3 Toronto Raptors who must step up after Scottie Barnes injury

1. Pascal Siakam

Raptors fans know that Siakam is one of the best power forwards in the league, and his performance during Toronto’s championship season helped establish himself as a quality playoff performer. That being said, Siakam’s poor bubble against Boston looms large over the greater NBA media landscape.

This series could be the tiebreaker. If he can keep the Raptors in this series despite a multitude of injuries, Siakam’s status as an All-NBA fixture will be confirmed. It might sound ungrateful to ask for more than his 22/8/5 averages to win without Barnes, but it might be required to slow down Philadelphia.

Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam needs to take over and dominate.

While Siakam did put up 24 points and seven assists, he was not as effective as he usually is on the glass and he ended the night as a -19. Some of the best individual playoff games in Raptors history are a direct result of Siakam’s brilliance.

When the Raptors gave Siakam a max contract and gave him the keys to the car after the departures of Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry, they designated him as the primary offensive force that would be tasked with winning close playoff games. He’ll get a chance to flex his muscles with so many of his co-stars injured.