Pascal Siakam’s legacy with the Toronto Raptors is that he is a playoff choker, but is it true? In this video, we find out the answer.
All throughout his time with the Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam has been labeled as a player who is not clutch and falls apart in the 4th quarter of games and the recent loss to the Chicago Bulls in the NBA play-in tournament certainly did not help his case. Pascal Siakam filled up in the box score and showed incredible productivity throughout the game but that production fell off hard, especially in the last few minutes where Siakam had three free throws to tie the game but missed two.
Pascal Siakam’s legacy in Toronto has been defined largely by his performances in the NBA bubble where he struggled immensely in the series against the Boston Celtics and was largely blamed for Toronto’s elimination, even blamed by himself. This is a series from three years ago and since then he’s made two all-NBA teams and two all-star teams with a third all-NBA team potentially being on the way. He is a completely different player but this stigma against him still remains.
The Toronto Raptors team in general is also worse off compared to this time so there’s never been a real opportunity for Siakam to lead the team in an extensive playoff run so he may never get the opportunity to reverse this non-clutch brand he’s developed.
What is the real extent of Siakam’s clutch struggles though, is there a reason for all the ridicule. This video dives into the stats and really analyzes where the choker label comes from and if he deserves it. The answer might surprise you.
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0:00 – Overview
0:44 – Siakam is great, but not clutch?
2:12 – NBA Clutch Stats 22-23
4:17 – The REAL problem is this
5:53 – Pascal Siakam’s playoff career
7:08 – Siakam’s current legacy
8:23 – What will Pascal Siakam’s legacy be?
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33 Comments
Why are people asking this question after seeing him choke on regular season and playoffs.
Still great but he’s not clutch. Gary is more clutch if given the chance
Averaged 24 points with the most minutes and most touches?
I agree. The iso ball in the 4th was so discouraging. That’s coaching.
Agreed Pascal doesn’t have that edge. But bring someone in who does and it would be a huge help. Get rid of Fred
The bulls have the same problem in the clutch, they were terrible this season. I’m shocked that Lavine and Derozan aren’t in that top ten. Yes, Toronto underachieved this year, but At least the Raptors are still very young. I wouldn’t write off Siakam
Judging from last year against the Sixers and the flatness of that second free throw at the end of the play-in, I think Siakam needs to work on his endurance (I know he plays 35-40 mins/night). He’s just gotta be able to give us more at the end of games. I don’t fear the fact he’s been coming up short these last couple of years as I truly believe that’s part of the “process” just like Kobe chucking those air balls back in the late 90s.
He’s a character guy with immense skills that I think is worth believing in. Partly because it’s Toronto and we have to stop pretending we will ever get as good or better players via free agency. We gotta trade up or draft well to win. And Pascal is an example of the latter.
I can’t watch another year of siakim on this team.
Toronto has to poach Brown from the Celtics
Do you even watch the games? He has 10 in the 4th with 3 boards and 3 assists on 66% shooting. In what world is that "his play fell off in the 4th"
At least the know you don't give a sht about credibility
NBA teams are again salivating on the presumed breakup of the raptors team post '23 season performance . This also conspired by the NBA officials, which severely affected Barnes, FVV, and most importantly Siakam.
Raptors should not fall into the breakup trap! As Ujiri stated patience is the mother of success. The fact that they didn't meet expectation is not important but what experience and development they gained is imperative. It is disappointing to see the coaching staff didn't do a good job on the bench. And, specifically Nurse is really poor in his utility and harsh on his expectation and too reactive in handling the bench. Furthermore , FVV should act as equal rather than Mr. Know-it-all self-proclaimed infallible father figure.
Net, keep the team intact and give them two years to be contenders. If there is a change trade an undersized PG FVV and get shooters, shooters and shooters…
Who else skips 25 seconds once they hear ‘now for this videos sponsor’😂
Get rid of this Masai clown, the most overrated GM in the League.
Aside of the Kawhi trade that was a total circumstantial fluke, tell me a single move he did, that was successful for our Team.
Get rid of him and get rid of the Nurse! For God's sake 28+ years in the Leaugue and we NEVER had a single first class coach!!!
The raptors expected to much for him, he's a star but not "The Star"
I just think he needs a partner like kawaii to take the weight off. trying to dog pile on this man is wrong. He needs a Jaylen brown to his Tatum.
First of all he doesnt have any help! Fred shooting 20 shots a game and only shooting 30 % hurts your team. Also in the last 3 games your three supposedly best shooters shooting 25% really hurts , especially if their shooting over 40 shots a game. And then of course theres the bench who only scored 8 points. Not to mention Pascal playing over 38 minutes. If he had some help he could be a number 1. Look at all the help Kawai had. 6 players who had been all stars and 4 all defensive. What do we have now?
Never mind Nurse as he will probably bolt , but the front office have made some bad calls too. Could have easily had guys to shore up the bench on the cheap over the years. GPay2, Cam Payne, Oshae Brissett, Ish Wainwright, Saben Lee, and even Drew Eubanks who could have helped our depth as Koloko is still raw. His numbers in Portland were not that far from Jaks and they didn't even give the guy a shot which was a little puzzling. Then they make some bad calls like Juancho whose time on the court took minutes away from youngins who need court time but were glued to the bench. Barnes should be #1 and OG #2. let Dalano play and Dowtin sht even Reggie Perry. Lol.
I'm fine with Pascal. It's roster construction. You know where I stand on this.
Watch the 2 min of any close game and if Siakam is on the floor is by far the worst player on the court. Turnovers, dribbling out of bounds, errand passes, throwing up air balls..always looking to get bailed out by refs.
After 3 years of telling fanbase other know as leaf fans casuals, Pascal is not a #1 option for a team that wants to contend. I'm glad some are finally opening their eyes that Pascal isn't that guy. It was time to blow this team up on the deadline, least we'd have a better pick. Somehow telling yall "told you so" isn't satisfying enough.
When your offense have a #2 as #1 option and role player as #2 option you are going nowhere
no offense fuck this take. 18/36 yes Pascal shot awful so did everyone else. maybe, being out scored 21 to 8 from the bench has something to do with it.
Choker
I think the raptor need to rebuild
This whole thing is Fred's fault not Pascal. If it wasn't for Fred it wouldn't have even been a close game.
Siakam is good the team lacking .. and I’ve seen vanvleet bum out in the 4th more than siakam ..
Fred is no james harden lol
He’s no Brunson, or garland
Definitely not Kyle either. Lol
You need to make video on who is the raptor goat
It's tricky situation with Siakam and how the team is progressing. It's 3 years after Siakam has been the #1 scoring option on the team. He has improved, but still not a clutch type of player. Siakam can still be a very good #2 option, but this means the team either needs a new #1 option (through trade) or force Scottie to be the #1 option and go from there. It is also likely that Siakam be traded for young talents and some draft picks. This is also an ideal situation for Scottie to step up. Whatever the case is, Fred shouldn't be with this team moving forward. Scottie needs more responsibilities.
Siakam needs a second option this team isn’t enough to win. When giannis had another year of nothing . Bucks went out and got jrue and won a chip .
Siakam is also the most guarded player in the playoffs again we need a second option who does siakam pass to?
Currently Pascal is not good enough to be #1 option, but if I learned anything about his career is to never underestimate a man's work ethic
I think Pascal is a Top 5 All-Time Raptor. He's in the convo with Carter, Lowry etc. It's on the front office for asking too much of him but also because they didn't pick a direction with him until now. And even then still, at this moment, we don't know what they're going to do.
Trade Siakam to San Antonio for a few 1st round picks and young talent. We can reaquire our 2024 1st round pick as well.
I disagree with some of that. Raptors can definitely be champs again and we can't just look at this season and say never again. I think that's an complete understatement. Pascal is a superstar for sure and who knows what can happen next season after the summer 😊. I will never give up on this team nope. I believe changes will happen but I believe Pascal should stay on the Raptors no doubt.