto, Raptors move closer to revealing deadline plan
Sourced From: www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/as-poeltl-auditions-in-toronto-raptors-move-closer-to-revealing-deadline-plan/
Published Date: 02-09-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "We The North” actually mean?
The Toronto Raptors' anthem is "We The North", also known under the name We The North Nation. It was composed by Drake and Noah "40" Shebib.
Drake wrote the song at his Toronto apartment with a friend. He completed his album Take Care with Kanye West. Drake also wrote some lyrics about his hometown during the recording process. Drake wanted it to be universally applicable. The song speaks about unity and pride as well as hope.
Drake started working on the melody for We The North when he travelled to London to film the video of his single "Nice For What." He recorded the instrumental version of the song in one take.
Drake was writing the lyrics to the song, but 40 came up with the chorus. Drake loved the hook and asked to record it. They worked together to create the final product.
The official music video to "We The North Anthem", was released October 5, 2018. The video featured Shawn Mendes from Canada, who performed with Drake and other musicians.
Why did NBA leave Vancouver?
NBA left Vancouver after a dispute regarding arena financing. The City was expected to contribute $40m towards the construction of a brand new basketball arena. It would include 12 luxury suites along with two restaurants, bars, and a hotel. To pay down existing debt, the City Council wanted the $60 million taxpayer money that the City Council would give to the team owner. The city would need to borrow $200 million to construct the arena. However, the owners of the team only had to repay $20 million in debt. This would leave the city's taxpayers responsible for the repayment of the remaining loan.
The City Council said they were willing to go ahead with the plan if the NBA agreed to stay at Rogers Arena until after the opening of the new facility. However, the league refused to compromise and said that the arena was too small for them. They couldn't play there any more because the arena was too small. They felt it was unfair to ask them to keep playing in a smaller venue when they were not getting more revenue.
The City Council then requested that the province step in to offer financial assistance. Although the province offered $150 million to the project, the City Council needed $100 million more. That's when the City decided to drop its plans and focus on building a new downtown arena instead.
How did the Toronto Raptors fare after Kawhi Leonard's departure?
The Toronto Raptors enjoyed a historic year. The Raptors won 53 games in the 2020 season. All-Star point-guard Kyle Lowry played a major role in the team's success. Lowry averaged 19.7 ppg, 7.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per contest. Pascal Siakam joined Lowry as a fellow All-Star forward. Siakam averaged 22.9 point and 8.3 boards per game. The Raptors also got strong contributions from role players such as Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell. The team's depth and talent helped them to overcome injuries to key players like Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka.
The team was coached by Nick Nurse, the Coach of Year, and Pascal Siakam (All-NBA Second Teamer). . Coach Nurse made bold strategic decisions that paid off, and Siakam emerged as a superstar, averaging nearly 20+ points per game. Kyle Lowry was chosen to the 2020 NBA All-Star roster, his sixth consecutive selection.
The playoffs started later than usual this season, in August at the "Bubble", Bay Lake, Florida near Orlando. In the first round, the Raptors met the Brooklyn Nets and won 4-0. They lost 0-2 to Boston Celtics, but OG Anunoby made a thrilling comeback to win Toronto the 3rd game. The series was eventually reduced to seven with Boston winning.
How many NBA teams are there in Canada?
The Toronto Raptors were the Canadian NBA's only team in 2001. The Vancouver Grizzlies, a former NBA team, moved to Memphis in 2001 and became the Memphis Grizzlies. Canada did have the Vancouver Grizzlies (and the Toronto Raptors) for a time, but there are no NBA teams in Canada. Canadians love basketball, and many travel to the United States to watch games. The Toronto Raptors, a team known for its fame since 1995, continue to attract large crowds at Scotiabank Arena. Every year hundreds of Canadians make the trip to the United States for the NBA All-Star Weekend. Canada can host more than one NBA basketball team with its 38 million population. Many North American basketball enthusiasts have discussed the possibility of adding a second team. The Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian team in the NBA.
Canadian Elite Basketball League is a Canadian professional basketball league. This league features six teams, including the Fraser Valley Bandits in Abbotsford, BC, Edmonton Stingers in Edmonton, Alberta, Guelph Nighthawks in Guelph Ontario, Hamilton Honey Badgers and Saskatchewan Rattlers in Saskatchewan. The Niagara River Lions are located at St. Catharines, Ontario. The CEBL, Canada's only professional basketball league, is currently in operation.
From 2011 to 2020 the National Basketball League of Canada, a professional league for men's basketball, operated. It had eight teams representing eight cities: Moncton (Moncton), Saint John, Cape Breton; Summerside, London; Windsor, Windsor, and Kitchener. The NBLC ceased operations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canada has several junior basketball leagues. One example is the Canadian National Basketball League (CNB), which is a semi-professional men’s league that is based in Vancouver. CNB has teams from British Columbia and Alberta as well as Manitoba and Ontario. Canadian Elite Development League, (CEDL), is another Canadian junior basketball league that focuses primarily on the Greater Toronto Area. AC) and Canadian Youth Basketball League. These leagues offer opportunities for young players to practice their skills in a supportive environment.
Statistics
- As predicted by analysts, the team easily secured a berth in the 2001 NBA playoffs with a franchise-high 47 wins. (en.wikipedia.org)
- This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
nba.com/raptors
sportingnews.com/ca
jerseymuseum.org
assets1.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/teams/toronto-raptors
How To
Tips for Where to Eat before the Toronto Raptors Game in Scotiabank Arena
The best way to eat before a game is to avoid overeating. You will find plenty of food in the arena, so if hunger strikes after arriving, you can get some.
You will also find concessions at the concourse and stands. Some places specialize in beer, while others serve hot dogs, pizza, burgers, and more.
The concession stand serving nachos is one of the most sought-after options. These delicious, cheesey snacks can be topped with jalapenos or cheese sauce and bacon bits.
Another option is to purchase tickets to a pregame party. These parties can be hosted at many restaurants so guests can enjoy food or drinks before heading to the arena.
A barbeque joint near the arena offers a great opportunity to sample the local cuisine. The menu features ribs, chicken wings, and pulled pork sandwiches.
Several fast food chains are nearby, including Tim Hortons, Subway, and McDonald's.
Many healthy restaurants are within walking distance of those who do not like greasy foods. Freshii is a notable restaurant. This chain is known for its fresh salads, wraps, and organic food.
There are also juice shops and sushi bars.
If you are looking for something more than just a coffee shop or ice cream parlour, there are plenty of options right around the corner.
You can find a variety of restaurants to satisfy your cravings before or during the Toronto Raptors game. Don't forget to give yourself enough time so you can get through security quickly and find your seat.
Have fun cheering on the home team, and thanks for reading! Go Raptors! Enjoy the game
