"Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett have been stellar in their roles to start the year. Both have been efficient and a critical part of the team's early-season success. Poeltlis shooting a mind-boggling 73.3% from the field and helps initiate the offense with rock-solid screens. Barretthas continued to thrive as a crucial offensive option in the team pecking order, putting up almost 20 points (19.4) per game on quality efficiency."
"What holds both players back is their role. All-Star selections usually go to the first or second most impactful players on a roster; it is very rare for a team to have three or more All-Stars. As good as Barrett and Poeltl have been, they don't affect the game as much as the other starters, which will likely prevent them from getting serious consideration."
"However, over his last 10 games, he has remained impressive, averaging 17.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds on 49.9% from the field and 41.1% from three. Quickley's high-paced, three-point-heavy style will lead to ups and downs, but if he can maintain something close to those recent averages up to the break, he at least has a shot to enter the conversation."
The Raptors sit in second place in the Eastern Conference at 14-5 and have a stronger feel than recent seasons. Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett have been efficient and pivotal early contributors, with Poeltl shooting 73.3% and setting up offense through screens and Barrett averaging 19.4 points per game. Both players are constrained by secondary roles that typically limit All-Star consideration. Immanuel Quickley has improved after a slow start and averaged 17.2 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds over his last 10 games, offering a possible long-shot case. Brandon Ingram leads the team in scoring and attempts while shooting efficiently, positioning him among the top All-Star candidates on the roster.
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