The Indiana Pacers are just two wins away from their second consecutive conference finals appearance, but they still have some concerns they need to address. This includes Pascal Siakam, who has struggled offensively in each of the Pacers' past few games.
In the Pacers' last four playoff games (two against the Milwaukee Bucks and two against the Cleveland Cavaliers), Siakam averaged 12.8 points while shooting 46.7% from the field and 22.2% from the three-point line. A lot is going right for Indiana so far, especially given their 2-0 series lead over the Cavaliers. However, there is still a lot of basketball remaining for the team. If they want to secure a series victory against Cleveland and potentially make an NBA Finals appearance, they need the whole team to bring their A-game.
Indiana is playing well despite Pascal Siakam's offensive performance
Siakam has struggled a bit in each of the Pacers' last four playoff games, but the team is 4-0 in those games. A big reason for that is that the Pacers are getting solid play out of numerous other players. Tyrese Haliburton continues to show that the overrated claims are bogus, Myles Turner is reminding the Pacers that they absolutely must re-sign him this summer, and Aaron Nesmith is still playing some of the best basketball of his career. Still, for the Pacers to have a legitimate shot at winning a title this year, Siakam must produce more on offense.
Luckily for Siakam and the Pacers, the team will have an extra day of rest prior to Friday night's game 3. Hopefully for them, this extra bit of rest is all Siakam needs to get things back on track. Furthermore, now that the Pacers are headed back home, it gives Siakam a bit of a boost.
The Pacers are in a great spot in the playoffs, and a conference finals appearance is within reach for the team. For most of the season, the Pacers proved that they are one of the most resilient teams in the NBA. They typically rise to the occasion and never give up, no matter the opponent or situation. This is a trait that has carried over into the playoffs, which bodes well for the Pacers from here on out. However, a conference finals appearance is not guaranteed, and the Pacers still need to keep their foot on the pedal.
Siakam is one of the Pacers' most important players, and he is crucial to their success. For the Pacers to continue their playoff run and potentially win an NBA title, he needs to turn it around before it is too late.