The Toronto Raptors currently own the best record in the NBA at 18-and-4, somewhat expected after the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard. Pascal Siakam has certainly benefitted from the addition, establishing himself as a key piece in the Raptors title charge. Siakam has improved in a number of areas, especially on the offensive end of the floor.
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Player Spotlight – Pascal Siakam
Statistical Breakdown
| 2017-18 | MIN | PTS | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | FGA | FT% | FTA | TO | Rank |
| Pascal Siakam | 20.7 | 7.3 | 0.4 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 50.8 | 6.1 | 62.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 188 |
| 2018-19 | MIN | PTS | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | FGA | FT% | FTA | TO | Rank |
| Pascal Siakam | 29.2 | 14.3 | 0.5 | 6.7 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 63.0 | 9.1 | 77.3 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 36 |
Siakam is currently the 36th ranked player in standard 9-category formats according to Basketball Monster, in large part due to his increased playing time. This opportunity has allowed Siakam to build chemistry with both Leonard and Kyle Lowry, reflected in his tasty production. He was likely undrafted in a number of leagues, meaning you may have been lucky enough to nab him off waivers.
Fantasy Takeaways
Siakam’s increased role has come on the back of some minor rotational changes by new head coach Nick Nurse. Nurse has shifted Serge Ibaka over to the center position, primarily playing either as the starter or the backup, depending on the matchup. This timeshare with Jonas Valanciunas has allowed Siakam to lock down the starting power forward position, resulting in his surge in value.
The addition of Leonard was perhaps the most talked about trade over the preseason. However, Danny Green also came across and certainly had an impact on the play of Siakam. With Leonard, Green and, in many instances, Ibaka all starting, the extra floor spacing allows Siakam to utilize his inside presence. 45 percent of his shots come from within three feet of the basket, where he converts almost 80 percent of the time.
Personnel changes aside, Siakam has certainly needed to take advantage of the opportunities presented to him. His defensive counters have remained largely unchanged based on his per-36 minute numbers. It is on the offensive end we have seen the obvious progression, in both volume and efficiency. His scoring has almost doubled from last season, of course in large part a reflection of his role development. Perhaps the most impressive aspect has been his efficiency, despite the increase in field-goal attempts. He is taking an extra three shots per game but has still managed to convert on 63 percent of those shots, well up from just 51 percent last season.
That efficiency has translated to the free-throw line where he is up from just one attempt last season to over three across 2018-19. The in-game practice seems to be working, resulting in a 15 percent improvement. His ability to get to the charity stripe is subsequently reflected in his per-36 minute numbers, almost doubling from last season.
Moving Forward
Looking forward, there is a chance the field-goal percentage regresses which would result in a slight drop to his scoring numbers. The free-throw efficiency seems likely to stick given the floor spacing and Siakam’s improved ability to get to the basket. He continues to be a solid rebounder, more so when Ibaka is on the floor, providing added consistency to his overall fantasy game. The fact Siakam only started playing basketball at the age of 15 needs to be put into perspective when projecting his trajectory. He has demonstrated the ability to learn the game at a rapid rate, which should not be overlooked. Should he continue developing as such, the sky is the limit for Siakam, who is in just his third year in the league.
For player rankings and projections, check out the Basketball Monster website or follow @baskmonster on twitter.
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