Typically, it's hard to be a consistent rebounder unless it's your full-time role. Giannis Antetokounmpo once called a late career Serge Ibaka "a rebounder and a shot-blocker" insisting that's all he was at that point of his career.
Giannis was being mean.
He was also right.
Rebounders, especially big men, are usually defined entirely by their ability to grab boards off misses. As good as Ivica Zubac is, he has not escaped this either. His screen-setting is excellent. His work on the block is a balance of skill and straight size. Even then, as long as his offensive and defensive value relies on rebounding, he will never get the respect he truly deserves.
This is one of the sad truths of the NBA. One of the most important skills in basketball is – idiotically, I might add – seen as something that only role players need to focus on. That's what makes Pascal Siakam's recent stretch of games so impressive.
Ever since Tyrese Haliburton's injury, Siakam has been averaging 12 boards a game, enabling him to average nearly two more assists per game for a team lacking playmaking. While his defensive stats, especially his gross blocks and steals, have been virtually absent to start this season, adding value on both sides on the glass could be the key to having a fully realized Siakam when Zubac and Haliburton return.
Rock'Em Siakam Robots: What it takes to beat good teams
The Pacers have lost both games since Haliburton went down with a hamstring tear, most recently dropping a game to the Philadelphia 76ers after a truly disastrous fourth-quarter collapse. Siakam's increased role has led to him burning out by the time the end of the game hits. Andrew Nembhard has been in a similar situation.
Both players are being asked to step into far more demanding roles. To be entirely fair to them, they are performing admirably. Nembhard just had 14 assists in an attempt to fix the Pacers' lack of true playmakers. Siakam has scored 20 points or more in every game so far this season, but has added more responsibility on ball as the best shot creator in the league misses time.
Indiana will need both to continue to step up, but hidden within this rough stretch is the answer to how the Pacers should play when they get their other rotation pieces back. The ball needs to move, but the team is not the big three it was once thought to be.
This is a team that can do it all – as long as their players are enabled and encouraged to do so.
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