'I want to go workout with you during the summer for the midrange': Pascal Siakam to DeMar DeRozan

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam discusses the upcoming play-in game vs. the Bulls, how Chicago has guarded him in the past and DeMar DeRozan's midrange shotmaking.

Video Transcript

- Pascal, how important is it for you guys to have a good showing tomorrow night to kind of keep this season going, and sort of finish it on a positive note? How are [INAUDIBLE]?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, super important. I think, obviously, just going out there, season up and down, having a great opportunity to play some basketball and stay in the postseason. I think just attack it with a positive mindset, and go out there, play basketball, and give ourself the best chances.

- Nick was sitting here earlier, talking about how the game changes a bit, and the hits are a little bit harder, and the whistle doesn't come as often. How do you adapt to that from one regular season game to a game that will be called differently, probably tomorrow?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Right. I think-- which for me is, like, I feel like I'm kind of used to that. Like, I don't ever know what it's really like. So I kind of just condition myself to go out there, and not expect anything, and finish strong through hits.

And we know that it's going to be a physical game. And like you said, maybe the whistle will be a little different. But I don't think it's anything new, really.

- You do seem to have a size advantage, though, with you and Scottie and OG, to punch those guys going to the basket and at the rim. Is that in your mindset, going [INAUDIBLE]?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I think it's always been for us, like, just exploiting the matchups that we have. And whenever we feel like we have an advantage, we always go to that. And I think it just depends on who's out there on the floor for them and for us. Like, we're always going to try to take advantage of the mismatches and things like that, so yeah.

- Does it feel more like a game 83 in terms of prep work, 83, or a Game 7, or Game 1 of the playoffs?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Another game, an important game we have to win. So that's the mindset.

- You have had a lot of time going up against DeMar in practice in those first few years as a member of the bench mob. Given how gifted he is offensively, how much did he kind of help you in your early stages of development as a player?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I mean, I think for me, I just always liked watching him. Like-- just his work first. And then, like, just on the floor, the things that he's able to do, like mid-range, like, get to his spots, kind of manipulate the defense. And yeah, those things has always been good. And he's always been a tough coverage. And I definitely learned a lot from him.

- With the way you've evolved your mid-range game, do you see any similarities between yourself and DeMar now?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I mean, I don't know. I can't really tell you. But I know that watching him, it's like, you know, he does it so effortlessly and just so-- it seems so easy. And I kind of always told him, like, yeah, like, I want to go work out with you in the summer, just for your mid-range and stuff. But it's crazy what he's able to do.

And if you're a player out there, and you want to look at someone, someone that mastered something, he's one of those guys. So we definitely look at that and try to emulate it the best that you can. But he's special, so--

- How do you feel like you guys match up when Jak's off the court, and with the second unit against Chicago's size?

PASCAL SIAKAM: [LAUGHS] I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I think we just-- like I said, we have different lineups out there. Sometimes, I don't really know what the lineup's going to be. And if Jakob is in or not, like, I felt like we just play the way we play.

- Just playing with Jakob since the All-Star Break, let's say, what's one or two things he's made-- [INAUDIBLE] that's made your life easier, that you really kind of appreciate having him playing alongside with you?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I think obviously, like, his screening is great, kind of like getting you open. I think that's one good thing. And then, like, I think I probably scored the most off the ball with him just being out there and, like, making the passes, like, cuts and things like that.

Like, I think it just kind of gave me a little bit more-- another variety on, like, how to score. Like, instead of having the ball all the time, you can just pass it to him, and make a read. And he's able to make that pass. So yeah, if I had to name two.

- And I guess you're not the second [INAUDIBLE] anymore?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, which is a big help. Like, yeah, I like that a lot.

[LAUGHTER]

- Chicago has thrown different looks at you. But they've often started with, like, Caruso on you. What do you find challenging about him as a defender? And what do you find as the keys to your success against him?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Well, I think he's a good defender. And I feel like, you know, especially those guys that are smaller than me and-- you know, like, he's strong. Like, he can kind of hold his own. And yeah, it's always going to be tough. But I do feel like as [INAUDIBLE] also, like, where the help is coming from and those type of things.

But yeah, I think he's-- I think they have a variety of people that I can guard. And they've done a lot of different things. So it should be interesting and fun.

- There's a lot of things that Patrick Beverley does to try and throw people off their game. You guys have had a back and forth before as well.

PASCAL SIAKAM: Oh, we have?

- Yeah. [LAUGHS]

How do you kind of embrace that and not get thrown off?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, no, he's-- like, I think he's just-- like, that's his game. I think more-- I like it. I mean, I don't mind it. Like, I just think that that's what he does. And he always has that energy.

And you know, he likes to play against those type of guys, guys that give everything, and they want to do everything that they can to win the game, and really, sometimes, really don't care about the offense or this or that. Like, they just want to do everything that they can to help the team win.

And I think it's great. Like, I think he's a good guy. Like, I don't know. Yeah, every time we play, it's always fun.

-Yeah.