Toronto Raptors: Did Pascal Siakam get snubbed from the All-Star game?

 The Toronto Raptors received two All-Star selections this season with Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard, but should they have gotten a third with Pascal Siakam?

The moment the all-star reserves were announced Toronto Raptors fans began to wonder aloud if Pascal Siakam had been snubbed. While there are some impressive names that made it, every die-hard Raptors fan has seen just how good Pascal Siakam can be when he’s feeling it.

One of the highest individual honours a basketball player can receive is being recognized by his peers, coaches, and fans and being named to the all-star team. Making the all-star team is sometimes the highlight of a player’s career.

In the NBA, unlike in the three other major North American sports, making the team is something all players dream of, and with no automatic berths for a player from every team, being selected takes on added significance.

Case for Siakam

Pascal Siakam is the midst of a career season, and many, mostly North of the border, felt he deserved to make the all-star team. One of the most exciting young forwards in the Eastern conference, Pascal Siakam has taken a major jump this season and has played his way into the most improved player conversation.

As of the all-star reserves being announced Siakam was averaging 15.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 0.7 threes per game on a robust .559 shooting. He has been a major part of the Toronto Raptors 37-16 record and many Raptors fans felt his strong play warranted consideration for the all-star team.

All-Star Reserves

The all-star reserves were named on Thursday, with Blake Griffin, Bradley Beal, Victor Oladipo, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Nikola Vucevic and Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry being named to the team. Looking at the list of players that made the team it is hard to find fault with any of the selections. Victor Oladipo is out for the season and was replaced by the commissioner, but since it was a guard slot it went to very deserving, breakout point guard D’Angelo Russell.

If there is any name Raptors fans can debate Pascal Siakam was snubbed in favour of among the forwards, it’s Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks. Middleton has seen his points per game and field goal percentage drop this season but that is largely due to the fact he is hoisting up 1.4 less shots but 1.3 more threes. His effective field goal percentage of 52.3 is almost identical to last years mark of 52.4.

Comparison

Despite the aforementioned drops in two categories, Khris Middleton has been on fire this season. The all-star forward is averaging 17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks, and 2.4 threes per game, on .435 shooting with a .376 line from deep. Middleton is critical to the Bucks offensive success and has proven to be an underrated, burgeoning star for the last season and a half. Middleton has performed admirably as Giannis’ Robin.

Let’s take a look at these two players’ numbers this season (prior to Thursday’s head to head matchup when the teams were announced).

Khris Middleton:
17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks, 2.4 threes per game, .435 shooting with a .376 line from deep, .846 free throw percentage, 2.7 FTM

Pascal Siakam:
15.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, 0.7 threes per game, .559 shooting with a .323 line from deep, .799 free throw percentage, 2.6 FTM

Middleton also has Siakam beat in net rating as he sits at an 11.7 mark while the Raptors forward sits at 9.1. This suggests that fellow former second-round pick Khris Middleton may well be the more valuable piece to his team. A team that is currently in first place in the Eastern Conference and holds the best record and winning percentage in the entire NBA.

Verdict

It is hard to make the argument that Pascal deserved the nod over Khris Middleton. Yes, Pascal has him beat in rebounds and shooting percentage but Middleton has him beat in every other offensive category.

Middleton is arguably the second best player on the best team in the NBA (record wise), while Siakam is the third at best on a team that is currently fourth overall and already had two all-stars.

Pascal has not been a true standout from a numbers standpoint even if Raptors fans are aware his impact often goes beyond them. Siakam does not even rank among the top-12 forwards in points per game in the conference.

Making the all-star game with averages of 15-7-3 is an extremely difficult task, especially if you are not even considered one of your team’s two best players and are not a true defensive standout.

The main gripe Toronto fans may have with Middleton’s inclusion, beyond the feeling he made it over Siakam, is his field goal percentage. A .435 shooting percentage is not normally a number you ascribe to an all-star.

Unless of course they among the league’s elite from deep. Middleton is one of only 20 players in the NBA with over 17 points and 2.3 three-pointers made per game. Only seven of them play in the eastern conference and five of them are all-stars. The two who missed the cut are Lauri Markkanen who was injured for the majority of the season and JJ Reddick who is just a three-point specialist a very little else.

"““I want to get to the point where I’m not worried about if I’m going to make it or not,” Siakam said. “I want to get to where there’s no question that I’m there. For now I’m just continuing to work and whatever happens, happens.”Via: Toronto Sun"

Pascal put it best himself. Get to the point where you don’t even have to worry. When you are truly an all-star, you will know you are making the team, especially in the East. Siakam will have plenty of future opportunities to be named an all-star. In order to do so, however, he is likely going to have to take yet another step in his development.

We have all seen the flashes and recognize that the talent is there. Now all that is left is for him to put it all together consistently enough to force himself into a larger role on the team.

For Pascal Siakam the time may not be now. But rest assured, his time is coming.