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How Pascal Siakam is "handling" the pressure
🕑 Added 2024-03-17 14:36:46 +0000 UTCBy handling more of the ball
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
When it comes to running the fast-break, Tyrese Haliburton has been very open about his desire to start possessions as the ball-handler in the open floor. In fact, during a recent appearance on The Old Man and the Three with JJ Redick, he even cited Pascal Siakam's immediate willingness to outlet him the ball as a reason why he knew they would click:
“There’s times when new guys get on the team. I always think if you grab the rebound and I’m next to you, give me the ball because I want to give you it back. I’m trying to drive and draw two and I’m going to give it right back, put you in an easier position. Usually, when we get a new guy, it takes a little bit. Like when Bruce (Brown) first got there, he would be like this,” Haliburton said, waving his hand, “and I’m like, ‘Give me the ball. Give me the ball, I’m gonna get you a layup. Like, come on.’ The Portland game, the first rebound Pascal grabbed, I was in front of him and I was waiting for him to do this — and he flipped it to me. I was like ‘Oh, this is gonna be fun. He gave me the ball right away.’"
Since then, after playing 22 games together, Siakam is no longer giving Haliburton the ball right away; and yet, Haliburton doesn't seem to mind -- at least not by the numbers. Per Second Spectrum, Siakam logged 14 touches as the bring up ball-handler in Saturday's win over the Brooklyn Nets -- which was nearly triple the volume of what he posted in the loss to Chicago (5), when he attempted only one shot over his final 10+ minutes of action, including overtime. Here, though, within the first minute of play against Brooklyn, he very notably snatched the ball off the glass and looked to attack, with Haliburton spacing to the corner.
Before the first period was over, that happened three more times, including as a product of his hustle, which was palpable for the game, as he tracked down another rebound, using his body like a shield before once again storming ahead with the ball in his hands.
Of course, as that possession goes to show, the results of his grab-and-go forays were not always pristine. Haliburton picked up a turnover with a no-look pass as a secondary driver, and Siakam likewise misjudged his anticipation of where Andrew Nembhard would locate along the arc. Still, Siakam wasn't just breaking from the norms in leading the break with Haliburton on the floor, he also was doing exactly as Haliburton had described, driving, drawing two, and giving the ball right back, only with the roles reversed.
Just for emphasis, that's Haliburton securing a rebound and willingly throwing an outlet pass for someone else to put him in an easier position instead of the other way around. In that regard, given that Indiana's star guard has shot 24.7 percent on 5.3 pull-up threes per game over the last 16 games while still not appearing quite as explosive powering off his left leg and also motioning at times for the ghost screens that can mitigate with hesitation what he may currently be lacking in separation, it seems as though licensing Siakam to drive is occurring with at least some intention rather than originating entirely at random. If nothing else, this sequence was certainly a striking back-to-back comparison toward the end of the first half. With Dennis Schröder playing the part of full-court pest and aggressively walling off the right side of the floor, Haliburton eventually got bothered into losing track of the ball.
On the next trip down the floor, following a missed free throw from the Nets, Siakam was back at the controls, bringing the ball to Haliburton as a reprieve as opposed to relying on Haliburton to collapse the defense in order to receive the ball.
This also applied to dead-ball situations, in which Haliburton could be seen running ahead to screen, as he more often does now as the most credible movement shooter on the floor among the starters.
Needless to say, those inverted actions aren't always to Siakam's advantage. When Haliburton is being guarded by the toughest assignment for the opposing team, Siakam will at times either wave off the screen or immediately look to reject it, stopping-and-going like a bumper car to wheel his way to his spot. Meanwhile, if Haliburton is being top-locked, he isn't always physical enough to generate the effect of a double ball-screen by sandwiching his defender. That said, for a player who posted his highest usage rate in 27 games with the Pacers, this particular contest wasn't a reflection of lessening Siakam's burden but rather revealing how much he can shoulder while providing a second set of hands.
In stepping out to hedge and diving on a loose ball, Siakam arguably put together his most signature defensive highlight since being traded, offering a contrast to where the team has intermittently lacked in urgency by rushing up off the floor to score in a hurry at the other end as the trailer. After averaging 14.4 touches per game as the bring up ball-handler in Toronto compared to 11.4 with the Pacers (and only 8.2 when Haliburton has been on the court in 22 games played); however, Siakam also showed that, on a night when neither the star guard nor the team could make outside shots, he's capable of both dialing up and handling the pressure -- at least insomuch as he can be of assistance to Haliburton as a pressure release in handling the ball.
Comments
Caitlin Cooper
I'm going to save this question for this month's mailbag. Thank you :)
DrClumber
I'm a staunch defender of Nembhard in the line-up, but I see weaknesses to that decision as well. Plugging in Ben isn't going to fix that I think we agree? Do you think a more experienced SG is a priority for the off-season? Or do we hope that Andrew keeps developing? Love your work as always and keep it up!
coolkatco
Happy to see Pacers coaches learning P skills and allowing him more ball handling, playmaking, decision making, using his gravity to create open easy shots for everyone on the team. Siakam + bench is a great weapon too, that fast pace long athletic players are compatible with him. Looking forward to the growth of Hali x Siakam duo and the growth of Turner x Siakam for that big to big threat.. Would love to see the team peaking for playoffs.. I want Hali to keep shooting make or miss, eventually the flow with come... No lower than 6th basketball gods..
Rafa
You make good points. I’ll add to them that time is running out. On the other hand, the team didn’t have a conventional approach to lineups and rotations even when they were successful for 50 games or so. Playing these 5 so many minutes (they all seem to get 30 a night- that used to be just Ty) and turning to what seems to be a pretty set rotation seems to fly in the face what came before it.
Caitlin Cooper
Glad you enjoyed it, George! Really fun game from Siakam.
George Goehl
Love this piece
Norma
Thank you.... it made me happy this morning
Caitlin Cooper
On the brightside, Tyrese not looking like himself has led them to explore some other options.
Caitlin Cooper
Just for you.
Caitlin Cooper
Good question. As you mentioned, they've been outscored by 2.45 points per 100 possessions in 230 minutes played, but a lot of that has to do with the poor starts. Here's the breakdown by quarter: Q1, -30.5 in 76 MP; Q2, +13.1 in 39 MP; Q3, +8.8 in 75 MP, Q4+OT, +13.7 in 41 MP. The fact that they are winning the minutes coming out of halftime leads me to believe they'll ride it out, especially with the expectation that Haliburton won't be slumping forever. If they were to make a change, my guess is they would start Ben Sheppard, just because he would be able to plug into more of the movement actions while also preventing Nesmith from racking up fouls at the POA. The downside of that, though, would be that Sheppard isn't going to run offense when Tyrese gets face-guarded (i.e. there's a difference between bringing up the ball in transition and initiating against a set defense). Plus, moving Nembhard to the bench might complicate what is currently allowing T.J. to run wild with the second unit. We'll see, though! It's definitely a worthy thought exercise.
Rafa
The current starting line up had a negative net rating entering last night’s contest. They got off to another bad start then turned it around. Despite the struggles and fact that the team was very quick to experiment with lineups/rotations earlier in yr this starting unit is the team’s most used 5 man unit this season after only 22 games and despite Haliburton’s minutes restriction. Do u seen a possible shake up or are they fully committed even if the unit struggles?
Jeff Hasser
A fully healthy Tyrese and Pascal pairing will be so much fun to see in action. I am tempering my expectations for this postseason until (if) Tyrese looks like his old self, but it is very encouraging going forward that there is this optionality.
Norma
Awesome
