Pascal Siakam and his Indiana Pacers squad, they are the real deal.
After Siakam and company finished their first-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, the Pacers advanced to the Eastern Conference semis to face the almighty Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers had looked like a powerhouse force throughout the regular season, and with their defensive identity contrasting with Indiana's offense-heavy playbook, you wouldn't have been foolish to assume they could easily shut down the Pacers' offensive execution.
Well, the Pacers would come out and prove everyone wrong there for Game 1 on May 4, as they would defeat the Cavs with a final score of 121-112. Riding off the coattails of impressive outings from their backcourt duo Andrew Nembhard and Tyrese Haliburton, who combined for 55 points, the veteran Siakam also proved to be a helpful co-star, putting up 17 points on 6-for-15 field goal shooting, eight rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
Siakam and Pacers steal Game 1 of East Semis vs. Cavaliers
I've been extremely impressed with Siakam's postseason performance in these 2025 playoffs. He's truly living proof that extensive experience is key to becoming a polished veteran star, making him a perfect fit for this Indiana team that needs a player of that caliber to provide that extra push.
Do I think the Pacers can win it all? I think there's definitely a possibility they could make it to the NBA Finals, but I wouldn't call them the odds-on favorites. Regardless, it's been great to see Siakam doing so well since his time in Toronto.
Moving on to the other ex-Raptor in question: Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet. If Siakam's efforts have impressed me, then VanVleet's recent stretch of performances have blown me out of the water. FVV has arguably been the Rockets' lifeline in a gritty series with the battle-tested Golden State Warriors, especially as their young guns have navigated different playoff trajectories, achieving varying levels of success.
He began that first-round series looking very mediocre, so much so that I even pointed out this was the common VanVleet experience. But just as I was getting ready to write the Rockets' obituary, they came out of nowhere to push the Dubs to seven games. Three straight games of 25 points or more, and VanVleet was looking like his vintage 2019, rejuvenated self – the nightmare matchup for Steph Curry.
And then, it came down to Game 7 on May 4.
Despite trailing the Warriors for most of the game, the Rockets did their best to keep it within reach. However, they were dealt a bad hand when Buddy Hield provided a surprise push out of nowhere, scoring an absurd 33 points on 9-for-11 from beyond the arc. Adding to that, Steph Curry delivered a nail-in-the-coffin fourth quarter, exploding with a clutch 14-point performance. This ultimately sealed the deal on the series, resulting in a 103-89 blowout win for the Warriors.
VanVleet and Rockets falter to Warriors in high-tense Game 7
I could sense VanVleet trying all game to be the hustle and veteran leadership for his Rockets squad; you could tell how much he wanted to advance. However, the collective effort just wasn't enough.
During the post-elimination interview for Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, he would mention the following about VanVleet's impact and future in Houston, attached below via X courtesy of NBA insider Michael Scotto:
VanVleet himself addressed his impending future during the exit media scrums, with Michael Scotto also posting a clip to X that highlighted the following:
I think it's a strong possibility that Houston and VanVleet welcome a reunion. This playoff run was more than enough to prove that FVV wants to be in a winning situation, and Houston could offer him that. However, the expensive price tag attached to VanVleet's name can't be ignored. If, say, a star wants out elsewhere in the league, I could also picture Houston using his contract to receive a significant upgrade. But for now, it appears VanVleet's NBA journey will continue in the city of Houston.