Pascal Siakam has been everything the Pacers had hoped he’d be when they traded for him at the deadline, IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak writes. In two playoff games with Indiana, Siakam is averaging 36.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while making 64.6% of his shots. He helped propel the Pacers to a Game 2 victory.
“I just was taking what’s out there,” Siakam said after Game 2. “I don’t feel like I’m trying anything or forcing anything. Just playing within the flow of the offense. Just not thinking about anything and taking whatever is there.”
With Milwaukee doing a solid job of defending Tyrese Haliburton, forcing Siakam to be the offensive focal point of the team. He’s thrived in that role thus far.
“Pascal’s a guy that naturally has a personality and a presence that is poised,” coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 2. “He just doesn’t get rattled. He plays the game at his pace. He’s a unique player. His experience shows and he had a lot of big plays for us tonight.”
Siakam has a championship ring from his time with the Raptors. As Kelly Iko of The Athletic writes, Siakam was able to establish himself as a vocal leader by joining Indiana at the mid-season, a different role than what he filled during his time in Toronto during the 2019 championship season.
“It’s different,” Siakam said. “I’m usually not a talkative person. And it’s something that in the past, in a different situation, it was always a hope that [I] talked a little bit more but I’m coming in, putting in the work every single day and leading by example. But I was challenged with this group to talk. It feels better when it feels like your voice is received well — once you talk, the guys are looking, hearing and feeling like they want to get whatever information you have. It’s been good, I enjoy it. It’s another part of my growth as a player.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- With the Bucks struggling to contain Siakam, Eric Nehm of The Athletic explores what Milwaukee needs to do to stop him. With Giannis Antetokounmpo out with injury, there aren’t easy answers. Nehm writes that Khris Middleton is too small to stop him while Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez are slower than him. In order to help mitigate the Siakam issue, the Bucks should guard him closer on the three-point line, get more physical with him and be better about not blowing coverages, Nehm writes.
- The Pistons are coming off the most disappointing season in franchise history and has work to do to not only improve in the short term, but set up an infrastructure of winning around some of their pieces. The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III explores several moves Detroit could make to set up their franchise for success. Edwards writes that the team shouldn’t be afraid to explore moving Jaden Ivey or Jalen Duren in trades given their high value across the league relative to the rest of the team.
- In order for the Pistons to have a successful offseason, they’ll need to nail their hire for the head of basketball operations, Omari Sankofa II of Detroit Free Press writes. Like Edwards, Sankofa believes the Pistons could look to trade their draft pick. Outside of that, Sankofa wants to see the team to add plus defenders across the lineup, not hesitate to spend money, and max Cade Cunningham.