Pascal Siakam played a big role in the Toronto Raptors winning their first-ever NBA Championship in 2019, and he is making a major impact with the Indiana Pacers as they look to do the same this year. The Pacers won Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in stunning fashion, but the teams know that that doesn't mean anything yet, and Siakam's presence has helped the team keep a clear focus.
Indiana was uncharacteristically sloppy in the first half of Game 1, and they were down by 15 on the road against the best team in the NBA in the fourth quarter. Even so, they managed to walk away with a victory, and Siakam deserves credit for that.
In Game 1, the Cameroon native recorded 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting, 10 rebounds, three assists, and a block. After winning the Larry Bird MVP Trophy in the Eastern Conference Finals, Siakam is continuing to make his presence felt in Indiana, and he is a big reason they are within reach of their first-ever NBA Championship.
Pascal Siakam has elevated the Pacers in a major way
In January 2024, the Pacers acquired Siakam from the Raptors, and he immediately provided a boost to the team. It didn't take long for the team to learn that he was the perfect fit alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner, and things only got better as their chemistry improved.
Siakam was important to the Pacers' conference finals run last season, but he has become even more so this year. Through 17 playoff games so far, Siakam is averaging 20.9 points, 6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 53.3% from the field and 46.4% from the three-point line. He is important on the court, but he is equally as important off the court, especially due to his championship experience.
The Pacers must keep their foot on the pedal, and as it stands, it seems like they plan on doing exactly that. Winning Game 1, especially when they didn't play at their best, was huge for the Pacers. However, the Thunder were the best team in the league for a reason, and they will likely come out swinging in Game 2. For Indiana to walk away with another victory, they have to keep their eyes on the prize. Luckily for them, as long as Siakam is on the team and playing a big role, they may not have anything to worry about.