Raps’ confident Siakam dominates in the paint
Pascal Siakam’s breakout season in the NBA has included a flurry of spin moves, with the long, quick big man twirling around opponents who are left checking their rear view while Siakam finishes at the hoop.
So, why aren’t opponents lying in wait for the move?
“I mean, it’s hard to sit,” Siakam said after a spirited Raptors practice on Tuesday, following Monday’s loss against Denver.
“Hey, you do what you gotta do, man. I’m just playing off whatever I feel like the defence gives me, and I always feel like I have an advantage. I use it every time. Even if it’s the same, if I feel like I can get to it, I’m going to get to it.”
Siakam has grown into a player with immense confidence, thanks to a summer filled with hard work and standout results on the court.
“I think my thing is, my first step is pretty quick, so it’s hard to recover from my first step, and that’s why I can always spin, because I’m going to beat you with that first step,” Siakam said.
“(The defender) is off balance and it’s hard to recover. You can predict it sometimes, but that doesn’t mean you can stop it,” he said, crediting in part the soccer skills he developed during his youth in Cameroon.
The move has certainly worked for Siakam, who has hit 71 per cent of his two-point attempts so far, the best mark in the NBA among players who have suited up for at least 25 games.
It’s not just the spin, though. When Siakam gets a full head of steam, it’s resulted in nearly an automatic two points.
Siakam is becoming a regular in media scrums as his play takes off.
“Bright lights, cameras and stuff, I get to talk a little bit more. But it’s the same thing for me, just doing the same thing I do, and people are just catching on, I guess.”
ESPN TAKES OVER TOWN
ESPN is going huge on the Raptors-Sixers game on Wednesday night, bringing legions of staffers to town for all-day coverage. Titled Toronto All-Access, it will feature exclusive Raptors content starting in the morning on ESPN Radio, continuing on social media and television, and finishing up with the game itself, called by Doris Burke and Mike Breen, with reporting by Tom Rinaldi.
Former Raptors Tracy McGrady, Chauncey Billups and Jalen Rose will also be part of the coverage.
Ujiri said the day was a just reaction to how good the Raptors have been in recent years.
“For me, we have to build a brand that’s worth talking about,” Ujiri said.
“We can’t just complain and complain (about a lack of coverage), and I think these guys are worth it. They’re showing, and as long as it’s that, we don’t want to make noise with no substance.
“I think if we look over the last few years we should get on national TV (more) . ... But it starts with the team and how well we do.”
Raptors president Masai Ujiri’s annual gala to honour Nelson Mandela gets super-sized this year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the anti-apartheid political leader’s birth.
“As you’ve seen all over the world, I think people are celebrating it, and I wanted to bring a special couple of days to remember him, and not only that, not to forget him and the impact he’s had, on my life and many others, and maybe even more youth as they continue to grow,” Ujiri said Tuesday.
“People hear his name, you hear his words, you hear his history, you hear everything that he did and what he stood for. I think it’s very telling.
“I really appreciate the NBA, the coverage, and the dedication to do this for this man, because I think he was worth it, and more.”
Ujiri added that it will be cool to see so many players with African roots — Joel Embiid, Siakam (both born in Cameroon), Serge Ibaka (Congo) and OG Anunoby (who has Nigerian-born parents) — playing big roles in Wednesday’s game.