Pascal Siakam is doubtful for Game 4 with a right calf contusion. If he is out, who should the Toronto Raptors start in his place?
On Saturday afternoon, Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a woj-bomb right into the heart of the city of Toronto. He reported that Toronto Raptors power forward, Pascal Siakam, is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s contest against the Philadelphia 76ers with a right calf contusion.
The injury is a tremendous blow to a Raptors team who already had their backs against the wall. After an embarrassing Game 3 loss, Game 4 is essentially a must-win for Toronto. Teams who take a 3-1 advantage win 95-percent of the time. If the Raptors lose Sunday afternoon, it’s basically over.
Winning Game 4, on the road, was going to be difficult at full strength. If the Raptors are forced to do it without their second best player, it will be nearly impossible. But you can only play who is available, and Toronto can’t fold everything up due to an injury.
Of course doubtful does not mean out, and there is still a chance Pascal Siakam is able to suit up. Nick Nurse revealed that there is “nothing seriously or structurally wrong with Siakam’s calf” while also clarifying he has not been ruled out yet.
Depending on the chance of re-injury, Toronto better pump every ounce of cortisone that exists within a 25-mile radius and wrap that bad boy up as much as possible. With the season on the line, if Siakam can suit up, you better believe he will suit the up.
But sometimes you just can’t go. Lower-body injuries are nothing to play with, and if he’s limping around out there Siakam can actually be a liability.
So who takes Pascal’s spot in the starting lineup if he can’t play? There are plenty of less than ideal options.