TORONTO – In the final moments of last weekend’s surprisingly competitive NBA All-Star Game, Nick Nurse wanted the ball in the hands of Pascal Siakam.
He had other options, of course. He had an entire roster of good options – team captain and reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, human battering ram Joel Embiid, sophomore inferno Trae Young, the red-hot Kemba Walker, just to name a few.
We’re talking about the best players in basketball and, thanks in large part to the well-executed format change and a rousing tribute to the late Kobe Bryant earlier in the evening, it was the most spirited mid-season showcase in recent memory.
But with the game – and $300,000 for charity – on the line, Nurse turned to Siakam.
“I don’t know if that’s how good [Siakam] is or if it’s because Nurse [was] the coach,” joked Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, who was watching from Turks and Caicos. “But I was laughing at him and Kyle [Lowry] trying to close it out out there.”
That Siakam was matched up with James Harden, who isn’t exactly known for his defensive prowess, probably made the decision a bit easier, but make no mistake, Nurse – head coach of Team Giannis – had his day job in mind.
Nurse’s second-place Raptors have had a remarkable campaign. On Friday, they opened the unofficial second half of the season with a 118-101 win over Phoenix to improve to 41-15. Siakam led all scorers with 37 points, including 25 in the first half and another eight in the fourth quarter to help put the game away.
Siakam, last year’s Most Improved Player, has taken another big step after inheriting the featured role from Kawhi Leonard this past summer. There have been growing pains along the way, as you would expect, but he hasn’t looked out of place in the spotlight.
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It’s been far from a one-man show, however. Toronto is a deep and well-balanced team, which has helped them survive countless injuries to key contributors, including Siakam. Once the playoffs roll around, though, they’ll ask for more from their best player. As the level of competition rises and the games become more crucial, teams generally tighten their rotation and lean on their go-to scorer, especially in crunch time.
Given the stage and the stakes, last Sunday’s All-Star Game was a good dress rehearsal. The results were mixed. As both teams raced to the target score of 157, Siakam drew a foul on Harden with his side down 154-152, splitting the free throws. With the opposition, Team LeBron, stuck on game point, Harden stripped Siakam at the rim, though you could argue he was fouled again (and both Nurse and Siakam have made that argument). Nurse, Siakam and Team Giannis would go on to lose the game, but it was a valuable experience for the 25-year-old first-time all-star.
“It was cool,” Siakam said. “[I wish] I made a few more shots. I mean you could argue fouls and stuff. But it was so fun. It was so fun just seeing that at the end of the game, with all those players, and it was like OK, we’re choosing the matchup and we wanna go at it and I was a part of that. It was great. I wish I had made the shots a little bit but it was a pretty cool moment.”
“It was excellent,” said Nurse. “That’s the kind of situation we’re going to need Pascal to be able to score in. High leverage. High talent. Being guarded hard. Being switched on, doubled on, tripled. Sometimes in the block. And I thought he held his own well. I thought if he would’ve gotten a little better whistle he really would’ve played well. I thought he made a couple great moves and got fouled on two of them and had nothing to show for them. They were solid moves with good rhythm and timing — and against really good players.”
With 26 contests and eight weeks to go before the playoffs begin, the Raptors will do what they can to find Siakam even more of those late-game reps and, according to Nurse, expand his overall role in the team’s offence.
The fourth-year forward played an important role in last season’s championship run, but with Leonard around he was the second option on the floor in those critical moments, at best. Now there’s nowhere to hide. He’s the guy for Toronto. Other teams know that and, come playoff time, they’ll do everything they can to try and stop him. One of the Raptors’ top priorities over the next couple months will be to get him ready for what’s to come.
“I think in general we want to continue to give him as many reps as possible in a lot of different scenarios,” Nurse said. “So, I guess his teammates are going to have to be accepting of that. We’re going to probably be more high volume on purpose with him than maybe we would [be] if we were just letting the game flow out or playing to the rhythm of the game or playing to matchups or whatever. So, I just think we need to continue to polish his reps at bringing it up, facing double-teams in the post, certain scoring plays, situations, things like that.”
Coming into Friday’s game, Siakam had a 34 per cent usage rate in crunch time situations (score within five points or fewer in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime) – just behind Leonard and LeBron James and ahead of Anthony Davis and Paul George, so it’s not like the offence hasn’t been running through him down the stretch already.
The issue is that Toronto hasn’t played many close games with Siakam in the lineup. The Raptors have logged 100 “clutch” minutes this season – 11th-fewest in the NBA – but 37 of them came during the 11-game stretch that Siakam missed with a groin injury between mid-December and early-January.
The ending of Friday’s win over Phoenix didn’t qualify as a “clutch” opportunity, thanks in large part to how well Siakam played early in the game. He was aggressive right out of the gate, bullying sophomore Mikal Bridges in the post, facing up in the mid-range, and drilling threes – he hit five of his first six shots from beyond the arc. The Suns did cut Toronto’s lead, which was as large as 26 points, to seven inside five minutes, but Siakam scored eight points and hit all four of his shots – each of them coming in the paint – over the final few minutes to help his team pull away.
The Raptors will happily blow teams out like they did for most of their 15-game winning streak, which just so happened to coincide with a friendly stretch of the schedule. Their remaining slate of games is more challenging, though. Theoretically, that should lead to tighter finishes.
They’ve fared well when the ball’s been in Siakam’s hands late in games, for what it’s worth. The forward is shooting 17-for-37 (46 per cent) when the score is within five points or fewer in the final five minutes and Toronto has outscored opponents by 26 points in those situations. Zoom in even further and Siakam is 9-for-16 (56 per cent) when the score is within five points or fewer in the final two minutes, and Toronto is a plus-33.
Despite his inexperience in that role, he’s the type of player you feel good about trusting in that spot. He’s versatile enough to be unpredictable. He’s unselfish and savvy enough to make a play for his teammates, if the situation calls for it. He’s crafty enough to get to the rim or draw a foul, and he’s extended his range to the point where you’re comfortable with him taking a mid-range shot or a three.
There will almost certainly be a learning curve as he adjusts to the level of pressure and defensive attention he’ll see in April and May (and June, if Toronto is fortunate enough), but the young man rarely seems fazed by a new challenge, if ever. His game has already grown at an unprecedented rate, which is an encouraging sign for the Raptors, who will need him to take another big leap this spring.
“For myself, I expect to continue to get better,” Siakam said. “This is a new thing for me and I just continue to get excited about the process and knowing one day you might have 10 points and another you might have 30 and understanding what you need to do to keep it consistent where you have that high level of play every single game.”
“When you see us play out there it doesn’t matter who is making shots, who is making plays, we just trust the person that’s playing well at that time. But when it comes down to it I think we all know as a team who’s that person we want to go to when we need something easy or if we need a little relief. I think everybody knows that and I know that, and I’m glad to be that guy.”
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
