The Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors faced off in the first Finals game in NBA history outside of the United States, and the atmosphere could not have been better. Also: Pascal Siakam could not have been better.
The ScotiaBank Arena was rocking and ready to see the best team in franchise history face the dynastic Warriors, who were in the team’s fifth consecutive Finals.
While Kawhi Leonard has been the superstar for the Raptors throughout this tremendous 2019 Playoffs run, Pascal Siakam erupted in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Siakam was showcasing his campaign for Most Improved Player, which he is certainly a shoo-in for, with an dazzling array of scoring and tremendous lockdown defense on the Warriors’ feted Splash Brothers.
In the fourth quarter, Pascal Siakam turned his attention to defense as a streaking Draymond Green was bearing down on the basket. Enter Siakam:
SIAKAM. IS. EVERYWHERE. pic.twitter.com/vPHwu1SbLW
— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) May 31, 2019
That is an absolutely brutal rejection on one of the best defenders in the NBA, a player who has been one of the best in the playoffs so far – both on offense and defense.
Without Kevin Durant in the lineup, Green has been seemingly rejuvenated, and he looks the part of the player who won a Defensive Player of the Year Award while being named to multiple All-NBA and All-Defense teams.
Yet, Pascal Siakam was easily the best player on the floor for either team in Game 1. He was better than Kawhi Leonard. He was better than Draymond. He was better than Steph Curry.
Pascal Siakam owned Game 1. Not bad for an NBA Finals debut, eh?
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