“It’s a bear right now!” He's really good… If you step back, he'll put a floater on you, or if you stick him, he'll drive you all the way to the rim. He embarrasses the teams”. These compliments are signed Joe Mazzullaand they addressed Jakob Poeltl after the Celtics' buzzer-beating victory over the Raptors. Taking advantage of the numerous absences, the Austrian found himself at the heart of Toronto's game and he played the best basketball of his career.
The proof last night in the victory against the Pacers. Facing a bare racket, he compiled 30 points on 13 of 18 shots, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks. Even if RJ Barrett was the big man of the last quarter with 15 of his 39 points, it is difficult not to highlight Poeltl, who averages 17.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. His hands are sure, and as Mazzulla explains, it has become a real danger on the pick-and-roll when he gets open towards the rim.
The good old-fashioned pivot
“To be honest with you, I think we depend on him more and more” believes Darko Rajakovic. “He has to do a lot for us, both offensively and defensively. He has never grabbed so many rebounds in his career, and when he is in the paint, he is able to score or find his teammates. I think he has made enormous progress. »
Like Nikola Jokic, Poeltl is an old-fashioned pivot, with both feet in cement. He's not the type to be a threat on lofted passes. But facing the circle, it became a real danger. “We're a team that likes to get in the paint, and a lot of times when we get in the paint, we find him and we know he's going to come out of floaters until the death.”Barrett testifies. “At the same time, if we go to the circle, and we miss, he’s there. If an opposing interior tries to block him, he's there for the rebound. He grabs the rebounds and finishes at the circle. »
And what does the Austrian think, who is having his best career season after nine years in the NBA? “I admit it’s nice. It's a bit like going back to my college days.” he smiled. “I’ve always prided myself on looking for opportunities and playing winning basketball, no matter what role I’m given.”
| Jakob Poeltl | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 54 | 12 | 58.3 | 0.0 | 54.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 3.1 |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 82 | 19 | 65.9 | 50.0 | 59.4 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 6.9 |
| 2018-19 | SAN | 77 | 17 | 64.5 | 0.0 | 53.3 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 5.5 |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 66 | 18 | 62.4 | 0.0 | 46.5 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 5.6 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 69 | 27 | 61.6 | 0.0 | 50.8 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 7.9 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 8.6 |
| 2021-22 | SAN | 68 | 29 | 61.8 | 100.0 | 49.5 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 9.3 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 13.5 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 72 | 27 | 62.9 | 0.0 | 59.2 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 9.1 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 12.5 |
| 2022-23 * | SAN | 46 | 26 | 61.6 | 0.0 | 60.5 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 9.0 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 12.1 |
| 2022-23 * | TOR | 26 | 27 | 65.2 | 0.0 | 56.9 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 9.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 13.1 |
| 2023-24 | TOR | 50 | 26 | 65.6 | 0.0 | 55.1 | 2.9 | 5.7 | 8.6 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 11.1 |
| 2024-25 | TOR | 14 | 33 | 59.5 | 0.0 | 64.3 | 4.4 | 7.2 | 11.6 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 16.2 |
| Total | 552 | 22 | 63.0 | 50.0 | 54.2 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 6.8 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 8.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
