The Toronto Raptors got a much-needed big performance from Pascal Siakam on Friday in a win over the Sacramento Kings. (michaelgrange)
Siakam wasn’t exactly invisible in the first five games he had played since he returned from off-season shoulder surgery. He’s had some very nice outings offensively — in losses to Detroit and Portland earlier this week he averaged 22.5 points, nine rebounds and 6.5 assists on 55 per cent shooting. But he seemed heavy-legged — at best — defensively. Too many times he was late to rotate or in the wrong spot or simply not energized enough when he was there as he got turnstiled more than once.
Siakam did his part, and then some as the Raptors cruised to a welcome 108-89 blowout win in a game Toronto led by as much as 30 at one point in the second half. “I think I always say I’m super tough on myself just because i know the amount of work I put in and sometimes I can be over-analyzing things and I think over the years just learning, understanding, just talking to guys that have been doing it at a high level, one of the things that they always say is just that short memory [is key],” said Siakam. “Just stay focused, continue to move forward, and just flush it out.
But Siakam stepped into a three at the top of the circle; drove the lane and got fouled and seemed to settle down from there. He put the ball on the floor aggressively but was able to adjust when he ran into traffic in the paint and finish with a nice mix of floaters and leaners. He took some easy mid-range jumpers when they were there. Next thing you know Siakam had 13 first-quarter points on four shots and four free throws and the Raptors were up 30-27.
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