Amid a very poor start individually in a tough season for the Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam is proving once again that he is one of the best power forwards in the league, as he has proven that putting the ball in the basket is far from his only positive trait.
He did struggle against Julius Randle and the New York Knicks, Siakam is averaging almost the same amount of rebounds per game while setting a new career-high in assists per game. His ability to handle the ball and distribute makes him a weapon that Nick Nurse can’t use enough on offense.
Siakam’s ability to create on offense will take on even more importance in the next few days, as the likes of Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and Gary Trent Jr. are all inactive for their game against the San Antonio Spurs. On a team that already doesn’t have a ton of guard depth, this is not a very ideal situation.
Nick Nurse’s solution could be staring him right in the face. In order to accommodate Khem Birch and Freddie Gillespie on the floor at the same time, Siakam was playing point guard, with Rodney Hood and Trent opposite him.
pascal is the point guard in this lineup with trent, hood, birch and gillespie
— William Lou (@william_lou) April 14, 2021
Siakam’s at his best when he can use his athletic ability and unique toolbox for a player his size, not when he rooted to the low post. Nurse should keep experimenting with the lineup by using Siakam as a ball-handler more often.
Pascal Siakam could change the Toronto Raptors’ offense by running point
Siakam could present a challenge for any guard given his size and length, as that combination of brutality and ability to stick to speedy ball-handlers is exactly what is making Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers so deadly.
Siakam is still a threat to shoot from the perimeter, making this point forward lineup even more dangerous than Philly’s given Simmons’ struggled as a shooter.
Siakam is a solid offensive big because of his ability to score, but his defense on the interior is average, as that wiry frame has been pushed around by some of the game’s elite big men. Siakam plays like a shooting guard in a center’s body, and this configuration could allow Siakam to embrace that part of his game.
This might also be a lineup that could help Toronto figure out their frontcourt logjam. Birch, Gillespie, and Chris Boucher are all vying for minutes, and this gives Nurse more opportunities to see what all three of these guys do well in the low post.
Letting Siakam run point might not be the best lineup in a must-win game, but it could be an interesting wrinkle that gives the Raptors a size advantage without having to stick a perimeter player on the bench. It might take some time, but this is a combination Nurse should give a bit more burn.