Raptors news: Fred VanVleet update, Jakob Poeltl talks social media praise

The Toronto Raptors took down the New Orleans Pelicans thanks to another classic Pascal Siakam domination and Jakob Poeltl continuing to show that Masai Ujiri was right to trade for him. That win also came without the services of point guard Fred VanVleet.

VanVleet sat out the first game of the de facto second half due to what the team called a personal matter. While the team managed to win, VanVleet’s scoring and leadership are both positive additions that are missed whenever he is inactive. Toronto may need to grin and bear another VanVleet-less game.

VanVleet is going to miss Toronto’s matinee against the Detroit Pistons due to a personal matter. His hypothetical status for the Sunday matchup against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that Toronto has had some success against may also be in peril.

The Raptors unveiled a very long lineup against the Pelicans that featured Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam alternating ball-handling duties and 6-5 Gary Trent Jr. as the shortest player in that loadout. This should be the group that starts Toronto off against Detroit.

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More Raptors news:

• Two-way point guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. received 19 minutes of playing time in the Pelicans game, and he didn’t look out of place for one second. With Malachi Flynn and Dalano Banton both receiving as many minutes as you and I against New Orleans, Dowtin could secure himself some more rotation time.
• Many Raptors fans have praised the play of Jakob Poeltl in the last few days, hailing him as the true center that this team has needed. Poeltl himself doesn’t see himself as that messianic figure, saying that he’s seen more criticism of Toronto’s center depth on social media than from the players and coaches in the locker room.

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NBA news:

• The Atlanta Hawks appear set to name Quin Snyder, a former Hawks assistant who is fresh off a very successful stint as the main man with the Utah Jazz, as their next head coach. Snyder would replace Nate McMillan, who has the team sitting at below .500 just two seasons removed from a Conference Finals appearance.
• The Phoenix Suns are still very active in the buyout market after agreeing to a deal with Terence Ross. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Suns will make an effort to acquire New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose. The former MVP is averaging just 5.8 points per game under Tom Thibodeau this season.