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Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam is set to return from his shoulder injury, and the rest of the league better be ready.
The Raptors are thriving under head coach Nick Nurse, thanks in large part to the productions of Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and their prized rookie from the 2021 NBA Draft, Scottie Barnes.
With the way they are playing and the current make of the roster, there are several reasons to believe that Siakam's return will make Toronto even more lethal. Considering that, here are three ways the 27-year-old Cameroonian makes Toronto even better.
3. Pascal Siakam-OG Anunoby-Scottie Barnes lineup is deadly
Over the previous iterations of Toronto, they would always predicate their success on their ability to have versatile lineups. Even with the challenge for head coach Nick Nurse to find a consistent center rotation for the Raptors, the trio of Siakam, Anunoby and Barnes presents tons of potential for his squad.
This lineup along with VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. will be an undersized combination, but having these five individuals as their closing unit will be perfect for Nurse. Playing this lineup for majority of the game will cause problems in protecting the rim and defending big men like Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Mildly interesting: OG Anunoby is 2nd in three-point attempts this season, only Steph Curry has taken more.
OG has taken more threes than Trae Young and Kevin Durant combined.https://t.co/t5WgJZoGpT pic.twitter.com/bETYUQZB06
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 2, 2021
By inserting a true center for majority of the game, it still gives them the ability to shore up the frontcourt and keep these three wings fresh for the endgame. Their ability to switch on every pick and roll and cause mismatches on offense will wreak havoc and likely propel Toronto in serious playoff contention again.
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2. Leadership and presence
After the departure of Kawhi Leonard, Siakam was naturally elevated as the go-to-guy of the Raptors. Along with the other holdovers, he led the franchise to the Eastern Conference Semifinals the following year. With these bunch of players still at the early juncture of their careers, Siakam is expected to rejuvenate his game and catapult his team to playoff success once again.
Even with his laid-back personality, Siakam must become more vocal and aware of the intricate details on the team, especially the youthful core. Players like Chris Boucher and Barnes are still susceptible to unnecessary lapses, thus Siakam must have the initiative to speak up and develop his relationship with them.
Pascal Siakam doing exactly what I wanted to do to Scottie Barnes pic.twitter.com/wo4Xvfn0eG
— Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) October 23, 2021
1. Pascal Siakam can perform under pressure
Excluding his 2020 bubble performance, Siakam has been tremendous in clutch situations and games on the biggest stage. In 2019 and 2020, he converted an impeccable 44 clutch shots over the course of both those seasons. Even though his 3-point shot is not at a high percentage, he has a reliable in-between game and brilliant slashing ability that he could exude in clutch situations.
Two of the four losses of the Raptors were just by one possession, so adding Siakam back to the lineup may aid in that facet of their game. That aforementioned five-man closing unit will open up mismatches and opportunities for Siakam to pounce on the opponents and utilize his repertoire.
Siakam will be on a minutes restriction for his first few games, but the whole team will welcome his return and likely bolster their record in the tough Eastern Conference.
