Toronto Raptors: Top five performances from perfect week 15

2. Pascal Siakam

Opponent: Detroit Pistons

Stat line: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 67 FG%

Pascal Siakam had an impressive last week for the Toronto Raptors. He played so well that it earned him the honour of being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week. That is a great honour and something Siakam needed after struggling in the first few games back from injury.

Siakam carried that momentum into this week, peaking against a weak Detroit Pistons squad. Siakam’s efficiency was amazing in this one. Detroit tried all sorts of matchups against him but none of them worked. From Tony Snell to Thon Maker, to even Markieff Morris, the Pistons could not stop Siakam.

Toronto’s primary option scored a quick 13 points in the first quarter and gave the Raptors all the momentum they needed to get the victory. Another 13 points in the fourth quarter had Siakam end with 30. He finished the week with averages of 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists per game and continues to show the big contract he signed this past offseason was a sound investment by the Toronto Raptors.

Siakam’s new, max-level extension won’t officially kick in until next season, but the forward has wasted no time showing the league what a collective mistake it made passing on him in 2016. In a redo of that draft, how high would Pascal be drafted? Toronto wound up selecting the native of Cameroon 27th.

The Raptors found a true diamond in the rough when they drafted Siakam and fresh off investing a ton of money in the New Mexico State product, Siakam is paying the Raptors back with his elite level of play in 2019-20.