Toronto Raptors: Nick Nurse’s best changes
By Brian Boake
OK, someone’s got to play the 4-spot
Nick Nurse’s tactic of never having Serge and JV on the floor together meant someone else had to be plugged in as the power forward. Pascal Siakam, the team’s Energizer Bunny, was the easy choice.
However I don’t think any us expected to see Siakam adding “primary ballhandler” to his already-full job description (rebounder, defender, rim runner). Yet we’re seeing it game in and game out, no matter who he’s on the floor with.
He doesn’t have permission to advance the ball in transition only; he’s dribbling after a made basket also. Either way, he’s been slicing through defenders to finish gracefully or drop a dime on a grateful teammate.
Nick hasn’t found Pascal’s ceiling yet, and appears willing to accept a few turnovers in exchange for the discovery. If his coach didn’t have his back, Pascal, a highly malleable fellow, wouldn’t be doing what he’s doing.
The Raptors have unveiled another weapon to complement those already on board.
Years ago, I read Bill Russell‘s memoirs of the great Boston Celtics teams of the late ’50s and early ’60s. He wrote about the effect having four scorers instead of three can have; he said it was transformational on those championship squads. The rise of Pascal means the Raptors have at least four scorers on the starting roster. The fun may be just beginning.