'I’m his beloved, he’s my beloved': Pascal Siakam on Kyle Lowry

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam discusses his chemistry with Scottie Barnes, the stretch towards the playoffs and his friendship with Kyle Lowry.

Video Transcript

- What allows you to flourish alongside Scottie? Or Scottie's numbers have been up alongside you. What allows you guys to work together to find success?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I mean, I don't know. We just play. I don't know. Like, I don't know. I mean, I don't think what he does, like, stop what I'm do-- I do or vice versa. So I don't know. I don't understand the question.

- His numbers tend to be higher when you were on the court alongside him. He says it's because you attract attention. Do you find that he's more open or you have a good chemistry?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah. No, I think, again, he makes good cuts and things like that. And I think, for me, I just make the right play. Like-- well, at least I tried. A couple of turnovers down there, but-- but, yeah, just trying to make the right play. And he's-- he seems to be in the right position and-- and he can also make plays. So, yeah, that helps.

- One of the cuts he made was when you were coming down hill. He was right beside you. It's not like an intuitive cut that they teach, like, that you see the numbers you make the cut. It's not a 45, but baseline. Like, what do you think is the secret to mastering, knowing how to fill space to help your teammates out?

- I think it's just, you know, it's a feel for a game-- for the game. You know, I think obviously with him, like, playing more and having-- you know, like, it's his second year. Like, just being out there a lot and understanding just how the defense is guarding, and try to cut behind the defense or whatever, like, he's making those reads.

And-- and, obviously, like, we know that when he's on the ball, like, he can also make those plays. So I think that just-- he's doing great. I just like reading the floor, and especially with the help that I'm-- you know, that I'm getting and the attention. So I think-- I think he's doing a good job.

- With your guys's size advantage on the wing typically, do you think there's a difference in how you guys attack against a 3-2 versus a 2-3? Because you guys had a lot of success against the 3-2 tonight.

PASCAL SIAKAM: I think we just try to again, like, as any zone, really, just try to have someone in the middle or something, someone that can make plays and all the short action. Whatever we can do to just kind of, like, break down the zone, I don't think it really matters. Like, but any zone, really.

- Three minutes on in the third to the end, you guys had a double digit lead. What do you think was working with you guys to be so successful and dominant in that back end?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I think we got stops. And, you know, obviously, like, I think when we play defense and we communicate, we talk the way we do, like, we're always going to have an opportunity on offense. And like I said, sometimes, you know, it's just a matter of, like, making or missing shots. But at the same time, I feel we take good shots, and we take whatever the defense gives us. And when we play with that flow and we get stops so, like, it's always tough for the other team, I think.

- You guys have had so much success at home, especially recently. Next five are on the road. What do you have to do as a team to make sure that that momentum translates?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I think, yeah, every game is important. Like, that's the only thing really, like, going for us right now. Like, we need all these games. There's a sense of urgency. And I think that, you know, that's all. That's all. We want to go out there, have fun, play the game with a sense of urgency following the game plan, and-- and do everything that we can, leave it all on the floor to give ourselves this chance to win all these games.

- Do you pay attention at this time of the year to what's going on around the East with how tight it is around you guys?

PASCAL SIAKAM: No. I think we focus on us. Like, I think that that's the best kind of, like, approach. You know, like, there's a lot of things that we can't control so, like, just focusing on us and-- and making sure that we're on point and-- and deal with whatever happens after that.

- Pascal--

- What did you think of Scottie's spin move against Herro?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I didn't see it. Which move was that?

- He went at him and pulled a Pascal Siakam.

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah. I got to watch it. I didn't see it, but I'm sure it was cool.

[LAUGHTER]

- I think he called a swirl.

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, a swirl. I like that better. Good job, man.

- Thanks.

PASCAL SIAKAM: Wouldn't follow the trend.

- You guys have 32 assists even though you guys didn't really have the highest 3-point clip. Now, do you guys feel like you're clicking right now, especially at the right time, coming at the end of the season?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I think we have a lot to improve on. I think that we want to continue to get better. And I think that we just got to, you know, continue to work together as a team, communicate. And, like I said, all these games are super important. And I think our focus for everyone in our locker room is to go out every single night, do everything we can to win these games.

And-- and obviously, like, we do believe in ourselves. And at the end of the day, like, I always put the chips on us, like, against anybody. So I think we just got to continue to work, continue to get better and-- and see what happens. You know?

- This season's been, like, a lot of highs and lows here and there. Do you-- do you feel the confidence level, though, is kind of maintained there is on an upswing right now because of, you know, you are sort of trending in the right direction?

PASCAL SIAKAM: No. I think, again, like, I think our thing was just consistency, like, just playing good basketball for a long period of time. Like, and I think that at times, you know, like, I felt like we've had good months and, you know, when we played really good basketball. And unfortunately, like, that is, like, a question of, like, winning and losing. Right?

There's games where we played really well and we didn't win. You know? Like, and I feel like if we have those games back, like, we look-- we look a little different. You know? So I think that we can just focus on the wins and losses. You got a lot of focus on us, like, continue to work, continue to get better, make sure that, like you said, we trend in the right direction. And I think that's the most important.

[CHATTER]

- OK.

PASCAL SIAKAM: Come on, man. Don't be too modest, man. Go ahead.

- Yes. Apart from the physicality, the personality, what are the keys of the-- of the mindset in OG to be able to defend every night so many different players?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Right. Yeah. No, he's been awesome. I think he's gifted. That's what I think. Not a lot of people can do that. He goes out there every single night. And-- and I think, for me, what-- what I feel like kind of changed, or at least my humble opinion, is that, like, he's taking-- he's taking it, like, you know, like, as a challenge. And every single night he's out there guarding the best player.

And, you know, I said it early in the year. Like, you know, he can do that. And I just like the fact that he's focusing on that and using, you know, what kind of, like, God gave him. Like, he just does it. It seems easy. You know? But it's really hard to do it on a nightly basis.

And-- and, yeah, he's been awesome, you know, for us in that role. And, you know, yeah, I hope he gets some nods and Defensive Player of the Year, because I think he's doing that every single night. Like, not a lot of people can do that.

- You and Kyle had a nice moment after the game. Any chance you want to share what you guys were talking about?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Oh, nah. I mean, like again, it's Kyle. You know, obviously, like, we love to see him. And he's-- he is a huge part of, you know, I'm sure a lot of people here. And not only that, but us, guys that were here when he was here. Like, always been a big brother to us and it always feels good to see him and spend some time. And, yeah, like man, he's-- like, yeah, he's our big brother. So it's good-- good to see him. Good times.

- How hard on you was he as a vet?

PASCAL SIAKAM: As a vet? No, he was pretty chill. Like, I think-- yeah, yeah. I think he was pretty chill. Like, Kyle-- Kyle was always cool, like, you know, like, making sure that everyone was, you know, going to dinner and things like that. Obviously, like, DeMar was just like a-- like, a laid back, chill guy.

And Kyle, he was a little bit more vocal. But, nah, like, I think-- I always thought he was cool. Like, you know, like, you know, I'm his beloved and he's my beloved. And-- and-- yeah. Like, he was always good vibes.

- Pascal, you talk about viewing him as a big brother. What's it kind of been like for you to see him, you know, struggle with injury, transition to the bench? What's kind of been maybe your message to him?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah. No, I mean, I think, again, he's been doing this for a long time. Like, I'm-- I mean, I don't know, like, what really advice I can give him. But I just think that, like, he's a professional. And-- and all the times that he's been here, like, we learned from, you know, his-- like, just being a pro, like, all around. I just, for me, remember just him, like, being in the gym every single day, coming in early, like, doing all the right things that, like, we watched that and it rubbed off on us.

Like, you had no choice but to, you know, like want to be out there early or things like that. And I just think that, for me, I just saw the consistency every single day. Like, you can't-- you can't-- you can't kind of, like, teach that. And you can't cheat it, you know, also. So I think he will be fine. Like, he always figures it out. You know? Like, and-- and, yeah, I wish him the best. I have always.

- Pascal, we're going to go to one in French from our man, John.

- I was going to ask anyway--

- Come on, man.

[LAUGHTER]

Let's not do this, man.

- I've been giving you such a hard time. How about I ask you in English and you can reply in French?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I'll try.

- [LAUGHS]

PASCAL SIAKAM: Go ahead, bro.

- Thanks. How important was tonight's win for the Raptors' postseason hopes?

PASCAL SIAKAM: [SPEAKING FRENCH]

- Merci.

[LAUGHTER]

Thank you, Pascal.