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Pascal Siakam is already a star, and he's not done improving

ORLANDO — Every game is a career milestone for Pascal Siakam.

Siakam’s latest feat was willing the Toronto Raptors to a nerve-wracking 98-93 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 3. Kawhi Leonard was under the weather, Tony Brothers was egregious, and so Siakam stepped up with 30 points and 11 rebounds while also logging a team-high 42 minutes like it was no big deal.

This will be hailed as a breakout performance, but it’s just the new norm. This is his first real taste of playoff action, with all the intensive scouting and preparation that comes with it, and the infinite arms of Jonathan Isaac reaching and poking at his every move, but Siakam is casually averaging 24.4 points on 55 per cent shooting.

“We’ve been seeing it all year ... you get used to it, but we’ve been spoiled,” Danny Green said.

It’s a testament to his improvement that Siakam took 20 shots and that wasn’t enough. As usual, Leonard forced the issue down the stretch, but the right play was to defer. Not only was Leonard misfiring badly, but Siakam had the mismatch against Evan Fournier, and would have scored at will. Toronto only produced two baskets over the final five minutes of Game 3, and both scores came courtesy of Siakam, who finished with 13 field goals on the night.

Nick Nurse praised Siakam for being so “mature” in his approach, and it becomes very clear when you review the tape. Siakam scored 30 points within the flow of the game because he’s so varied in his approach that it’s impossible to keep him off the board. Here’s how Siakam’s 13 baskets broke down:

  • Spun over his left shoulder for a left-handed banker over Issac

  • Corner three, right pocket

  • Corner three, left pocket

  • Push shot from 15-feet

  • Pick and roll layup over Isaac with his right

  • Post up into a right-handed push shot over Terrence Ross

  • Post up into a right-handed push shot over Fournier

  • Catch-and-shoot three off a pin-down

  • Backdoor cut for an uncontested layup

  • Hit-ahead alley-oop feed from Lowry in transition

  • Post up and shot fake, before pivoting around the flying defender for a layup

  • Spin over the right shoulder for bank shot over Ross

  • Drive out of the left corner into push shot in the lane

What makes Siakam truly special is that he’s just as versatile on the other end. Most stars take plays off on defence, but Siakam still defends with the enthusiasm of a hustle player. Siakam took turns checking each of the Magic’s top-six rotation players on Friday, and he didn’t look out of place in any match-up. Siakam was just as effective running shooters off the line without leaving his feet, as he was challenging layups around the rim without fouling.

“He’s able to switch on the perimeter and guard D.J. Augustin, Evan Fournier, and even in the post, he’s on Isaac and (Nik) Vucevic and he’s able to make it tough on them. That just makes us that much more dangerous, when we have guys like him who can switch down the line and play all five positions,” Green explained.

Part of that speaks to Siakam’s approach. He’s not trying to stuff the stat sheet so much as he genuinely wants to contribute wherever he can. That’s why it’s easy to overlook just how impactful he truly is, because he is still fundamentally a player who lets the game come to him rather than forcing the issue. He will occasionally blend into the background, which is probably why one Florida-based reporter mistakenly asked if Siakam had “become the third option” this season.

“If he has, he maybe dropped one from the second option,” Nick Nurse quipped back sarcastically, which drew a round of hearty snickers within the media room.

On some nights, it’s even more accurate to describe Siakam as the first option. That was certainly the case Friday, as it was when he scored 33 points against Oklahoma City, 34 against Atlanta, and 44 against Washington. Some of that can still be chalked up as a beneficiary of Leonard not playing, but Siakam can take over in the right situation.

The next step would be for Siakam to dominate in every situation, but that would require even more improvement. He’s hardly ever satisfied and his ambition is palpable. As a sneak peak of what’s to come, Siakam toyed around with running pick-and-rolls this season, and he produced 73 points on 60 possessions which put him the 97th percentile in scoring efficiency. Siakam will also occasionally try his luck with the mid-range jumper, which is the only tool missing from his face-up game. Add those elements, and he’ll soon be unguardable.

“Every night when I’m out there, I get better. I think that’s the beauty of it, knowing that you’re not what you want to be, and everyday there’s something new you can learn,” Siakam said after the game.

“That gets you excited, and for me, being out there every single night is like an experience, and it feels good.”