3 takeaways from Toronto Raptors tight home opener vs. Cavs

1. Pascal Siakam might end this season as a top-20 player

After being forced to start last season on the bench because of injury, Siakam began his 2022 season by putting up 23 points and 11 rebounds against the Cavaliers in Donovan Mitchell’s debut game with the team. Irrespective of his three turnovers in the first quarter. He looked comfortable being “the man.”

The only player on the court who looked like he was in Siakam’s league was Mitchell, who scored 31 points and added nine assists. They were clearly the best two players on the court. Siakam, however, steadied the offensive ship in a way Mitchell did not.

Siakam brought the ball up the court, rebounded, took the ball away from the Cavs a couple of times, and looked like a legitimate point guard at times. In the second and third quarters, Pascal’s scoring was the only half-court offense that worked consistently.

Pascal Siakam is the leader of the Toronto Raptors.

An All-Star in 2019-2020, there’s no reason to assume he won’t make the team again this year if he continues playing at this level and the Raptors continue to win with him leading the way. The robbery we saw last year won’t repeat itself.

Siakam wasn’t perfect. He didn’t shoot the ball amazingly well on Wednesday. He missed four of his eight free throw attempts and was one of three from the three-point line. However, Siakam shot 9-20 from the field. Altogether, Pascal should leave last night happy with his play.