Toronto Raptors: Three ways Pascal Siakam has improved this season

More Shot Variety

As I alluded to on the previous slide, Siakam has seen his role increase exponentially this season. Last year, Siakam’s usage rate was just over 20 percent (20.8). In 2019-20, it has increased to 30.6. Few players in the NBA see that type of usage uptick in just one offseason, and the increased role has forced Siakam to expand the way he looks to score on opposing defences, including hitting DEEP threes.

A season ago, 68-percent of Siakam’s attempts from three came from the corner. This year, that number has dropped to 25-percent, an indication that Siakam is taking (and making) more difficult 3-point shots. Siakam shot just 27-percent of his above-the-break 3s last year; he’s making 44-percent this season.

Another important evolution we’ve seen in Siakam’s game has been more mid-range attempts. According to cleaningtheglass, Siakam is attempting 9-percent of his looks from the “long mid-range.” That ranks in the 70th percentile among all big men. Compare that to 2018-2019, when he attempted just 2-percent of his looks from that area.

Watching Siakam this season, it’s clear that his offensive game continues to grow and expand with each passing game. Remember, we’re talking about somebody who has less than 10 years of experience playing the game of basketball. Siakam’s game still has the potential to grow leaps and bounds from where it is today.

Working towards sustained offensive success takes time and talent, both of which remain on Siakam’s side. His 3-point shot has improved exponentially over the past two years and is the key to unlocking his full potential as an offensive superstar. If he can improve that and his scoring ability within the arc, there’s no reason he can’t be one of the top scorers in the NBA.