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Pascal Siakam makes a mismatch out of Knicks, leads Pacers to 2-0 series lead
🕑 Added 2025-05-24 19:29:14 +0000 UTCBreaking down the starring performance of Indiana's non-centralized star
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
Following Game 1, with the Pacers guarding Jalen Brunson by forcing him to guard, it seemed as though this might be a more muted series for Pascal Siakam. After all, there were times (for good reason), that he could be seen merely standing in the corner, removing O.G. Anunoby from the action, as the guards proceeded to seek out Brunson by any means necessary in the middle of the floor. Instead, Siakam turned the volume all the way up on his play, blaring his impact as a mismatch against nearly every match-up. As a result, although the Knicks made some changes, switching and going big while also cross-matching more often, the outcome remain unchanged: another win for the Pacers, who now, with Siakam at command, return home to Indiana with a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Joining me to discuss both the dominance and indomitability of Siakam's 39-point "Garden" party, along with everything else Game 2, is (once again) Samson Folk.
Here are the relevant timestamps:
0:00 - Introductions
6:26 - Siakam scoring in different ways against every Knicks starter + Robinson
13:57 - Brief aside on the differences between Siakam and Sabonis as post operators
18:10 - The ability of the Pacers to keep playing when plays breakdown
19:52 - Siakam's (ahem) unselfishness
25:00 - Distinguishing TJM at the helm of the offense from TJ-ball
25:27 - Bennedict Mathurin not playing in the second half
31:10 - Andrew Nembhard's off-ball playmaking (thanks, in part, to Josh Hart)
37:01 - Will the Knicks make a starting lineup change?
41:57 - Being confused by the Knicks confusion on defense (also, what's with all of the hedging against TJM?)
46:52 - Keeping it simple against switches + relocating Robinson weak-side corner
59:05 - Our favorite/least favorite basketball movies
1:06:02 - Who wore it better: "Agrarian Economy of Buckets"
1:07:16 - Thank you and Goodbye
Comments
w b b
Still thinking Pacers will neutralize Mitch… if not, just grateful he is limited minutes- wise….amazing that a traditional non-shooting center can stay on the court… gosh do I wish his early age mentors had encouraged him to learn a jump shot…still…at 27… if Brooke Lopez can, so can he…
Joseph Tonte
Easily the best basketball analysis podcast around. Just lucky that it happens to be about my Pacers as well.
