Toronto Raptors: Improvements on both ends fuelling Siakam’s evolution

Set to appear in his first All-Star Game on Saturday, named a starter and drafted by Team Giannis, Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors is having quite the season. Let’s examine where he’s improved the most in 2019-20.

When the Toronto Raptors drafted Pascal Siakam with the 27th pick in 2016, nobody saw this coming.

As an NBA freshman, Siakam appeared in 55 games – and get this…he started 38.

In year one of Siakam’s professional career, he did little besides hustle up and down the floor, finishing the odd hook shot in close when the ball wound up finding his timid hands. Today, the man is anything but timid on the offensive end of the floor. More on Siakam’s defence later…

It wasn’t until his third season that Siakam developed a shot suitable for NBA games (still waiting on you, Ben Simmons). Toronto’s first-round pick from 2016 shot 36.9 percent from beyond the arc in his third year in the NBA, up from 22 percent in Siakam’s sophomore season.

(A debate for another time, but with today’s knowledge, would Philadelphia have been better off drafting Pascal Siakam first overall?)

Dealing in hypotheticals is fun, no? It always ends well for everybody…

The truth is Pascal Siakam has arrived at superstardom. If he’s not there yet, he’s oh so very close, after all, he’s about to start in an All-Star Game. In his first appearance. I’m not sure what else Siakam needs to do to prove he’s worthy of the superstar label.

Siakam is shooting 45 percent (36 percent from three) and averaging 23.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 2019-20. He’s also picking up a steal every game, on average.

Defensively, the Raptors’ spicy forward is less of a force, however, Siakam is no slouch in front of his own basket and has the trust of Toronto’s coaching staff in virtually any matchup. Expect to see both him and Anunoby matched up with Giannis Antetokounmpo when the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Raptors on February, 25. Seeing how Kawhi Leonard, Siakam’s teammate from a year went about handling such a demanding workload on both ends of the floor still has to be fresh in No. 43’s mind, and Siakam knows that’s now his responsibility this season, following Leonard’s departure to Los Angeles.

Is Siakam up to the challenge? An entire country certainly hopes he is.

Evolving at both ends of the floor

Siakam’s offensive growth has been well documented, but he’s come a long way on defence as well. Toronto still has OG Anunoby to handle the heavy lifting down that end of the floor, but Siakam is being asked to handle tough defensive assignments most nights.

For the most part, he’s been up to the challenge.

On offence, Siakam has managed to navigate most of the matchups thrown at him, though he still struggles when opposed by long, athletic players such as the Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat. In those cases, Pascal has had difficulties executing his patented post moves – asked to shoot over long defenders? Siakam’s shot can fall apart. Between now and the playoffs, he’ll need to develop different methods of attack when faced with tough matchups such as the ones Isaac and Adebayo present. Maybe not for an entire game or series, but both Simmons and Antetokounmpo could give Siakam fits in the playoffs.

Toronto’s primary offensive weapon has all the tools to dominate on offence, some just need to be sharpened.

Defensively, Siakam is getting better but still has to buckle down to reach that next level. He, like so many other big-time players, can take plays off on defence. This is not a criticism of Siakam’s effort level – it takes time for players to wrap their heads around what’s possible when defensive effort levels remain high for 48 minutes. Siakam is well on his way to becoming a bonafide, two-way star.

Come playoff time, he’ll need to be Toronto’s offensive catalyst. As well, Siakam, along with Marc Gasol and Kyle Lowry, will need to lead the Raptors’ defensive efforts also.

Siakam learned from a master

It’s one thing to watch James Harden and study his offensive habits, though I’d caution young players to avoid mimicking Harden’s infuriating habit of neck jerking which is something done in an attempt to deceive officials. I know it’s an art, but newsflash, some art is bad.

Last season, Siakam got to watch and study the habits of Kawhi Leonard, the NBA’s best two-way player – as teammates, the two shared practice courts, weight rooms, planes, buses, etc. Even if he had no interest, Siakam would have had a hard time ignoring the presence of No. 2.

So far this season, judging by his play at both ends of the floor, Siakam learned a lot from Leonard in one year’s time – as did the rest of Toronto’s roster.

A title has a way of changing an entire team’s DNA, starting with each of its players.

In the case of Pascal Siakam, last year’s championship was only the beginning. The sky is truly the limit for him – who knew the unheralded prospect out of New Mexico State, drafted 27th overall in 2016, would one day be the driving force behind a potential title repeat for the Toronto Raptors?

I didn’t.

Yet here we are – about to witness Pascal Siakam start his first All-Star Game. He only started playing basketball when he was 16 years old.

I’d say the Toronto Raptors are in very good hands.