An outdated adage in sports activities is that there aren’t any silver linings, however there might be indicators of hope. The Toronto Raptors misplaced their third straight sport on Saturday to the Boston Celtics, 106-104, however whereas the staff continues to slip, Pascal Siakam broke out of his offensive hunch.
While the Raptors have battled various shedding skids this season, the environment coming into Saturday’s sport was completely different as a result of they had been coming off a pair of particularly embarrassing losses.
Last Tuesday, the Raptors fell to the Bucks, 130-122. If giving up 130 factors wasn’t dangerous sufficient, Milwaukee was with out its two All-Stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Moreover, the Raptors allowed the shorthanded Bucks to attain 44 factors within the first quarter, which was essentially the most Toronto has given up all season.
That was adopted by an epic collapse versus the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. The Raptors led by as many as 18 and held a 14-point benefit halfway by the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Raptors, Minnesota closed the sport on a 23-7 run, spearheaded by D’Angelo Russell’s 16-point explosion within the closing body.
While there are a variety of causes for the Raptors’ latest struggles, Siakam has been on the centre of them.
Raptors star Pascal Siakam shook off a tough begin to flip in a wonderful efficiency in opposition to the Celtics. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Siakam missing typical offensive spice
Over the course of his final 10 video games, Siakam has been beneath his season common in each factors and effectivity. Specifically, it has been his final 4 contests which have been plagued with offensive struggles. The Cameroon native is averaging 17.8 factors on 41.8 p.c taking pictures from the sphere and 25 p.c from past the arc. These are all stark drop-offs in comparison with his regular-season averages.
It is conjecture to say that if Siakam performed as much as his All-NBA potential — or perhaps a modicum of what he’s been this season — that Toronto would have accomplished higher than 1-3 in its final 4 outings nevertheless it’s not a far-fetched assertion.
Many of the Raptors’ latest losses have been barnburners, so tack on just a few extra factors from the staff’s main scorer and perhaps the outcomes swing.
Story continues
The explanation for Siakam’s struggles isn’t too regarding, although, as his aggressiveness hasn’t dissipated. It’s been extra a case of pictures not falling, exacerbated by the actual fact Toronto has suffered a few of its worst losses of the season.
Siakam appeared like himself in loss to Celtics
Despite the loss, Siakam put forth a scintillating efficiency in opposition to the Celtics. Stuffing the stat sheet, the two-time All-NBA ahead put up 29 factors, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds on an environment friendly 61 p.c from the sphere.
His evening acquired off on the mistaken foot, as he opened the sport 1-of-5. With Fred VanVleet out, he noticed a slew of double groups — and even smooth triple groups — leading to him forcing powerful pictures on the rim and dashing reads. However, he would proceed to knock down his subsequent 5 pictures to shut the half. His stellar second quarter included him scoring or helping on 20 of the staff’s 30 factors; he was chargeable for 24 of the Raptors’ 57 first-half factors.
Ultimately, this sport showcased Siakam’s play type away from the paint, reinforcing the surreal development he has put forth this season, excluding the final handful of video games. Twelve of his 29 factors got here from midrange soar pictures, and 10 had been a product of him getting out in transition.
Postgame, Siakam additionally talked concerning the consideration he attracts from the opposing staff’s defence. He was in a position to mitigate that tonight by isolating defenders alongside the perimeter and pulling down contested soar pictures on the expense of paint touches.
Very few gamers within the league can rating nearly 30 factors whereas seldom scoring within the paint throughout halfcourt sequences. Not to say, Siakam had a close to triple-double, constructing on the notion that he’s each the staff’s most useful and untradeable commerce asset heading into the deadline.
Siakam proved that his latest stretch of lacklustre offensive play was as a consequence of him lacking makeable pictures. Like the final 10 video games, Siakam acquired to his spots and executed his strikes — the one distinction was he made them. In a make-or-miss league, all it takes is one stellar efficiency to remind folks precisely the kind of participant you might be, in addition to what your worth is.
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