Pascal Siakam has not scored 20 or more points in four consecutive games since the regular season. With their backs up against the wall and on the brink of elimination, the Indiana Pacers need Siakam (who has scored 20 or more points in each of the last three games) to buck this trend for a chance at an NBA Championship.
Siakam has been arguably the Pacers' most consistent player all season long, and that has carried over into the NBA Finals. Outside of a brutal Game 2, Siakam has shot 40% or better from the field in each game, and he has turned it up another level recently.
In his last three games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Cameroon native is averaging 23 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks. Additionally, he is shooting 52.3% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc during that stretch.
From here on out, the Pacers need everybody to bring their A-game to even have a chance of pulling off the comeback and winning the series. For that to happen, they need Siakam to keep doing what he is doing, and hopefully for the Pacers, that includes him bucking his trend of not scoring 20 or more points in four straight playoff games.
Pascal Siakam continues to prove his value to the Pacers
Not that it was much of a question before, but Siakam's performance in the NBA Finals is continuing to validate the Pacers' decision to acquire him from the Toronto Raptors last year. Not only is he playing good basketball and making an impact in each level of the game, but Siakam has also taken on a big leadership role with the team. Additionally, of all of Indiana's regular rotation players, Siakam is the only one with an NBA Championship, and his experience has been huge for the team.
In addition to his performance in the NBA Finals, Siakam elevated the Pacers throughout the playoffs in the three rounds prior. His consistency and overall impact have been incredibly beneficial to Indiana. This was especially notable in the conference finals, which is a big reason he took home this year's Larry Bird Trophy.
Unfortunately for Siakam and the Pacers, he can only do so much against a team as dominant as Oklahoma City. For the first time in these playoffs, the Pacers are facing a series deficit and are just one loss away from elimination. The series is not over yet, but Indiana has a tough task in front of them as they must win each of their next two games against the best team in the NBA to secure a championship. Regardless, the Pacers have proven time and time again that they can achieve the impossible, and for them to do it once again, they will need Siakam to keep doing what he has been doing so far.