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CHICAGO – Still serving the rookie contract he signed in July 2016, Toronto Raptors forward Paskal Siakam is making just $ 2.35 million this season.
But starting next season, when his four-year, $ 129.9 million contract extension takes effect, the NBA’s most improved former player will earn $ 29 million, followed by at least $ 30 million a year through 2024. .
Already an All-Star whose credentials include a G-league title and an MVP award from the G-league finals they both won in 2017, the 6-foot-9, 235-pound wing is definitely a top player.
But in these 2020 playoffs so far, particularly in Toronto’s ongoing Round 2 fight with the Celtics, there is mounting evidence that the 26-year-old Siakam isn’t quite ready to fill the size 14 left by the late Kawhi Leonard.
The man they call Spicy P is turning out to be so disappointingly smooth.
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With a chance to lead his team back to the Eastern Conference Finals after a four-game sweep of the injury-ravaged Brooklyn Nets, Siakam has failed to elevate his game as befits a franchise player.
Through three games against Boston, he has amassed a decent harvest of 46 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.
But his percentages are mortifying: 17 of 47 from the field (36 percent) and 2 of 11 from deep (18 percent).
And while the New Mexico State alumnus has only five turnovers, his 10 total fouls have come at poorly opportune moments, forcing Raptors head coach Nick Nurse to sideline his best player. for long periods in the early halves of Games 1 and 3.
By the sheer miracle of the OG Anonuby triple winner with 0.5 seconds remaining in Game 3, the Raptors have held onto a life raft, down just 1-2 instead of a bleak 0-3 in this best-of-seven series. .
But if the Raptors are to advance to the Eastern Finals, they need Siakam to be Kawhi’s heir apparent and the transcendent player they paid him to be.
Hope and luck are not the best strategy.
IT WAS NOT BAD LUCK IT WAS POOR EXECUTION. According to Sportrac.com, Boston head coach Brad Stevens’ current contract is worth $ 22 million or $ 3.6 million per.
He’s one of the most dynamic offensive minds in the NBA, but defense is the side of his bread that has butter. Which explains why the Celtics are second in the league in points allowed (107.3) and fourth in defensive rating (107).
So how did a team that is so rigid military-style in its execution give up an open triple to preserve a victory with half a second to go?
Well, don’t point that fickle finger of guilt at Stevens. A coach can only draw plays. Players must execute it.
And in this case, Jaylen Brown lost his assignment, Anonuby, who parked on the corner after briefly sniffing the sidelines.
Brown climbed to the top to help Daniel Thies avoid a possible balloon play from a charging Marc Gasol, but when Brown saw the limits go through the shaded area, it was too late to close.
So yeah, the Celtics didn’t give away Game 3. The Raptors took it.
MORE OF SPIN
Kyle Lowry appears generously at six feet. It took a lot of skill and vision to make that cross pass with 7ft 5 Tacko Fall moving in front of him.
And Anonuby deserves a ton of credit for nailing the basket under incredible duress and time constraints.
But I still think Game 3 wasn’t a serial lifesaver for the Raptors. It was a death rattle, a last gasp of resistance.
Celtics in six.
