The Toronto Raptors needed the All-Star break as badly as any team in the league. Not only will this give the club more time to integrate trade acquisition Jakob Poeltl into their scheme, but it will allow them to catch their breath as they gear up for a postseason push.
Masai Ujiri’s hesitancy to trade away big names like Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby shows that he is a full believer in the idea that a team led by VanVleet, All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, and reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes could make some noise in the Eastern Conference.
Despite blowing a home lead against the Jazz, home wins against the Pistons and Magic helped Toronto go into the break with some momentum despite the quality of their opponents. This should still be a period of reflection and analysis for a Raptors team that is far from stable.
The Raptors need to come out of the All-Star break with these three questions answered with unequivocal responses. The longer it takes for this new-look roster and season to take shape, the worse results the team will accrue.
3 burning questions the Toronto Raptors must answer.
3. Will Jakob Poeltl stay hot?
Poeltl’s third game after the trade was his best individual performance in the NBA, as he scored 30 points on 15-17 shooting while recording nine rebounds and six blocks. The only other players in the NBA that have ever scored 30 with such efficiency and zero free throws are David Robinson and Klay Thompson.
Poeltl has clearly changed the shape of the Raptors, but will this last when Anunoby gets back? A lineup that has struggled with shooting and spacing is only going to get worse as long as they have a 7-1 center that is completely neutralized when he is pulled out of the paint.
Will the Toronto Raptors get offensive value out of Jakob Poeltl?
The optimists will point to the fact that Poeltl is a career 62% shooter thanks to some incredible finishing around the basket and the fact that he is a much better passer than most traditional centers. As a screener and passer, Poeltl is inherently providing value.
Poeltl is not a ball-dominant offensive player, but Toronto does need to figure out how to make sure he is getting a steady diet of shots up without taking time away from some of their biggest names. Finding that balance will test how creative Nick Nurse can be.
2. Will OG Anunoby step up?
Anunoby, who was the subject of a ceaseless deluge of trade rumors, has not played in weeks due to a wrist injury that has taken all of the wind out of his sails. Many have questioned his fit with the team amid their current retooling, and he needs to silence the doubters very soon.
On one hand, Anunoby has reportedly been asking out of Toronto in order to find a role that can give him more responsibility on offense. However, his poor ball handling and struggles in creating offense for himself have been a source of frustration for the Raptors and their fanbase. Is he going to click finally?
Will OG Anunoby help the Toronto Raptors on offense?
Anunoby’s defense has remained excellent this season despite all of the struggles around him, and getting him back should make a lineup that finally has a valuable rim protector even more effective. However, he’s still an offensive weak spot, and that isn’t going to go away without some big improvement.
Anunoby is what he is, at this point, on the offensive end. While he is still limited, he’s shown he can be a key member of a championship team when he is hot from 3-point range. If he comes back cold, the Raptors’ starting lineup could get off to some very slow starts.
1. Are the Raptors a playoff team?
The Poeltl trade was not only shocking due to the fact that Toronto spent draft capital on a player who can’t shoot, but the move also showed that Ujiri is all-in on the potential this current group can provide. Will that be enough to get them into the postseason?
The Raptors are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, just a few percentage points behind the Washington Wizards and two games ahead of the Chicago Bulls. Toronto is just four games behind eighth-place Atlanta and five games behind seventh-place Miami, with one half-game separating the Heat and the sixth-place Knicks.
Will the Toronto Raptors make the playoffs?
The optimistic and pessimistic Raptors fans will have quite the time duking this one out. Washington and Atlanta both have superior frontcourt depth, and Miami has the star power edge. On the other hand, both the Wizards and Hawks have beatable defense, and the Heat might be too old to make a deep run.
The play-in is by no means an easy way to sneak into the playoffs, nor is it a sexy qualifier that Ujiri can hang off the end of this season to make it look better than it actually was. However, the Poeltl move shows that this team is going to attempt to win and win now.