Raptors: 3 reasons Pascal Siakam deserves All-NBA after 52-point night
By Mike Luciano
2. Two-Way skill
Haters will try to decry Siakam’s performance this season as the byproduct of shooting as much as he wants on a team currently not positioned for a deep playoff run. That is a simplistic way to look at this season, as very few players in the league provide the value Pascal brings.
The Raptors are not going to compromise with regard to their unique defensive scheme. While they’ve been getting torched lately, this defense can be incredibly difficult to stop when they are performing at their best. Siakam is integral to making sure that this philosophy can work.
Pascal Siakam is the key to the Toronto Raptors’ defense.
While Siakam isn’t necessarily piling up attractive box score stats like blocks or steals, he can hold his own against most of the East’s best big men. The Raptors give up 2.8 fewer points per 100 possessions when Siakam is on the floor this season.
Siakam is entrusted with hanging down in the paint and simultaneously being a perimeter nuisance. Very few players can perform at or close to an All-NBA level and match Siakam’s effort on that side of the ball. The voters need to do their job and consider his impact on defense.