GREAT STATISTICS NOT ENOUGH FOR EMERGING LEADER SIAKAM
Raptors forward has high expectations, doesn’t want to get too ‘comfortable’
It speaks to Pascal Siakam’s desire to be one of the NBA’S best players that he didn’t sound all that pleased with himself following one of his best all-around games of the season.
“It’s on me to make sure that I keep my foot on the gas, and if you want to be great you have to be great every single quarter,” Siakam said on Saturday, after stuffing the boxscore in a 110-102 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Siakam scored 30 points, added 11 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals. He set an immediate tone with 14 points in the opening quarter.
What bothered Siakam was that while the overall numbers looked outstanding, his offensive production in the second half disappeared. Siakam shot 2-for12 and scored only five points in the final two quarters of the game. While he was the chief reason the Raptors led 65-60 at that point, Siakam needed Norman Powell, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka to do the heavy lifting the rest of the way to get the Raptors back on track following four losses in five games.
To his credit, even when his offence tailed off, Siakam remained a major factor defensively and on the boards.
The big man said that focus will need to continue.
“I think it’s just coming in with more urgency. That’s something I kinda feel like I have to get better at, just every single night having that focus and playing hard,” Siakam said. “It’s easy to relax and get comfortable but you can’t be comfortable if you want to be great.”
Heading into Sunday’s games, Siakam was well on his way to that goal, even if he has cooled from his Mvp-level start to the season.
He has stepped up off the court, too, taking a vocal leadership role with the team alongside floor generals Kyle Lowry and Fred Vanvleet. He is saying what needs to be said and trying to lead by example.
“We can’t be cool out there. We’ve gotta grind it out,” Siakam said of Toronto’s approach, which served them well in the opening weeks.
“We’ve gotta play hard-nosed basketball, run around, dive on the floor like Kyle did (against Brooklyn). It was just better. It feels good to play that way.”
Toronto is now through one of its most difficult stretches of the season. Though some tough games are on tap (specifically a home-and-home against the Boston Celtics), there are a lot of bad teams littering the upcoming schedule. With the roster nearing full strength, this could be a good time to stabilize and to iron out roles and responsibilities.
GASOL SCORING SURGE
Gasol was spectacular against Brooklyn, conjuring up memories of his Memphis days when he was perhaps the NBA’S premier two-way centre. Gasol scored in the post, stepped out to nail three-pointers, found open teammates and was his usual dominant self defensively on the way to 17 points and 15 rebounds.
After, his teammates talked about how much they enjoyed seeing it and indicated it would be helpful if Gasol stayed aggressive offensively, but it doesn’t sound like that will be the case.
“I don’t need (to be a focal point). I know my role,” Gasol said Sunday. “There’s some nights where I’m going to score more because the ball’s gonna find me more. There’s nights that my job is going to be different. You’ve got to always think about the team first no matter what the situation is, and always defensively first.”
Gasol did admit looking for his shot could bring positive results.
“I think it takes pressure off some of the guys. It gives our offence, also, another different look, obviously. Just another option that we have when it’s there,” he said.
Just don’t expect Gasol to force the issue.
TRADE SEASON UPON US
It’s now NBA trade season. That’s because players who were signed in the off-season are now eligible to be moved. Since a huge chunk of the player pool changed teams in the summer, more of the league than usual was unavailable to be traded in the opening months.
ESPN’S Bobby Marks noted on Twitter that 119 players have now had trade restrictions lifted.
Gasol found himself on the move for the first time just shy of a year ago and can become a free agent this summer (like Ibaka), which has led to speculation since the Raptors won the title that one of them might be traded.
“I’m 100 per cent committed to this team and this season, and everything else that I can control,” Gasol said.
It’s easy to relax and get comfortable but you can’t be comfortable if you want to be great.