Raptors have overcome Jakob Poeltl back's woes, but team's success is not sustainable without him

By all accounts and from the mouth of head coach Darko Rajakovic, who is not known for stretching the truth, Jakob Poeltl is progressing.

In the case of the Raptors’ incumbent starting centre, progress is measured by his ability to work out, which, by extension, allows Poeltl to keep up on his conditioning.

At the same time, per Rajakovic, his one and only legitimate big man has yet to participate in full-contact practice.

Until that day arrives, Poeltl remains a mystery, a big unknown whose presence on the court isn’t missed when the Raptors are being opposed by injury depleted teams.

During the course of this season, the Raptors have been forced to deal with their own set of injuries, including Poeltl and RJ Barrett, whose knee setback resulted in a 15-game absence.

Knee issues tend to be a bit more conclusive when compared to back woes, which tend to be much more fluid and uncertain.

Say what you want about Toronto’s competition and say what you want about Toronto’s defence, which can go from yielding 41 points in the second quarter against Atlanta and then limiting the Hawks to 11 in the fateful fourth period, but Toronto cannot continue to exercise this high-wire act not knowing Poeltl’s availability.

In short, it’s not sustainable.

When matchups dictate going with a small lineup, Scottie Barnes can serve as the de facto centre.

Admittedly, Barnes would prefer to have a fully healthy and engaged Poeltl riding shotgun in the frontcourt.

Sandro Mamukelashvili has started at centre, but he’s undersized and defensively challenged, which does not make him unique on this roster.

Far too many, fans and media alike, are going completely gaga for this native of Georgia, but he’s an NBA journeyman who is having his moment with the Raptors.

Spread the floor

Credit to him because Mamukelashvili has shown an uncanny ability to spread the floor and attack the rim.

Truth be told, on a good team he’s your third or fourth option coming off the bench.

His best gets revealed in spurts, while extended minutes only exposes his weaknesses.

For now, the Raptors seem content to roll with him.

Bringing in noted under-achiever Mo Bamba smacked of desperation.

It said a lot when it was revealed his deal with the Raptors was not guaranteed, that is until Jan. 10 when teams are allowed to sign players to 10-day contracts.

The Raptors are yet to give Bamba an extended run and it’s very doubtful any extended stretch is doable as the NBA’s mid-way point approaches.

Best-case scenario will see the Raptors give Bamba a 10-day deal when this Saturday kicks in.

On the very next day, the Raptors will play host to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first of a two-game set that will coincide with the half-way mark.

When he last appeared on the court, Poeltl was limited to seven minutes in what turned out to be a brutal road loss by the Raptors to the Brooklyn Nets.

You may recall the lame excuse of having to deal with a mechanical issue that beset the team’s chartered air carrier as the prime culprit for Toronto’s demise that evening.

Poeltl has missed the past six games and 21 overall this season.

Lower back strain

It was a week ago when the Raptors issued a press release detailing how Poeltl will be re-evaluated in one week as he continues to recover from a lower back strain.

In theory, the Raptors are likely to provide an update Monday, the same day the team wraps up its two-game series against the Hawks, who should be more rested having to play their first tip Saturday on the back end of a back-to-back.

Three games against the Hawks this season, three wins by the Raptors.

Atlanta is very much a wing-oriented team, which mitigates the presence of having Poeltl in the Raptors’ lineup.

Going forward, the Raptors need Poeltl.

With Brandon Ingram emerging as the offensive stalwart, any kind of offence from Poeltl is a bonus.

Ingram is not a noted defender and neither is Barrett.

The same applies to Immanuel Quickley.

In other words, the lone starter who does defend is Barnes.

And defence is where the Raptors desperately need Poeltl, the sooner the better.

Back issues are fickle and in the case of Poeltl, and according to last week’s release by the Raptors, he’s been on a program of intensive rehabilitation and strengthening.

Sounds nice and appropriate, but a Poeltl sighting would be nicer.

Devoid Of Toughness

An even nicer sight would be to have the big man on the floor in an actual game.

It’s no secret the Raptors have had their issues on defence.

It’s no secret the makeup of this roster iteration is devoid of toughness.

Poeltl doesn’t exactly profile as a tough player, but he defends the paint, protects the rim and has the attributes the Raptors sorely need.

For now, the Raptors have managed to put together a 21-15 record and a fourth-place seed in the East, but it’s not sustainable.

In the NBA, size matters and it’s only a matter of time before a big of some substance is acquired.

A healthy Poeltl changes things.

Monday’s expected update on the status of his back looms as a big day.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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