Return of the Yak: The Everything Jakob Poeltl Thread

[positivetension]

I never thought the FVV/GTJ/OG/Barnes/Siakam lineup was sustainable but I did think that Precious could be an effective small ball 5.

That's why I was kinda iffy on Poeltl.. liked him but questioned if he'd move the needle much more than Precious. Obviously it's a small sample size but he plays the right way and I think the front office made the right move by acquiring him. The ball is humming along with him out on the floor and the defense looks exponentially better.

[Los_29]

It'd be crazy if we went on a Celtics like dominant defensive run to close out the year.

I think you are always super optimistic about everything around here

That said, it should be noted, the Celtics were a floundering .500 team in 2020-21 season. They then traded a 1st to bring Al Horford back and that made a massive difference to team chemistry and the way both the offense and defense functioned. High IQ glue guys at C are important.

And the Celtics were a .500 team in early February last year and went on a huge run.

I'm obviously not expecting us to do that and we can't get too excited about our recent wins given the level of opposition. However, I do like what I see. I think with the addition of Poeltl we can a lot more schemes and it just adds to the versatility of this team.

[Dalek]

Yak has been amazing on the offensive boards and being a smart option on offense. One defense he is challenging so much that it is opponent impacting drives.

One area I have noticed is the fouls per game. Over the small 4 game sample he is averaging 5.3 fouls. Some of the times it is because his teammates leave him on a island to protect the rim. Other times when he ventures a bit out of the paint he can hip check guys on drives. I do see that after he hits 2/3 fouls he is more selective in his rim challenges.

I am not sure if this will be a longer concern given how aggressive the defense is, but I think Nurse should look at ways to keep Poeltl's fouls down because he is so impactful on offense. You need him on court in fourth because he is an option when the offense stalls.

Not sure what can be done about those freethrows (36% over his four games). Could be time for opponents to Hack-a-Yak.

[youreachiteach]

I actually like Precious as a big SF rather than a center or PF. His ability to roll to the rim or shoot threes off catch and shoot really causes issue for defenses. In addition, his shot blocking adds to the already awesome length on defense. We don't shoot well, but the orientation towards the rim is more efficient than the three point chucking we are forced to do. There are only so many players teams can double, and Precious is a load for opposing SF/Guards and Centers to handle.

[dTox]

I would welcome Nurse to open up more defensive schemes, instead of our usual approach of being super aggressive on the ball handler.

[mrdressup]

I would welcome Nurse to open up more defensive schemes, instead of our usual approach of being super aggressive on the ball handler.

By this do you mean allowing the opposing point guard to walk around his defender? Yeah, that's not worked that well.

[YogurtProducer]

Team negative in shambles.

Team 'we don't need a center' in shambles

I hate these team tank in shambles posts. Like yeah wait till the playoffs first before declaring victory

Team "Everyone not on board with a full tank" has had to read the tWo **** for 6 months. You can deal with it for 2 months lol

[Raps in 4]

They call him Austrian Shaq.

[mtcan]

Yak has been amazing on the offensive boards and being a smart option on offense. One defense he is challenging so much that it is opponent impacting drives.

One area I have noticed is the fouls per game. Over the small 4 game sample he is averaging 5.3 fouls. Some of the times it is because his teammates leave him on a island to protect the rim. Other times when he ventures a bit out of the paint he can hip check guys on drives. I do see that after he hits 2/3 fouls he is more selective in his rim challenges.

I am not sure if this will be a longer concern given how aggressive the defense is, but I think Nurse should look at ways to keep Poeltl's fouls down because he is so impactful on offense. You need him on court in fourth because he is an option when the offense stalls.

Not sure what can be done about those freethrows (36% over his four games). Could be time for opponents to Hack-a-Yak.

Someone probably showed him our 3 point shooting stats so that Jak knows whenever a 3 pointer goes up...he's gonna get the offensive rebound and maybe even a putback.

[C-R-E-A-M-]

givony said on the lowe post that everyone should be trading their 2024 first rounders because the class is “depressing.”

[WaltFrazier]

They call him Austrian Shaq.

The Austrian Oak is already taken

[sofargone]

wonder if we can get shooting development out of him, his only non heave three attempts were with the raptors (made 1)

[BornAgainst]

givony said on the lowe post that everyone should be trading their 2024 first rounders because the class is “depressing.”

Hollinger made a similar point too recently and it was one that put the trade deadline moves into a very different perspective for me. If the front office saw no substantial impact players in that draft, then the decision to better understand the team with a proper roster makes so much more sense. Giving up a pick in 2024 might not be much of a loss.

[ratul]

They call him Austrian Shaq.

They also call JV the Belarusian Yao Ming

[rafterman]

That's an odd nick for a cat from Lithuania.

[YelloC]

It should be obligatory for every Yak thread to start with this picture.

[Boogie!]

Team negative in shambles.

Team 'we don't need a center' in shambles

I was a part of that crew that always said "we don't need a center just for the sake of having a center".

But Jakob is not here just for the fact that he is big. He is a center who flies around defensively and does not ruin a defense, he props it up. I am a little surprised he has not bogged down the offense a bit but I suppose when you are putting up 21/11 per 36 on 77TS% it is impossible to be a negative guy there either.

I don't think we would be as happy if we got a bigger center (like JV)

Jakob and jv are the same size. In fact Jakob is taller listed at 7'1. Jakob is just more mobile. But he's definitely what one would consider a big centre.

[YogurtProducer]

Team 'we don't need a center' in shambles

I was a part of that crew that always said "we don't need a center just for the sake of having a center".

But Jakob is not here just for the fact that he is big. He is a center who flies around defensively and does not ruin a defense, he props it up. I am a little surprised he has not bogged down the offense a bit but I suppose when you are putting up 21/11 per 36 on 77TS% it is impossible to be a negative guy there either.

I don't think we would be as happy if we got a bigger center (like JV)

Jakob and jv are the same size. In fact Jakob is taller listed at 7'1. Jakob is just more mobile. But he's definitely what one would consider a big centre.

JV has to have 20-30 pounds on Jak

[mtcan]

All these pages and not one reference to the most iconic movie musical and family...i.e. the Von Trapp family from the Sound of Music? And no Arnold Swartzenager memes?

[hyper316]

I was a part of that crew that always said "we don't need a center just for the sake of having a center".

But Jakob is not here just for the fact that he is big. He is a center who flies around defensively and does not ruin a defense, he props it up. I am a little surprised he has not bogged down the offense a bit but I suppose when you are putting up 21/11 per 36 on 77TS% it is impossible to be a negative guy there either.

I don't think we would be as happy if we got a bigger center (like JV)

Jakob and jv are the same size. In fact Jakob is taller listed at 7'1. Jakob is just more mobile. But he's definitely what one would consider a big centre.

JV has to have 20-30 pounds on Jak

I miss bouncy rookie JV