<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-gets-real-indianas-finals-hopes-after-ecf-run');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers PF Pascal Siakam gets real on Indiana’s Finals hopes after ECF run');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/0Pascal-Siakam-gets-real-on-Indianas-Finals-hopes-after-ECF-run0.jpg"></figure><h1>Pacers PF Pascal Siakam gets real on Indiana’s Finals hopes after ECF run</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-12T12:13:20-07:00">September 12th, 12:13pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-12T12:13:20-07:00">September 12th, 12:13pm</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University senior from Atlanta on track to graduate with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Power forward Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers are currently in the midst of a big offseason as for the future direction of the franchise. While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-tyrese-haliburton-reveals-length-of-team-usa-recruiting-efforts">Pacers haven’t made</a> any big moves so far, this summer is all about improvement for some of the team’s younger players, while even <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-raptors-slip-up-after-signing-189-million-contract">veterans like Siakam</a> also look for ways to add to their games.</p><p>Of course, last year was <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1834281566819799296" rel="noopener">a major success</a> for the Pacers, as Indiana backdoored their way into the Eastern Conference Finals and ironically ended up giving the Boston Celtics their most competitive series of the postseason despite the fact that it ended up in a sweep.</p><p>Now, Siakam is hoping to help lead the Pacers even further heading into next season, as evidenced by his comments to some young hoopers recently (via Siakam on X, formerly Twitter).</p><p>“We can’t go into it thinking like, ‘Oh we did so well last year’… It doesn’t work like that… Whatever we did last year, we gotta do that sh*t triple to even get to where we were,” said Siakam.</p><h2><b>Can the Pacers do it again?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Siakam-vs-the-Celtics.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Siakam is likely correct in his assessment that in order to advance to the conference finals again, let alone get all the way to the NBA Finals, the Pacers will have to do a lot more than they did in the 2024 NBA postseason.</p><p>The Pacers deserve credit for taking advantage of the opportunities they were given during that run, but the reality of the situation is that they likely would have been sent home in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks had Giannis Antetokounmpo been healthy, and if the New York Knicks in round two were even close to one hundred percent, that also almost assuredly would have ended in a Pacers loss.</p><p>However, you can only play the team that’s in front of you, and there is still plenty to be excited about in Indiana, most notably the progression of All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton had a bit of a strange 2023-24 campaign, as for the first half of the year he looked like one of the best point guards in the NBA before fizzling dramatically down the stretch and then somewhat rekindling his flame in the playoffs.</p><p>In order for the Pacers to once again contend in the Eastern Conference, both Haliburton and Siakam will have to bring their A Games in 2024-25, along with improvement from Indiana’s talented collection of young role players.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers PF Pascal Siakam gets real on Indiana’s Finals hopes after ECF run

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-raptors-slip-up-after-signing-189-million-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Pascal Siakam makes Raptors slip-up after signing $189 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pascal-Siakam-makes-Raptors-slip-up-after-signing-189-million-contract.jpg"></figure><h1>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam makes Raptors slip-up after signing $189 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-07-09T10:21:01-07:00">July 9th, 10:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-07-09T10:41:20-07:00">July 9th, 10:41am</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After making their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 10 years, the good vibes continue for the Indiana Pacers. Star forward <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-verge-lucrative-long-term-extension">Pascal Siakam re-signed</a> with the club on a king-sized deal, but not without making a funny slip-up in his press conference.</p><p>Siakam <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1810353363944378872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1810353363944378872%7Ctwgr%5Eabcd81eaae62d5552481c5039497004cca83cbd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2024%2F07%2Fpascal-siakam-thanked-raptors-accident-pacers-deal-nba" rel="noopener">accidentally thanked his old club</a> instead of the Pacers on Monday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“I wanna thank the Raptors… The Pacers organization for trusting me.”</p><p>Pascal Siakam accidentally thanked his former team after signing a multi-year contract extension with Indiana 😅</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pacers</a>) <a href="https://t.co/YHaJ6LFsN5">pic.twitter.com/YHaJ6LFsN5</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1810353363944378872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I wanna thank the Raptors…uh, the Pacers organization just for trusting me,” the two-time All-Star said.</p><p>Siakam was drafted 27th overall by Toronto in 2016, and stayed with the club until getting traded to Indiana in January. The Raptors sent Siakam to the Pacers for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks.</p><p>Indiana has undoubtedly won the trade so far, as the Cameroon native averaged 21.3 points per game on 54.9% shooting with 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 41 regular-season contests with the team last year. He continued producing in the playoffs, leading to his new four-year, $189 million extension.</p><p>Siakam <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/pacers/news/the-indiana-pacers-gave-pascal-siakam-no-reasons-to-leave-and-now-he-has-a-new-home" rel="noopener">continued talking up the franchise</a>, via Sports Illustrated’s Tony East.</p><p>“I’m just super excited about the future of the team,” the 2019 NBA champion said. “I just can’t wait for us to continue to get to work.”</p><p>Will <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/major-offseason-pacers-must-do-win-2025-nba-finals">Siakam and point guard</a> Tyrese Haliburton ever reach the promised land together?</p><h2><b>The Pacers are one or two more big moves away from championship contention</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pacers-Pascal-Siakam.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>One point that Siakam emphasized was his offseason meeting with head coach Rick Carlisle and a group of team coaches and executives. The 30-year-old appreciated the time and effort they put towards making him feel desired.</p><p>“It was great,” Siakam said. “Just them taking the time and coming, just talking with me. And I think for me, it’s just getting to know each other. They get to know who I am as a player, as a competitor,” Siakam said of the meeting. “For me, the goals were there. I always want to be [on] a team that aspires to win… we just had everything aligned for us.”</p><p>On top of that, he loves Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as the blue and gold’s fanbase constantly packs it out and provides fierce energy.</p><p>“It’s incredible,” he said of the home environment. “Because of the energy, the passion.”</p><p>While Indiana’s current core of Siakam, Haliburton, and big man Myles Turner will certainly keep them in the playoffs year to year, it may be hard to continually make Conference Finals appearances. The Milwaukee Bucks will run it back with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the New York Knicks added Mikal Bridges, and the Philadelphia 76ers added Paul George. Of course, the defending-champion Boston Celtics still lurk as well.</p><p>However, Siakam’s extension is a step in the right direction for the Pacers, and sets the foundation they need to possibly attract another star in the future.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam makes Raptors slip-up after signing $189 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-verge-lucrative-long-term-extension');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Pascal Siakam will sign $189.5 million contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pacers-news-Pascal-Siakam-on-verge-of-lucrative-long-term-extension.jpg"></figure><h1>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam will sign $189.5 million contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-19T06:39:33-07:00">June 19th, 6:39am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-19T06:40:47-07:00">June 19th, 6:40am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Indiana Pacers star forward Pascal Siakam plans to sign a <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40385448/sources-pacers-pascal-siakam-sign-1895m-max-contract" rel="noopener">four-year, $189.5 million max contract</a> that will keep him alongside Tyrese Haliburton for the foreseeable future, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Pacers reporter Scott Agness <a href="https://x.com/ScottAgness/status/1803100111406305305" rel="noopener">first reported Tuesday</a> that Siakam and the Pacers were trending toward a new deal.</p><p>Unlike previous years, teams around the NBA are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-pascal-siakam-tyrese-maxey-free-agency-contract-extensions-imminent">allowed to begin negotiations</a> with their own players who are set to be free agents, as well as those that are rookie extension eligible or veteran extension eligible. Siakam, who recently completed his four-year, $136 million contract that began with the Toronto Raptors in 2020, is considered an unrestricted free agent this offseason.</p><p>However, the Pacers made their intentions to keep Siakam clear when they acquired him from the Raptors at the trade deadline. While Siakam won’t be getting a five-year max worth over $245 million, the 30-year-old will sign this four-year deal once the NBA’s free agency moratorium ends on July 6.</p><h2><b>Pascal Siakam’s impact with Pacers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Indiana-Pacers-celebrating.jpeg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Siakam returning to the Pacers is not surprising in the least. The two-time All-Star was the player Indiana wanted to add next to Haliburton at the trade deadline, and he was worth the investment.</p><p>In a total of 41 games with the Pacers, Siakam averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the floor and 38.6 percent from three-point range. Siakam made his impact felt during the Pacers’ playoff run, leading the team in total points, rebounds, and field goals before they were swept by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.</p><p>The Pacers are a much better team than many tend to give them credit for. Not only did they make the conference finals for the first time in a decade, but they also made it to the championship game of the very first NBA In-Season Tournament.</p><p>This team was built to contend, and they have plenty of talent to do so. With Siakam set to return, head coach Rick Carlisle will look to build off of a very successful season with his young team.</p><p>The feelings of reaching a new long-term contract were mutual between the Pacers and Siakam when their playoff run ended. During his closing remarks on the season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-sees-indiana-tenure-as-blessing-ahead-of-free-agency">Siakam made it clear</a> to point out that Indiana was where he wanted to be.</p><p>“All I can say is that… yeah, it’s been a blessing. I’m really appreciative of everything,” Siakam pointed out. “Coming from where I come from, it means a lot. The support that I’ve received here is something that I was kind of missing. Having all that and seeing how the city just breathes basketball and how much support they give to the team, just being here, the home games, it’s incredible.”</p><p>Now, the 30-year-old will be tasked with trying to lead his team back to the Eastern Conference Finals, and beyond, during the 2024-25 season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam will sign $189.5 million contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-rumors-pascal-siakam-tyrese-maxey-free-agency-contract-extensions-imminent');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Maxey contract extensions imminent before free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NBA-rumors-Pascal-Siakam-Tyrese-Maxey-contract-extensions-imminent-before-free-agency.jpg"></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Maxey contract extensions imminent before free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-17T10:58:05-07:00">June 17th, 10:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-17T11:00:14-07:00">June 17th, 11:00am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mavericks-vs-celtics-nba-finals-game-5-prediction-odds-pick">2024 NBA Finals continue</a> on Monday night with a critical Game 5, where the Dallas Mavericks will look to keep their season alive against the Boston Celtics. The other 28 teams in the league are paying attention to this championship series, but not for the reason that many would think. Nobody around the league really cares who wins the championship, other than maybe the Los Angeles Lakers, given their rivalry with the Celtics. However, everyone cares when this series ends because it directly impacts NBA free agency and when players such as Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Maxey, Klay Thompson, and others will be able to negotiate new deals with their teams.</p><p>In previous seasons, teams were prohibited from negotiating new deals with free agents, regardless of whether they were their players, until the end of the NBA calendar year on June 30. However, for the first time, teams will be able to start negotiating new deals with their own free agents as soon as the NBA Finals conclude, which could be on Monday night. This means several of the league’s top pending free agents may already have contract proposals from their current teams before the free agency window even opens.</p><p>As far as how this rule change impacts NBA free agency as a whole, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst discussed what this means and why the potential conclusion of the NBA Finals on Monday night will directly result in <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1802731729834164653">deals being announced</a> on Tuesday.</p><p>“As soon as the Finals end; This is a new rule this year: As soon as the Finals is over, teams can negotiate with their own free agents. So if the [NBA] Finals ends tonight, we will start seeing contracts I believe as early as tomorrow,” Windhorst stated on Monday while appearing on ESPN radio. “Pascal Siakam — Here comes your max baby! Tyrese Maxey — Bam, tomorrow! None of this, ‘We negotiate on July 1.'”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"This is a new rule this year: As soon as the Finals is over, teams can negotiate with their own free agents. So if the [NBA] Finals ends tonight, we will start seeing contracts I believe as early as tomorrow."</p><p>– Brian Windhorst 👀</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/UnSportsESPN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnSportsESPN</a>)<a href="https://t.co/bJdkIVmmrY">pic.twitter.com/bJdkIVmmrY</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1802731729834164653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>So, if the NBA Finals do end on Monday night and the Celtics become champions for the 18th time in team history, all of the attention could suddenly shift from them hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy into the air to Maxey, Siakam, and other huge names around the league signing lucrative contract offers.</p><h2><b>Tyrese Maxey, Pascal Siakam to avoid NBA free agency</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pacers-Pascal-Siakam-1.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>It seems like a given that new contracts will be negotiated and agreed upon around the league even before free agency begins. Not only will this provide more clarity and certainty as to what teams will be able to do once the actual free agency window opens, but it will also provide an opportunity for teams to lock in their current talents.</p><p>That is why Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Maxey won’t be going anywhere and why they won’t even have the opportunity to speak with other teams in free agency. Once the NBA Finals end, as Windhorst alluded to, Siakam and Maxey will be among the first to see new deals coming their way.</p><p>When the Pacers traded for Siakam, they did so with the mindset of keeping him long term. That is why he is going to likely get a max-level contract of around <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-looming-max-contract-highlights-offseason-agenda">$240 million over a five-year span</a>. In Maxey’s case, he will be getting a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-76ers-to-re-sign-tyrese-maxey-to-205-million-contract">five-year extension</a> off of his rookie contract worth upwards of $205 million.</p><p>Because the negotiation window begins for teams and their current free agents once the NBA Finals ends, the league could also be prepared to cross other stars off as being “available” on the open market.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/warriors-news-klay-thompsons-eye-opening-social-media-move-ahead-of-free-agency">Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors</a> could negotiate a new deal before other teams get a chance to speak with the future Hall of Famer. Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers could finally come to terms on a new contract after being <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-clippers-determined-to-keep-paul-george-james-harden">unable to find common ground</a>. DeMar DeRozan could re-sign with the Chicago Bulls, OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein with the New York Knicks, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with the Denver Nuggets.</p><p>By the time the actual free agency window opens on June 30 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, many of the top names could already have verbal agreements with their current teams. However, it is important to note that even though these deals can be negotiated between players and their current teams once the NBA Finals conclude, all of these contracts and agreements can’t be finalized until after July 6.</p><p>Players who aren’t going to be free agents this offseason but become eligible to sign a contract extension will also be able to come to terms on a new contract with their current teams. This means Donovan Mitchell could agree to a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/donovan-mitchell-appears-committed-continuing-future-cavs">new long-term deal</a> to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers.</p><p>The normal drama of NBA free agency may no longer exist, as teams may have close to two weeks to negotiate new contracts with their current players before the actual free agency period begins.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Maxey contract extensions imminent before free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-reveals-important-decision-he-needs-to-make-by-july');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Pascal Siakam reveals important decision he needs to make by July');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Pascal-Siakam-reveals-important-decision-he-needs-to-make-by-July.jpg"></figure><h1>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam reveals important decision he needs to make by July</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-06-05T19:44:42-07:00">June 5th, 7:44pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-06-05T20:07:40-07:00">June 5th, 8:07pm</time><address><a>Nick Meyer</a>Nick Meyer is a sports writer for ClutchPoints based in the Metro Detroit area. He has covered everything from Major League Baseball to the NFL, UFC, and College Football.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Indiana Pacers’ Pascal Siakim was one of the breakout stars of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, and now he has an important decision to make prior to the 2024 Olympics. The Douala, Cameroon born stretch forward could join his native country for a key date on the 2024 Summer Olympics calendar.</p><p>Intel on Siakim’s potential future decision was shared <a href="https://hoopshype.com/rumor/2951157/">by the website HoopsHype.com</a> during a time when former Pacer Jeff Teague chimed in on why the Pacers <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-why-jeff-teague-wants-paul-george-return-to-the-pacers">to get Paul George back</a>. George shared his thoughts on possibly having his jersey retired by the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/clippers-news-paul-george-true-feelings-on-potential-la-pacers-jersey-retirement">Pacers or another team</a> from the Western Conference.</p><p>Siakim’s decision is one that could impact the future of the African nation’s basketball program for years to come.</p><h2><b>Report: Siakim undecided on Olympics </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Siakim-walk-1.jpg"><figcaption>© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Cameroon is scheduled to play in a six-team Olympic qualifying tournament in early July. According to HoopsHype, Siakim has not yet decided whether he will play for his native country.</p><p>Last season, Siakim <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3149673/pascal-siakam">averaged 21.3 points</a>, 7.8 assists, about half a block and nearly a full steal per game for Coach Rick Carlisle’s Pacers.</p><p>The 6-foot-8 forward shot a career best <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3149673/pascal-siakam">38.6 percent</a> from the three-point line. Siakim also turned in his highest postseason scoring average since 2021-2022, when he averaged over 22.8 points per game.</p><h2><b>Pacers’ NBA Draft outlook </b></h2><p>The Pacers do not have a first round pick in this year’s NBA Draft but they do own picks 36, 49 and 50.</p><p>The Pacers could look to snag another sleeper talent akin to Siakim or they could perhaps draft a young player who still needs development like Bronny James to stash away for future seasons.</p><p>Regardless of what Rick Carlisle’s team does this offseason, the Pacers must focus on managing their roster to peak efficiency while tweaking things here and there to become a team capable of dethroning the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics.</p><p>It won’t be easy, but Siakim’s offseason could play a pivotal role. The former Toronto Raptors star has the skills to lead the Pacers to the NBA’s promised land, but it will be exceedingly difficult if he’s too spent from a long run in the Olympics this summer.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam reveals important decision he needs to make by July

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-news-76ers-thunder-the-pascal-siakam-betting-favorites-if-he-leaves-pacers');   ga('set', 'title', '76ers, Thunder the Pascal Siakam betting favorites if he leaves Pacers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/76ers-Thunder-the-Pascal-Siakam-betting-favorites-if-he-leaves-Pacers.jpeg"></figure><h1>76ers, Thunder the Pascal Siakam betting favorites if he leaves Pacers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-29T15:16:43-07:00">May 29th, 3:16pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-29T15:16:43-07:00">May 29th, 3:16pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the Indiana Pacers’ season ended in the Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Boston Celtics, they now enter an offseason with immediate goals. One of them is to sign <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-sees-indiana-tenure-as-blessing-ahead-of-free-agency">Pacers star Pascal Siakam to a contract</a> extension after trading for him during the middle of this season, however there has been betting odds associated to him possibly moving elsewhere like with the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder.</p><p><a href="https://sports.betonline.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/nba-specials/specials" rel="noopener">According to BetOnline</a>, the 76ers have the best chance to get Siakam if he does not stay with the Pacers at +300 while the Thunder are at +400. It has been known that Philadelphia is seeking another star to pair with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and as for Oklahoma City, a veteran star like Siakam could be useful next to a youthful, talented group.</p><h2><b>Pacers “biggest priority” is to keep Siakam</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pascal-Siakam-during-the-Pacers-Game-4-loss-to-the-Celtics-in-the-Eastern-Conference-Finals.jpeg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>However, it’s important to mention that the <a href="https://x.com/RunItBackFDTV/status/1795464232038752734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1795464232038752734%7Ctwgr%5Ec4f70505659b37c85fd9b94a28d6e2d3279a31b3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fnba%2Fnews%2Fpacers-reportedly-will-offer-pascal-siakam-max-contract-this-summer" rel="noopener">former Toronto Raptor most likely stays</a> with Indiana after a successful season as said by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.</p><p>“Their biggest priority is bringing back Pascal Siakam,” Charania stated on FanDuel’s Run It Back. “The Pacers gave up three first-round draft picks to go get him. They didn’t just trade those picks to potentially just have a crack at keeping him. They understand it’s a max-level contract commitment that you’re going to have with Pascal Siakam.</p><p>“That’s what they are preparing to offer him this summer, and he wants to be there.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“[The Pacers] biggest priority is bringing back Pascal Siakam” 🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> on the offseason plans for the Indiana Pacers <a href="https://t.co/sjr3Gu0oNk">pic.twitter.com/sjr3Gu0oNk</a></p><p>— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/RunItBackFDTV/status/1795464232038752734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>In terms of an extension, he is eligible for a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-looming-max-contract-highlights-offseason-agenda">“five-year contract with the Pacers</a> that could exceed $240 million in total” according to ClutchPoints’ NBA Insider Brett Siegel. After the Game 4 loss to the Celtics, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-makes-promise-after-game-2-loss-to-celtics-leaves-sucky-feeling">Siakam briefly talked about his</a> possible future regarding an extension and while he would not go into it, he said being with Indiana has <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2024/05/28/pascal-siakam-obi-toppin-on-whats-next-with-free-agency-looming/73874388007/" rel="noopener">“been a blessing”</a> according to IndyStar.</p><p>“Obviously I’m not going to talk about all that,” Siakam said. “All I can say is that it’s been a blessing. I’m really appreciative of everything. From where I come from, it means a lot. The support that I’ve received here is something that I was kind of missing. Having all that and seeing how the city just breathes basketball and how much support they give to the team, just being here, the home games, it’s incredible.”</p><h2><b>Siakam says the support from Indiana has “been incredible”</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-joins-2-man-paul-george-club-epic-game-1-celtics">In 41 games with the Pacers this</a> season, he averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. He was also huge for the team in the postseason being a reliable offensive threat against the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, and eventually Boston despite the series sweep.</p><p>“The support from the first day has been incredible,” Siakam said. “I couldn’t really ask for anything better in terms of support from the first day I got here. I could literally name everyone. … Just so much love and support. Coming from where I came from, I’ve sacrificed so much in a place. After you have that kind of break up, it’s hard. It’s tough. Then when you come into here, I think without that support, I don’t know how I would do it. I’m so grateful and happy I came to a place where I felt so supported and you feel like you’re needed and you matter. As a player, that’s all you can ask for. I’m blessed to be able to be here and have the season we had.”</p><p>Whether it be for the 76ers, Thunder, or most likely the Pacers, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-wizards-rookie-claim-pascal-siakam-overrated">Siakam is sure to be a consistent</a> and calming presence to any team. For the Pacers, they are hoping to retain him next to Tyrese Haliburton and improve off of a sixth seed finish where they had a 47-35 record.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

76ers, Thunder the Pascal Siakam betting favorites if he leaves Pacers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-looming-max-contract-highlights-offseason-agenda');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pascal Siakam’s looming max contract highlights Pacers’ agenda entering offseason');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pascal-Siakams-looming-max-contract-highlights-Pacers-agenda-entering-offseason.jpg"></figure><h1>Pascal Siakam’s looming max contract highlights Pacers’ agenda entering offseason</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-28T11:38:05-07:00">May 28th, 11:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-28T12:05:57-07:00">May 28th, 12:05pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When the 2023-24 NBA season began, the Indiana Pacers were perceived as a younger team that wasn’t necessarily going through a rebuild but a retooling process. In fact, this was the <a href="https://x.com/RomeovilleKid/status/1492255009911808006" rel="noopener">message</a> that team president Kevin Pritchard shared with everyone in 2022 when he stated, “This is not a rebuild. We have too many good players on this team right now.” This was the message that came just two days after the franchise sent All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, a recent first-round pick who had the potential to become a lead guard in this league.</p><p>Little did everyone know that this would be a trade that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-warning-indiana-after-surprise-eastern-conference-finals-trip">drastically changed the trajectory</a> of the Pacers for the better.</p><p>Haliburton has been named an All-Star in back-to-back seasons, and he earned All-NBA Third Team honors for the first time in his career. Building around the young playmaker instantly became Pritchard and Indiana’s focus, as dynamic role players such as TJ McConnell, Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and second-year wing Bennedict Mathurin highlighted the Pacers’ roster entering the season.</p><p>Coming off a 35-47 record during the 2022-23 season, nobody really imagined the Pacers being a true threat in the East. While there was certainly potential for growth, this team was severely overlooked when the new year began. That did not matter to Rick Carlisle’s squad, as they knew what they were capable of achieving. At no point did the Pacers dip below a .500 record during the regular season, and their success was put into the spotlight of the mainstream media when Haliburton was suddenly the leader of the league’s best offense.</p><p>Before anyone could think twice about the success this organization was finding, the Pacers found themselves heading to Las Vegas for the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals and championship game. Even though they came up just short of winning the NBA Cup, the story suddenly shifted to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-gets-100-real-impact-nba-in-season-tournament-recruitment">Haliburton being a rising superstar</a> that others around the league would want to play with. If anything, Haliburton let it be known in the middle of the season that he wanted to <a href="https://x.com/wojespn/status/1732929789890383949" rel="noopener">play alongside</a> another star.</p><p>“I’m gonna get you shots,” Haliburton told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski during the In-Season Tournament in December. “I’m gonna make life easy for you, and we are going to win.”</p><p>Well, Haliburton’s comments certainly drew the attention of the league, as Pascal Siakam emerged as the All-Star who wanted to join the Pacers to team up with the talented guard. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pascal-siakam-trade-grades-pacers-raptors-pelicans">Pacers acquired Siakam</a> ahead of the trade deadline from the Toronto Raptors for a package that included Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis Jr., Jordan Nwora, two first-round picks in 2024, and a conditional first-round pick in 2026. Indiana went 23-18 in their 41 games with Siakam to finish the regular season, resulting in them grabbing the 6-seed and avoiding the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>This season hasn’t been a surprise for the Pacers. It was anticipated.</p><p>Pritchard and this front office truly believed in Haliburton to become the face of the franchise, which is why they made the moves they did to surround him with athletic two-way talent. It is also the reason why they invested a lot of future assets into the trade to acquire Siakam from Toronto.</p><p>An appearance in the In-Season Tournament championship game was backed up by the organization’s first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since 2014, when Paul George was leading the charge. Despite being swept by the Boston Celtics, the Pacers have grown tenfold this season, both from individual and team perspectives.</p><p>Now, the questions shift from how the Pacers find success to how will the franchise look to sustain long-term success. After proving that they can be true contenders in the East, the Pacers enter the offseason once again looking to build a championship-worthy roster around Haliburton.</p><p>This starts with Siakam’s contract situation.</p><h2><b>Pascal Siakam’s upcoming max contract</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pascal-Siakam-looking-down.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>When the Pacers acquired Siakam this season, they knew the risk associated with acquiring him. Siakam is a proven All-Star on the court, and there is no reason to worry about his skills, but Indiana sacrificed a lot for a player in the final year of his contract. After making over $37 million this past season and proving to be a top-five power forward in this league, the 30-year-old is going to be seeking a max contract in the summer.</p><p>This summer, Siakam will be eligible to sign a five-year contract with the Pacers that could exceed $240 million in total. Any other team will only be able to offer him a four-year deal near $180 million. With the way the league’s salary projections are skyrocketing, there is no way any player signing a long-term contract this season will opt to take less money.</p><p>“All I can say is that… yeah, it’s been a blessing. I’m really appreciative of everything,” Siakam said in his postgame remarks on Monday. “Coming from where I come from, it means a lot. The support that I’ve received here is something that I was kind of missing. Having all that and seeing how the city just breathes basketball and how much support they give to the team, just being here, the home games, it’s incredible.”</p><p>Siakam is a loyal player. He always was in Toronto, and he has <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-sees-indiana-tenure-as-blessing-ahead-of-free-agency">given the Pacers no reason to believe</a> he is considering another team at this time. Anything can happen in free agency, but all signs point in the direction of Siakam putting pen to paper on a new deal to remain in Indiana. This appears to be the case with the team as well, with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting on Tuesday that the Pacers are prepared to <a href="https://x.com/TheAthletic/status/1795468400224850069" rel="noopener">offer</a> Siakam a max contract.</p><p>“Their biggest priority is bringing back Pascal Siakam,” Charania stated on FanDuel’s Run It Back. “The Pacers gave up three first-round draft picks to go get him. They didn’t just trade those picks to potentially just have a crack at keeping him. They understand it’s a max-level contract commitment that you’re going to have with Pascal Siakam.</p><p>“That’s what they are preparing to offer him this summer, and he wants to be there.”</p><p>Assuming this deal gets done fairly quickly once the negotiation window opens, Siakam would join Haliburton as a max-level contract player on the Pacers’ roster. Haliburton signed a five-year, $245 million extension with the team last summer.</p><p>Siakam has been great in a Pacers uniform. With a full offseason to work alongside Haliburton, as well as the rest of the roster, Siakam will be an even better leader and primary scoring option for a team that was four wins shy of getting to the NBA Finals.</p><h2><b>Obi Toppin, TJ McConnell contract situations</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Obi-Toppin-and-TJ-McConnell.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Aside from Siakam’s contract situation, the Pacers are going to need to evaluate their standing with Obi Toppin and TJ McConnell, two very important secondary assets next to Haliburton and Siakam.</p><p>McConnell has been with the Pacers since the start of the 2019-20 season, and he has evolved into one of the leading voices in their locker room. Despite not being a starter, McConnell has fully embraced his role as a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-why-tj-mcconnell-plays-like-he-doesnt-belong-nba">veteran presence and leader</a> of the second unit behind Haliburton in the backcourt.</p><p>The 2023-24 season ended up being the best of McConnell’s career, as he averaged a career-high 10.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor and 40.9 percent from three-point range. He backed up his impressive play with some huge performances in the postseason. McConnell recorded double-digit scoring numbers in 10 of the Pacers’ 17 playoff games, and he recorded at least seven assists in five different games during Indiana’s playoff run. The fact of the matter is that the Pacers wouldn’t have been in a position to reach the In-Season Tournament Finals or Eastern Conference Finals without him.</p><p>Although there have been teams that have contacted the Pacers about McConnell’s availability over the last year, Indiana is not prepared to let him go. Then again, his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-unsung-savior-beats-tyrese-haliburton-for-unreal-franchise-feat-in-knicks-takedown">recent playoff performances</a> have only driven up his price for a possible extension.</p><p>Toppin doesn’t have the luxury of seeking an extension from the Pacers this offseason since he is a free agent. After seeing his rookie deal come to an end, Toppin is set to be a restricted free agent. Indiana will likely offer him a $7.7 million qualifying offer ahead of free agency, allowing them to match any offer sheets the high-flying forward may sign.</p><p>A max deal for Siakam would make the Pacers’ financial situation tight, leaving little room for them to be able to re-sign Toppin. Doing so would undoubtedly push them over the tax line, an area that the Pacers are unfamiliar with. At the end of the day, spending money is what it takes to win in the NBA. A player of Toppin’s talents can be replaced, but his demeanor and energy are not so easily replaced.</p><h2><b>Pacers’ internal reinforcements</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Bennedict-Mathurin-layup.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>With very little room to work with financially after a max contract is given to Siakam, the Pacers will need to turn to their current roster in order to find improvements and reinforcements. The biggest hole the Pacers had on their roster throughout the playoffs was an immediate scoring presence off the bench. McConnell and Toppin did an excellent job of stepping up in big moments, but neither player is known for being an instant source of scoring production.</p><p>That is why the Pacers so dearly missed Bennedict Mathurin during the second half of the season and into the playoffs. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-devastating-bennedict-mathurin-injury-update">Mathurin suffered a torn labrum</a> in his right shoulder and underwent season-ending surgery. The second-year wing was having yet another great season, primarily coming off the bench, as he averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 37.4 percent from three-point range in 59 regular-season games.</p><p>Even though others did their best to replicate Mathurin’s scoring production, just his athleticism alone and ability to run in transition make the Pacers a much better team than they were en route to the Eastern Conference Finals. If Mathurin was healthy and on the court, there is reason to believe that Indiana could’ve given Boston a run for their money. After all, the Pacers did lead the Celtics in the fourth quarter o three different games in this series.</p><p>In addition to Mathurin returning to the lineup next season, the Pacers will be looking for more ways to incorporate Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard, their two first-round picks from the 2023 NBA Draft. Sheppard saw the most time out of the two rookies, even playing heavy minutes during the Pacers’ playoff run. However, Walker is an athletic, two-way forward that the team is exceptionally high on. It is certainly possible that he could wind up filling the minutes left behind by Toppin if he were to depart in free agency.</p><p>Mathurin, Walker, and Sheppard are the three players this organization will practically view as “new options” to include in their rotations, simply because the Pacers won’t have much space to make a lot of roster moves once a new contract is given to Siakam. It is also worth noting that Indiana owns three second-round picks in this year’s draft, including back-to-back picks at No. 49 and No. 50 overall.</p><p>Internal growth and chemistry will be the two points of emphasis for the Pacers this offseason. Once thought to be a rebuilding franchise, the Pacers have sent a clear message to the rest of the NBA that they are capable of winning on the biggest stage possible. With a full summer to work on their craft, the Pacers should enter the 2024-25 season as favorites to win the Eastern Conference behind the Celtics.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pascal Siakam’s looming max contract highlights Pacers’ agenda entering offseason

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-sees-indiana-tenure-as-blessing-ahead-of-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pascal Siakam sees Pacers tenure as ‘blessing’ ahead of free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pacers-Pascal-Siakam.jpeg"></figure><h1>Pascal Siakam sees Pacers tenure as ‘blessing’ ahead of free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-28T07:00:30-07:00">May 28th, 7:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-28T07:00:30-07:00">May 28th, 7:00am</time><address><a>Sam DiGiovanni</a>Sam DiGiovanni started at ClutchPoints as an associate editor in 2021 and became the site's Philadelphia 76ers beat reporter ahead of the 2022-23 season. He graduated from Marist College in May of 2022 and has written for TheKnicksWall.com and CenterFieldMarist.com in the past.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Indiana Pacers’ 2023-24 season is over. It ended in the Eastern Conference Finals, a stage that no one would have assumed them to be in play for at the start of the season. The continued emergence of Tyrese Haliburton and a mid-season trade for Pascal Siakam has given Indiana a bright future, though they have some work to do to</p><p>This season threw a lot at Siakam. He was traded from the only professional team he had ever played for, the Toronto Raptors, and joined a team with a radically different style of play. Given the chance to remain in playoff contention, he made the most of it, helping his new team win two series and enjoying his time (so far) with the Pacers.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"It's been a blessing…Seeing how the city breathes basketball and how much support they give to the team. It's incredible."</p><p>Pascal Siakam talks about being in Indiana and the support he's received from Pacers fans. <a href="https://t.co/hbJ9SEizRL">pic.twitter.com/hbJ9SEizRL</a></p><p>— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1795316349729903086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“All I can say is that…yeah, it’s been a blessing. I’m really appreciative of everything,” Siakam said. “Coming from where I come from, it means a lot. The support that I’ve received here is something that I was kind of missing. Having all that and seeing how the city just breathes basketball and how much support they give to the team, just being here, the home games, it’s incredible.”</p><p>The Pacers parted with Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, two 2024 first-round picks (their own and a pick that belonged originally to the Oklahoma City Thunder) and a conditional 2026 first-rounder to land Siakam. It was a major gamble to bring in a star player in the middle of the season, especially on a team that’s still young and on the rise. It has paid off so far but Indiana clearly wants more than just one playoff run.</p><p>Although Siakam overcame a rough start to his Indy tenure, losing six of his first nine games, he eventually got going with Haliburton and led the Pacers to their first playoff series win since 2014, providing some <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-joins-2-man-paul-george-club-epic-game-1-celtics">key performances</a> along the way. Now, the front office has to step up and keep the veteran star around for the future.</p><h2><b>Pascal Siakam heads into free agency after helping Pacers reach ECF</b></h2><p>Siakam is now entering unrestricted free agency. At age 30, he’s bound to secure one more huge payday — and the Pacers have plenty of pressure to be the team that does so.</p><p>The Pacers ran a huge risk by trading for Siakam, who could now leave in the open market for nothing. But adding him during the season gives them two advantages. First, it gave them and Siakam a test drive together to see if the two sides were a good fit for the long term. Second, it allowed Indiana to offer Siakam more money than any other team. The Pacers can offer him a five-year maximum contract worth roughly $247 million in total. The most that other teams can offer is a four-year max worth roughly $183 million. Even if the Pacers only want to sign him to a four-year deal, theirs can be worth roughly $7 million more in total.</p><p>Based on Siakam’s assessment of his brief Indiana tenure, he seems to have greatly enjoyed it. With few other teams that have space for a maximum contract, the Pacers don’t have much other competition to bring him back.</p><p>Although the Pacers couldn’t scratch a game from the Boston Celtics <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-most-to-blame-for-celtics-eastern-conference-finals-sweep">in the Eastern Conference Finals</a>, the fact that they got there and remained competitive despite Haliburton missing the last two games says a lot. Siakam and Halibrton are surrounded by solid role players, veterans and youngsters alike. This could be Siakam’s best chance to lead a good team for the rest of his prime years.</p><p>In a radio interview the day after the Pacers’ season ended, head coach Rick Carlisle said that the <a href="https://x.com/KBowen1070/status/1795435023266652351" rel="noopener">top priority this offseason</a> is to re-sign Pascal Siakam. It’s a clear, important goal for Indiana as the franchise looks to get back to its winning ways for good.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pascal Siakam sees Pacers tenure as ‘blessing’ ahead of free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-makes-promise-after-game-2-loss-to-celtics-leaves-sucky-feeling');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Pascal Siakam makes promise after Game 2 loss to Celtics leaves ‘sucky’ feeling');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pacers-news-Pascal-Siakam-makes-promise-after-Game-2-loss-to-Celtics-leaves-sucky-feeling.jpeg"></figure><h1>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam makes promise after Game 2 loss to Celtics leaves ‘sucky’ feeling</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-24T08:23:01-07:00">May 24th, 8:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-24T08:23:01-07:00">May 24th, 8:23am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-coach-rick-carlisle-drops-truth-bomb-on-cavs-culture-amid-j-b-bickerstaff-firing">The Indiana Pacers have lost their</a> second straight game in Game 2 against the Boston Celtics Friday night, 126-110, Thursday night as things did not go their way in terms of performance and especially player availability. One of the few bright spots from the outing was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-joins-2-man-paul-george-club-epic-game-1-celtics">Pacers star Pascal Siakam who spoke</a> after the game about the feeling of himself and his teammates.</p><p>Siakam scored 28 points as he made 13 out of his 17 shot attempts from the field in what was another efficient night for the star that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-injury-update-game-2-celtics">was acquired by the Pacers via</a> trade from the Toronto Raptors this season. He would say that while it is going to “suck” in terms of losing, he is confident that they are <a href="https://x.com/DustinDopirak/status/1793841980533010625" rel="noopener">“going to bounce back”</a> according to Dustin Dopriak of The Indianapolis Star.</p><p>“It’s gonna suck tonight, losing,” Siakam said. “But we have guys that understand how hard it is to win. We’re going to bounce back.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Siakam: “It’s gonna suck tonight, losing, but we have guys that understand how hard it is to win. We’re going to bounce back.”</p><p>— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) <a href="https://twitter.com/DustinDopirak/status/1793841980533010625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Siakam talks how he can adapt against Celtics to help Pacers in series</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pascal-Siakam-taking-the-ball-up-the-court-during-the-Pacers-Game-2-loss-to-the-Celtics.jpeg"><figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>If there is one aspect of the 0-2 series deficit <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-most-blame-disheartening-game-2-loss-vs-celtics">that the Pacers find themselves</a> in, it’s that the same happened in the semifinals round against the New York Knicks where they lost the first two, but then won the next two on their home floor. They enter the same situation as Siakam expressed <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2024/05/23/jaylen-brown-celtics-cruise-to-game-2-win-with-tyrese-haliburton-out/73788794007/" rel="noopener">that it is more important to be consistent</a> throughout the game as they led after one period and never sniffed the lead after that.</p><p>“We got stops and we started running a little bit,” Siakam said via The Indy Star. “It obviously feels good when you’re making a shot or whatever, but the fact is we were more aggressive. We got stops. We got rebounds, which we didn’t do for good parts of the game. However we want to play as a team, I’m able to do that. If we want to play fast, I can do that. If we want to play slow I can do that.”</p><p>There is no doubt that the Celtics have arguably been the best team in the NBA this season in terms of their record, but also in other areas like scoring margin that make them one of the best teams of all time on paper. Boston not only excelled in their talent, but also in their intensity in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5516939/2024/05/24/pacers-celtics-game-2/" rel="noopener">crashing the glass which was</a> mentioned by Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle as being a point of emphasis for Game 3 according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic.</p><p>“These guys spread you out a little differently than New York does and they have great athletes, so they beat us to some balls,” Carlisle said after the game. “So, we’ve gotta flip that on Saturday.”</p><h2><b>What led to the Pacers going down 0-2 in the series against the Celtics</b></h2><p>When facing a team like the Celtics, there is very little to no room for error as in the past two games, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-rick-carlisle-drops-game-3-guarantee-amid-2-0-series-deficit-vs-celtics">Indiana has lost the turnover</a> battle and has not separated themselves on the glass. Especially in Game 2 where in terms of defensive rebounding, the Pacers struggled even when they went smaller to keep with Pacers big-man Myles Turner.</p><p>“That led to a lot of their easy buckets,” Turner said after the game. “They made a different lineup tonight, a switch tonight, I mean, their fives aren’t going to able to guard me, so they decided to put some of their smaller guys on me, and I wasn’t able to get as involved in the pick-and-roll, but (we’ll) watch the film, make adjustments and take it from there.”</p><h2><b>Uncertainty regarding Tyrese Haliburton</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-rick-carlisle-goes-viral-after-game-2-loss-all-the-wrong-reasons">Now the Pacers enter the same</a> situation as said before where they come back to their home court in the Gainbridge Fieldhouse down 0-2 in the series, but the cards are stacked against them even more for a couple of reasons. The first being that digging the hole deeper against Boston is a recipe for success and the other lies on the health of their star player in Tyrese Haliburton who was injured in the third quarter and didn’t return due to “left leg soreness.”</p><p>“We hope that this is a very short-term aggravation,” Carlisle said regarding Haliburton. “Tyrese hit the floor, so he came back here and had a couple of tests done with his chest. He fortunately returned pretty quickly.”</p><p>After a collision with Jaylen Brown in the first quarter, that is when Haliburton started to feel pain in his leg and hamstring area. It prompted work to be done at halftime as said by Carlisle and while <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5516781/2024/05/23/pacers-tyrese-haliburton-leg-game-2/">he gave it a shot in the second half</a>, it seemed <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1793833072678654137" rel="noopener">he aggravated the injury in the</a> third quarter.</p><p>“He was getting worked on the entire halftime,” Carlisle said via The Athletic. “He came out, gave it a shot and was giving it all the effort he could. I haven’t talked to him directly and I can’t read minds, but it wasn’t going well. The trainers determined that he needed to go in the back to get worked on.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is the play in the 3rd quarter where Tyrese Haliburton appeared to suffer a leg injury.</p><p>He left the game and was ruled OUT for the remainder of Game 2 vs. the Celtics 🙏🏽<a href="https://t.co/7jbacfe7Nl">pic.twitter.com/7jbacfe7Nl</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1793833072678654137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Pacers could have cards stacked against them for Game 3 </b></h2><p>For the Pacers to have any shot in this series, Haliburton has to be present since he’s the main engine for the team and the success they’ve had this season. However, Turner is taking the approach that the weight should not fall on one player’s shoulders.</p><p>“It’s not a one-man job,” Turner said. “We got here as a team, and that’s how we’re going to have to continue to play.”</p><p>While Indiana waits for a status update regarding the young star, they would most likely have to rely on Siakam and others such as Andrew Nembhard to set the offense and try to fill in the void. Haliburton had a steallar season as he averaged 20.1 points, 10.9 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game as teammate T.J. McConnell, who would be crucial if the 24-year was out, said that it’s time for the team to have the next man up mentality.</p><p>“When your franchise guy goes down, obviously it’s tough, but that’s a time for this group — who has done it this year — for everyone to step up and take a bigger role,” McConnell said. “We’ve done a good job of that when he has been out, and obviously, it hurts when he goes down, but (it’s) one of those things where it’s the next-man-up mentality. … We haven’t heard anything about him yet, but guys just have to step up and be ready.”</p><p>On the bright side, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-shockingly-leaves-game-2-vs-celtics-with-concerning-injury">the Pacers go back home</a> where they have been undefeated in the postseason thus far as Game 3 is Saturday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam makes promise after Game 2 loss to Celtics leaves ‘sucky’ feeling

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-joins-2-man-paul-george-club-epic-game-1-celtics');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Pascal Siakam joins 2-man Paul George club in epic Game 1 vs Celtics');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/f4f1e41a-17e9-11ef-b7fc-76a2217e7cb7.avif"></figure><h1>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam joins 2-man Paul George club in epic Game 1 vs Celtics</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-21T20:57:14-07:00">May 21st, 8:57pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-21T20:57:14-07:00">May 21st, 8:57pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Indiana Pacers came so close to pulling off an upset playoff road win against the Boston Celtics Tuesday night. Indiana went toe to toe against the Celtics from start to end in large part because of a brilliant all-around effort by Pascal Siakam. The versatile forward was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-rick-carlisles-pre-series-admission-reveals-indianas-biggest-problems-vs-celtics">expected to play a huge role</a> for the Pacers in the series opener and he looked great for the most part of the contest. He even <a href="https://x.com/statmuse/status/1793110389938684143" rel="noopener">duplicated a franchise feat</a> only one man had ever done before in Pacers club history, per StatMuse.</p><p><i>The only Pacers in franchise history with</i></p><p><i>20+ PTS</i><br><i>10+ REB</i><br><i>5+ AST</i></p><p><i>in a Conference Finals game.</i></p><p>The Pacers suffered a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-indianas-choke-job-trolling-after-game-1-collapse-vs-celtics">deflating 133-128 loss</a> to the Celtics in Game 1 that put Siakam’s production to waste. It is also worth noting that it was Siakam who challenged Jaylen Brown’s shot near the end of regulation that went in and forced overtime. That hurts Siakam and the Pacers but they can take heart from the fact that they made the Celtics sweat. They entered the game as a double-digit underdog and nearly completed a stunner at TD Garden. A moral victory doesn’t reflect on paper but that’s the best the Pacers could take away from their series-opening loss, notwithstanding the errors and poor decisions they made that led to their painful loss at the hands of Jayson Tatum and company.</p><p>Siakam finished Game 1 with 24 points on 12/23 shooting from the field, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and a steal. He probably has to be even more aggressive going forward in the series, considering that he got zero trips to the foul line in the Celtics game. However, it’s seemingly an issue the Pacers, as a team, have been <a href="https://x.com/statmuse/status/1793117742243209356" rel="noopener">constantly dealing with</a> since the playoffs started.</p><p>“The Celtics have the highest free throw differential (+93) this playoffs. The Pacers have the lowest free throw differential (-100) this playoffs,” shared StatMuse after Game 1.</p><p>So far in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Siakam, who won a title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, is pacing Indiana with 21.1 points per game on 53.7 percent shooting from the floor, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest.</p><p>The Pacers also got ample production in Game 1 from Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner, who had 25 and 23 points, respectively. Haliburton also dished out 10 assists, while Turner grabbed 10 boards to go with four assists and two blocks.</p><h2><b>Back to the drawing board for the Pacers after brutal Game 1 loss to Celtics</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Indiana-Pacers-celebrating.jpeg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Losing the series opener against the top seed in the Eastern Conference (and in the entire NBA, for that matter) in such a painful manner was definitely not the best way to kick off the conference finals round for the Pacers, but it is also worth mentioning that Indiana lost both Game 1s of their first and second-round series versus the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks, respectively. They even dropped the first two games of the Knicks series and trailed New York after five games before stitching together two wins in a row while staring playoff death in the eyes.</p><p>Siakam and the Pacers will look to get back on track and steal a win in Boston this coming Saturday before flying back to Indiana for Games 3 and 4. It will always be a tough assignment for the Pacers to take down a team like Boston, but the signs are there that they could do it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam joins 2-man Paul George club in epic Game 1 vs Celtics

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-pascal-siakam-warn-indiana-what-awaits-game-7-knicks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam warn Pacers of what awaits in Game 7 vs. Knicks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tyrese-Haliburton-Pascal-Siakam-warn-Indiana-of-what-awaits-in-Game-7-vs.-Knicks.jpg"></figure><h1>Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam warn Pacers of what awaits in Game 7 vs. Knicks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-18T06:24:22-07:00">May 18th, 6:24am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-18T06:24:22-07:00">May 18th, 6:24am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Indiana Pacers’ season was on the line in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/knicks-most-to-blame-for-embarrassing-game-6-loss-to-pacers">Game 6</a> against the New York Knicks, but they responded by picking up a fairly comfortable <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-what-impressed-magic-johnson-indiana-wild-game-6-win-knicks">116-103 victory</a> to extend their season and force a Game 7. While it wasn’t his biggest game of the series, Tyrese Haliburton was in control of the proceedings from the jump, and he’s ready to turn the page to the game that will ultimately decide who wins this series.</p><p>Haliburton is arguably the Pacers biggest X-factor, as he is crucial to the operation of their offense. He didn’t have to do much in this one, though, as Pascal Siakam put together his best outing of the series to lead Indiana to victory. And after the win, Haliburton revealed that the team’s desire to <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1791691627096109284" rel="noopener">not have to go home</a> for the offseason was what inspired them to put together their big outing in Game 6.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Us [Pacers] being down 3-2 the pressure was on us… we had to come out and play harder for 48 minutes and we have to maintain that going into Game 7."</p><p>Tyrese Haliburton on the Pacers' mindset of not wanting to go home 💪</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>)<a href="https://t.co/Y9Gny9d516">pic.twitter.com/Y9Gny9d516</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1791691627096109284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Pacers managed to accomplish their goal, and they now have a do-or-die Game 7 contest at Madison Square Garden on their slate as they attempt to book their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. And even though Game 6 had just wrapped up, Haliburton was already getting himself excited for the team’s upcoming Game 7 action.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Now it's a one-game series… Where better to have a Game 7 than the Garden."</p><p>Tyrese Haliburton discusses Sunday's series decider in New York 🗣</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBATV</a>)<br> <a href="https://t.co/zgU5p8hJPI">pic.twitter.com/zgU5p8hJPI</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1791679877005111318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers don’t have much Game 7 experience</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pascal-Siakam-and-Tyrese-Haliburton.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Anything can happen in a Game 7, but that’s not exactly something the Pacers are very familiar with. They have a very young squad, with this being many of their players’ deepest playoff runs, and that was something that head coach Rick Carlise was <a href="https://x.com/AlexGoldenNBA/status/1791671896188088602" rel="noopener">quick to note</a> as everyone began to turn the page from Game 6 to Game 7.</p><p>Via Alex Golden:</p><p>“Rick Carlisle on Game 7: ‘It’s the ultimate game. Aside from Pascal, I don’t know if anyone has been in a game 7. This team has had a lot of new experiences the last 6 weeks.’”</p><p>The one guy who does know what it takes to play and win a Game 7 is Siakam, who was a big part of the Toronto Raptors 2019 championship squad. Siakam came up big for Indiana in Game 6 on Friday night (25 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 11/21 FGM), and he revealed that he expects the team that comes out and <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1791698630090555603" rel="noopener">plays the hardest</a> in Game 7 will end up being the team that advances to the next round of the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Both teams are going to play hard… the hardest playing team usually wins those games."</p><p>Pascal Siakam on what it's like playing in a Game 7</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>)<a href="https://t.co/Q6KVtZxcb3">pic.twitter.com/Q6KVtZxcb3</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1791698630090555603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This series has been an absolute battle to this point, so it only seems right that it will culminate in a Game 7 where everything is on the line. Siakam is familiar with how these contests go, and he’s going to have to step up once again if Indiana intends on advancing. Experience isn’t everything, but any advantage you can get in a win-or-go-home game is crucial.</p><p>Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam are Indiana’s two best players, and they are going to play a big role in determining how this contest ends up going on Sunday afternoon. They both seem to know the stakes, and if they can play some solid basketball again with their season on the line, they could end up completing their upset of the Knicks and advancing to the next round of the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam warn Pacers of what awaits in Game 7 vs. Knicks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-wizards-rookie-claim-pascal-siakam-overrated');   ga('set', 'title', 'Wizards rookie stands by claim that Pacers’ Pascal Siakam is overrated');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Wizards-rookie-stands-by-claim-that-Pascal-Siakam-is-overrated.jpg"></figure><h1>Wizards rookie stands by claim that Pacers’ Pascal Siakam is overrated</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-05-13T15:04:43-07:00">May 13th, 3:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-05-13T15:04:43-07:00">May 13th, 3:04pm</time><address><a>Matthew Schmidt</a>Matthew Schmidt has been writing about sports since 2011 and is based in New Jersey. He primarily specializes in NFL these days, but has also extensively covered the NBA and MLB and has written for numerous websites.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers are locked in a tight second-round <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-talks-game-4-blowout-of-knicks">Eastern Conference playoff series</a> with the New York Knicks, but a Washington Wizards rookie is unimpressed with Siakam.</p><p>Last month, Wizards wing Bilal Couilbaly called Siakam the <a href="https://twitter.com/RMCsport/status/1785065829580607512" rel="noopener">NBA’s most overrated player</a> in a French-language interview with RMC Sports. Now, Coulibaly has now doubled down on his statement.</p><p>Well, kind of.</p><p>Coulibaly doesn’t necessarily think Siakam is overrated, but he does think <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3okQYqDepkY&amp;t=339s" rel="noopener">he is very predictable</a>.</p><p>“I stand by that,” Coulibaly said on The Run It Back podcast when asked about his comments. “I just said that, nah he was not overrated, but they were asking me who was the easiest superstar to guard, and I was like Pascal. I watched the films and I knew what he was about to do, when he was going left or spinning around going right, so I was like yeah he’s the easiest superstar to guard.”</p><p>So Coulibaly is essentially saying that Siakam is not very versatile offensively and doesn’t have a whole lot in his bag.</p><p>Ironically enough, Coulibaly was actually selected by the Pacers with the seventh overall pick of the NBA Draft last summer, but was then immediately traded to the Wizards as part of a three-team deal.</p><p>The 19-year-old appears to be one of the top up and coming defenders in the NBA and is coming off of a solid rookie campaign in which he averaged 8.4 points and 4.1 rebounds over 27.2 minutes per game. He shot 43.5 percent from the floor, 34.6 percent from three-point range and 70.2 percent from the free-throw line.</p><h2><b>Is Pascal Siakam an elite player?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pascal-Siakam.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Siakam is good. <i>Really</i> good. But is he elite?</p><p>Here’s the thing about Siakam: he is probably not a No. 1 option on a legitimate title contender, but he has already proven that he can be a No. 2. Remember: he played Robin to Kawhi Leonard’s Batman when the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship in 2019.</p><p>This season, Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton were essentially 1A and 1B for Indiana, but you kind of get the feeling that Haliburton is surpassing him as the top gun offensively.</p><p>Siakam actually began the 2023-24 campaign with the Raptors, but was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-message-to-fans-after-trade">traded to the Pacers</a> midway through the season when it became clear that Toronto was no longer contending. On the season overall, he averaged 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 53.6 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from distance and 73.2 percent from the charity stripe.</p><p>Given that he is a lifetime 33 percent three-point shooter, Siakam’s offensive repertoire is somewhat limited. Teams would much rather sag and allow him to shoot a triple rather than let him get to the basket. That’s not to say that Siakam can’t shoot from three; he can. But, he is actually average to below average from the perimeter, which absolutely hurts his game overall.</p><p>The 30-year-old is a two-time All-Star, but he has never really been a serious MVP candidate.</p><p>But in fairness to Siakam, not many people consider him an actual superstar, so it may not be right to call him “overrated.” At this point, he is what he is: a very good two-way player who should be a welcome addition to any NBA roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Wizards rookie stands by claim that Pacers’ Pascal Siakam is overrated

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-shouts-out-indiana-fans-after-monster-game-2-outing-vs-bucks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pascal Siakam shouts out Pacers fans after monster Game 2 outing vs. Bucks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pascal-Siakam-shouts-out-Pacers-fans-after-monster-Game-2-outing-vs.-Bucks.jpg"></figure><h1>Pascal Siakam shouts out Pacers fans after monster Game 2 outing vs. Bucks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-24T08:04:30-07:00">April 24th, 8:04am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-24T08:04:30-07:00">April 24th, 8:04am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Indiana Pacers, after three years of missing the playoffs are back in the big time. Tyrese Haliburton has taken the Pacers to the next level, but in their 2024 first-round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, it hasn’t been Haliburton who has lifted the team on his back. The team’s blockbuster acquisition back in January, Pascal Siakam, has been on a tear to begin the playoffs, and the Pacers have stolen homecourt advantage as a result following a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bucks-news-what-doomed-milwaukee-in-pacers-17-point-game-2-blowout-doc-rivers">resounding 125-108 Game 2 win</a> away from home.</p><p>Siakam, who scored 36 points in his playoff debut for the Pacers, followed that stellar performance up with a 37-point night in Game 2. It has been clear that, to this point, the Bucks don’t have the personnel to handle the two-time All-Star power forward.</p><p>It’s not always easy to perform at one’s best when undergoing a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-pascal-siakam-was-bewildered-heartbroken-by-raptors-contract-negotiations-in-offseason">major life transition</a>. For Pascal Siakam, he spent seven and a half seasons with the Toronto Raptors, and the Pacers didn’t exactly take off as a bonafide contender upon his arrival. But Siakam has received <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1782978393136414799" rel="noopener">nothing but love</a> from the Pacers franchise, and the 30-year old couldn’t help but reciprocate with some strong appreciation of his own.</p><p>“I’m blessed, man. Blessed to be here. Didn’t go the playoffs last year so that was my goal coming in this year. I’m blessed to be able to be in this organization, like the Pacers. They’ve given me everything. The love is amazing. I feel good. We’re back in the playoffs. I’m back where I belong,” Siakam said in his postgame interview with NBA TV’s Dennis Scott, via ClutchPoints Twitter (X).</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"The love is amazing…I'm back where I belong."</p><p>Pascal Siakam praises the Pacers' fanbase after dropping a monster performance in their Game 2 win against the Bucks 🗣<a href="https://t.co/6mNIA0jtKP">pic.twitter.com/6mNIA0jtKP</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1782978393136414799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Indeed, Pascal Siakam is a proud winner, and given where he is in his career, he would most definitely want another shot at a title. But before the Pacers can look towards that ultimate goal, they will have to make the most of the homecourt advantage that belongs to them moving forward, especially amid Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence for the Bucks.</p><h2><b>Pascal Siakam has been unstoppable</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pacers-forward-Pascal-Siakam-43-shoots-the-ball-over-Milwaukee-Bucks-center-Brook-Lopez-11.jpg"></figure><p>The scoring totals for Pascal Siakam through the first two games may be the most eye-catching, but it’s the manner in which the Pacers star is getting his against the Bucks’ defense that will give Indiana confidence moving forward. Siakam does the bulk of his damage when attacking the basket and stopping short in the midrange to establish his perimeter threat.</p><p>Through the first two contests, Siakam has gotten to his spots without much trouble. He has made mincemeat of his primary defenders, Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez. He has also stretched the floor when facing the much-slower Lopez, taken advantage of Portis’ lack of lateral quickness and rim protection, cut to the basket against a stretched-out Bucks defense, and feasted on mismatches down low against the likes of Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton, and even Damian Lillard.</p><p>Pascal Siakam <a href="https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/pascal-siakam-stats-first-two-games-vs.-bucks-2024-playoffs" rel="noopener">has made</a> 31 of his 48 field-goal attempts thus far in the series, and at this point, unless Giannis Antetokounmpo makes a triumphant return from injury, it’s not quite clear how the Bucks can slow him down.</p><p>The 30-year old forward has proven, in the grandest stage of them all, that he can deliver for his teams when it matters the most. Siakam relishes the spotlight, for an inexperienced Pacers team, his ability to rise to the occasion has proven invaluable.</p><h2>Pacers still have room to improve, vis a vis, Tyrese Haliburton</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pacers-guard-Tyrese-Haliburton-0-reacts-during-a-timeout.jpg"></figure><p>Tyrese Haliburton was a 20-10 machine in the regular season, but the public perception of him began to turn this season. Some fans believe that Haliburton is quickly becoming overrated, and his meh performances (by his standards) for the first two games of the 2024 playoffs have done nothing to change that perception.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-rick-carlisle-vocal-embarrassing-game-1-bucks">In Game 1</a>, Haliburton was very passive in hunting for his shot. He took just seven shots from the field, making four of them, and he finished with just nine points. That simply will not cut it for someone many believe to be the Pacers’ best player. His scoring isn’t the best part of his game, but under the bright lights of the playoffs, superstar players take the lead to get their team to victory lane.</p><p>On Tuesday, Tyrese Haliburton was better; he finished with 12 points and 12 dimes, smartly taking a backseat to the one who has taken the mantle as the Pacers’ best player thus far in the postseason — Pascal Siakam. But the Pacers know they’ll be in for a dogfight against the Bucks moving forward, even though Milwaukee has struggled so much on the road this season. For Indiana to topple Milwaukee, Haliburton has to play better on both ends of the court.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pascal Siakam shouts out Pacers fans after monster Game 2 outing vs. Bucks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-pascal-siakam-rick-carlisle-vocal-embarrassing-game-1-bucks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Pacers’ Pascal Siakam, Rick Carlisle vocal on ’embarrassing’ Game 1 vs. Bucks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pascal-Siakam-Rick-Carlisle-vocal-on-embarrassing-Game-1-vs.-Bucks.jpg"></figure><h1>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam, Rick Carlisle vocal on ’embarrassing’ Game 1 vs. Bucks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-21T20:36:10-07:00">April 21st, 8:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-21T20:36:10-07:00">April 21st, 8:36pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Indiana Pacers are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-vs-bucks-game-1-prediction-odds-pick-how-to-watch-nba-playoffs">back in the NBA Playoffs</a> for the first time since 2020 and since Rick Carlisle took over as the franchise’s head coach in 2021. However, they did not have a great start to their postseason campaign, as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/bucks-news-damian-lillards-fiery-8-word-message-amid-game-1-explosion-goes-viral">they got lit up</a> by Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday night to the tune of a 109-94 score.</p><p>The blowout score probably doesn’t even give enough justice to how dominant the Bucks were against the Pacers. The game looked practically over in the first half, as Indiana could not slow down, let alone contain, the Bucks’ attack, particularly Lillard, who had a one-man show in the initial two quarters of the contest. Carlisle owned up to Indiana’s shortcomings in the first half, as he <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1782228180956327965" rel="noopener">offered zero alibis</a> for his team’s debacles.</p><h2><b>Pacers’ Pascal Siakam, Rick Carlisle speak up after loss to Bucks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Pascal-Siakam-in-action-during-Pacers-vs-Bucks.jpg"></figure><p> </p><p>“The first half was embarrassing. No excuses, we simply have got to come out better. It was ugly and we all own it… [The Bucks] looked like the experienced team, and we looked inexperienced, Carlisle told reporters during the postgame press conference.</p><p>The Pacers barely outscored Lillard in the first half, during which they only produced 42 points to Dame’s 35. Lillard  shot 11/19 from the field and drained a total of six 3-pointers before halftime, as Indiana’s defensive woes continue in the postseason. Defense has been a major Achilles heel of Indiana this season. The Pacers finished the regular season just 27th in the league with 120.3 points allowed per game. Despite topping the league in scoring offense with 123.1 points per outing, the Pacers were just ninth overall with a +2.8 average scoring margin.</p><p>The Pacers did show more life in the second half versus the Bucks, especially in the third quarter where they outscored Milwaukee by 15 points, but that was clearly not enough to overcome the huge 27-point halftime deficit.</p><p>Pascal Siakam had a standout performance for the Pacers and was one of the few bright spots on the team in Game 1, as he scored 36 points on 15/25 shooting from the floor with 13 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a pair of blocks in 40 minutes, but he felt Indiana, as a team, did not show up with the kind of hunger <a href="https://twitter.com/PacersJJ/status/1782232974806688141" rel="noopener">needed to survive in the playoffs</a>.</p><p>“We didn’t have the intensity we were supposed to have, but they made tough shots. We weren’t us, we didn’t stay composed,” Siakam said after the game, per Jeremiah Johnson.</p><p>The hope for the Pacers is that Milwaukee will cool off in Game 2 while they come up with a better start. Indiana fell way behind early in the series opener that they spent a lot of time taking lower-percentage long-range shots in a vain attempt to erase a big Bucks lead.</p><p>Siakam also gave the Bucks props for <a href="https://twitter.com/PatBoylanPacers/status/1782233717047529934" rel="noopener">playing the way they did</a> coming right out of the gate.</p><p>“They came out and sent a message and did what they’re supposed to do, Siakam said (h/t Pat Boylan). They’re the 3 we’re the 6, they won at home, now it’s time for us to respond.”</p><p>The Pacers could certainly use a strong bounce-back performance from Tyrese Haliburton, who coughed up just nine points on 4/7 shooting from the field in Game 1. Haliburton added seven rebounds and eight assists, but the Pacers are going to need him to be more aggressive in hunting for his shots in the series.</p><p>Game 2 of this Pacers-Bucks series will be on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Pacers’ Pascal Siakam, Rick Carlisle vocal on ’embarrassing’ Game 1 vs. Bucks

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-tested-pascal-siakams-desire-to-play-in-indiana-before-blockbuster-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tyrese Haliburton tested Pascal Siakam’s desire to play for Pacers before blockbuster trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-tested-pascal-siakams-desire-to-play-in-indiana-before-blockbuster-trade.webp"></figure><h1>Tyrese Haliburton tested Pascal Siakam’s desire to play for Pacers before blockbuster trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-02-16T14:14:25-08:00">February 16th, 2:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-02-16T14:14:25-08:00">February 16th, 2:14pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tyrese-haliburton-wants-a-piece-of-the-bucks-in-the-nba-playoffs" rel="noopener">Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton tested</a> the waters with Pascal Siakam even before they teamed up and was traded to the team on Jan. 17. Haliburton revealed this information on the show “The Woj Pod” with ESPN basketball insider Adrian Wojnarowski where he would say that they <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tyrese-haliburton-and-grant-hill-live-in-indy/id1470466331?i=1000645560206" rel="noopener">“had conversations a couple weeks before”</a> the blockbuster trade happened.</p><p>“Me and Pascal talked, there was the rumors that he could get traded here, and we had a conversation a couple weeks before, and it was just kind of like, ‘hey I don’t know whats going to happen and neither of us really do, but I want to know do you really actually want to be here, tell me the truth, I’m not going to get offended,'” Haliburton said. “He’s not the first person that I’ve asked that question, I’ve asked people, ‘hey do you want to be in Indiana?’ And they just tell me no. Then I’m like thanks, because it makes me feel better, I can move on to the next.”</p><p>There is no doubt that the star point guard has a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-why-tyrese-haliburton-refuses-to-limit-indianas-ceiling-in-2023-24" rel="noopener">dedication to the Pacers organization</a> as has said earlier in the season that not only does he want the team to be a place for other players to come to, but he wants to be a player a team builds around. So far this season, he is averaging 21.8 points and a whopping 11.7 assists per game, which is first in the entire association.</p><h2><b>What Siakam said to Haliburton about playing for the Pacers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pacers-Pascal-Siakam-Tyrese-Haliburton.webp"></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburtons-heartwarming-reason-being-all-in-on-indiana-will-make-fans-love-him-even-more" rel="noopener">Haliburton would go on</a> to say what Siakam told him in response to his initial question of wanting to be Indiana and it was a positive one. Siakam would apparently say that he would be open to playing there and the “possibilities between” what those two can do on the floor would be exciting.</p><p>“So he was like, ‘yeah bro I want to be in Indy. I see there’s a lot of possibilities between what we could do on the floor and how we will connect and I’d be excited to go there,'” Haliburton said. “So we just had a dialogue and talked on the phone for 30 or 40 minutes.”</p><p>The former Toronto Raptors star had spent about seven and a half seasons with the organization until the eventual <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-does-complete-180-on-buddy-hield-after-trade" rel="noopener">trade to the Pacers.</a> On the season, he is averaging 22 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 53.5 percent from the field.</p><p>So far, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pacers-news-tyrese-haliburton-keeps-it-real-pascal-siakam-impact-with-indiana" rel="noopener">the Pacers are solid</a> as they enter the All-Star break with a 31-25 record which puts them sixth in the Eastern Conference. Once they get back from break, they will face the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 22.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.2	6.3	4.9	0.3	0.8

2023-24 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.2	6.3	4.9	0.3	0.8

Pascal Siakam news

Pascal
Siakam news