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Pascal Siakam impresses in his Skills Challenge debut, but can’t win it all

By Thomas Valentine

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 15: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a layup in the 2020 NBA All-Star - Taco Bell Skills Challenge during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at the United Center on February 15, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 15: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors attempts a layup in the 2020 NBA All-Star - Taco Bell Skills Challenge during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at the United Center on February 15, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Pascal Siakam didn’t go on to win the All-Star Skills Challenge in his first attempt, but he did enough to impress and showcase his skills.

In his first-ever All-Star appearance and his first Skills Challenge appearance, Pascal Siakam took on a former winner of the competition, Patrick Beverley in a match-up where none of the commentators picked him to win. Something of a parallel alongside his career.

But then, he put up a clinic in the first round, slaloming through the dribble course before a perfect pass through the hoop. From then on, it was plain sailing. Beverley struggled with the pass and that gave Siakam the chance to streak away for the lay-up and then come down and hit the three-pointer. A simple win in reality.

Up next was Bam Adebayo, another big man blessed incredible touch. Adebayo took down the holder of the trophy, Spencer Dinwiddie, in the first round in a fairly comfortable manner. Adebayo is currently one of the frontrunners for the NBA’s Most Improved  Player award and is probably, in all likelihood, going to take home the award this year.

So, it was the current holder of the award, Siakam, against the likely heir to the throne, Adebayo, in the semi-finals of the All-Star Skills Challenge. Both players got off to fast starts, knocked down their passes and streaked down the court to hit the lay-ups.

It came down to the three-point shot, though. Siakam should have been favored considering he’s shooting 36-percent from three, while Adebayo is a career 12-percent shooter and shooting nine-percent this season. It should have been his.

But it wasn’t.

Adebayo knocked down the three-pointer first and went on the defeat Siakam before advancing to the final where he took down another first-time All-Star, Domantas Sabonis in the final of the challenge.

Next. Has Serge Ibaka earned a starting spot?. dark

It wasn’t his fairy tale entry to the All-Star Weekend, but Siakam still impressed in his debut, showcasing his elite skills. So much so, that Siakam might have been the best player on paper in the Skills Challenge contest.

It didn’t materialise into success, but this was just the beginning of the Siakam All-Star experience.

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