Poeltl keeping Raps competitive with Barrett out

As a centre, Jakob Poeltl isn't usually expected to pick up the slack when a wing is hurt. But with Canadian swingman RJ Barrett still out for the Toronto Raptors, Poeltl is finding his role expanding.

As a centre, Jakob Poeltl isn’t usually expected to pick up the slack when a wing is hurt. But with Canadian swingman RJ Barrett still out for the Toronto Raptors, Poeltl is finding his role expanding.

Poeltl spoke about how he’s had to make adjustments within the Raptors’ offence after practice at OVO Athletic Centre on Wednesday afternoon. Barrett has been out with a sprained right knee since Nov. 23.

“Without RJ, we have less pressure on the paint, and we tend to — especially when teams start switching against us — we tend to get a little bit stagnant,” said Poeltl, standing to the side of the basketball courts at the practice facility. “It leads to me having to get myself involved in the offence a little bit more, like with flashes to the high post, initiating pick and rolls, just to get more movement in our offence that we’re missing without him.”

Barrett was averaging 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game before getting hurt landing awkwardly following a dunk.

As a combination of a shooting guard and small forward, Barrett is ostensibly a perimeter player. However, because Barrett slashes to the hoop when the Raptors’ opponents are double-teaming other players like Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, he’s actually a key part of Toronto’s scoring around the rim.

Over 17 games this season, 34.6 per cent of his field-goal attempts are within three feet of the basket, and 22.4 per cent are between three and 10 feet of the rim.

“RJ means a lot to us, obviously, offensively, and his ability to touch the paint and to play make and to score,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic. “He means so much for us, and he gives a different perspective as well to our second unit when he’s sharing time with those guys.

“We’re missing a lot, but we’re not complaining. We’re just trying to maximize what we have right now.”