Five takeaways from Toronto Raptors amazing NBA Finals Game 1 win

Pascal Siakam goes crazy

Pascal Siakam has struggled some over the past few weeks.

After a big-time Game 1 against the 76ers, Philly put Joel Embiid on Siakam, stifling him around the hoop. Against Milwaukee, Siakam faced off the athleticism and length of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Again, he struggled to generate points, particularly around the basket.

He did not appear to have those same struggles against the Golden State Warriors and the self-proclaimed “Defensive GOAT” Draymond Green. Siakam put up 31 points on 14-17 shooting, with eight rebounds and five assists. He scored 20 in the second half alone, going 9-10 during that stretch.

As great as a defender Draymond is, he doesn’t have the same length and athleticism as Embiid and Giannis. He’s a very smart rim-protector, but he can’t sky up and challenge Pascal at the basket like those two.

Yes, some of Siakam’s 31-points came from unsustainable shot-making. He’s not going to consistently make some of the unbelievable floaters he took in Game 1, and he’s not going to shoot 81-percent.

But Thursday night saw Siakam get loose for the first time in a few weeks. Toronto doesn’t need him to consistently drop 30, they need him to return to regular season form. Without Embiid and Giannis at the rim, he might be able to do just that.