In mid-January 2024, the Indiana Pacers were a solid but not dominant team, boasting the NBA's top offense powered by the efficient play of Tyrese Haliburton. However, the team lacked a second high-level shot-creator to complement Haliburton's five-out, bombs-away attack. The Pacers' defense, which struggled to match length, strength, and athleticism with top-flight big wings, further highlighted the need for an elite offensive player.
Enter Pascal Siakam, a versatile forward acquired from Toronto. "He's the kind of player that would go to any team, at any time, and blend in in a matter of days," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle before Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks. "Since Day 1 with the Pacers, it was like he'd been here a while."
Siakam has been a valuable asset for the Pacers since his arrival 16 months ago. The team has gone 88-60 with him in the lineup, including regular and postseason games, boasting a .595 winning percentage and a 49-win pace. In 148 games as a Pacer, Siakam has outscored opponents by 551 points in 4,849 regular and postseason minutes. While not mind-blowing, this performance is still impressive, especially when considering players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Jayson Tatum have posted single-season plus-minuses well over plus-600.
Siakam didn't transform Indiana into a juggernaut overnight, but he did raise both the Pacers’ floor and their ceiling. He is a tactical answer to any question an opponent can pose, providing a respected and decorated veteran whose voice carries in a young locker room. "He’s been here before, so he’s a calming presence for us and a leader for us," said Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard after Indiana’s Game 2 win.
In Game 2 against the Knicks, Siakam destroyed New York’s defense with a playoff-career-high 39 points in 33 minutes. He punished the Knicks from every spot on the court, including 9 for 12 in the paint, 3 for 6 from midrange, and 3 for 5 on above-the-break 3-pointers. This masterful performance gave the Pacers a commanding 2-0 lead heading home for Game 3 on Sunday.
The Knicks tried to limit Haliburton by switching the ball screen and allowing center Karl-Anthony Towns to defend him one-on-one on the perimeter. However, Indiana quickly adjusted by having Nembhard run the pick-and-roll with Turner. The Knicks didn’t switch that action but trusted Hart to ride Nembhard to the baseline while Towns and OG Anunoby sagged off of Siakam in the far corner to shrink the floor and make Nembhard play in a crowd. As soon as Anunoby sank down, Siakam stepped in from the arc to give Nembhard an outlet and attacked for a rhythm turnaround jumper.
Siakam's versatility allows him to take not just whatever is out there but also whoever is out there. He can shoot the 3
