Everything Pascal Siakam

[DanH]

Adding a center should make the pairing worse though because it means we have even less spacing in the starting lineup. It's just not a great pairing of two PF who operate in the same space. We're now in year 3 of seeing one of them needs to play out of position for the other to succeed.

This logic doesn't fly. They've always done better with a C. The small ball is what held them back for so long. You can cry that it shouldn't be that way, but it definitely is.

[Primer]

This logic doesn't fly. They've always done better with a C. The small ball is what held them back for so long. You can cry that it shouldn't be that way, but it definitely is.

So they're a bad pairing both with and without a center.

[DanH]

So they're a bad pairing both with and without a center.

No one said that. In fact I've been saying the opposite. But they are definitely better with a center.

[slaw]

The way it works with Barnes and Pascal is if Barnes can play center full time and they have really good guard play. Unfortunately, the guard play sucks (and the front office seemingly has no desire to address the problem) and Barnes might be a touch small to play center full time. Also, not sure if Barnes wants to play center.

[The Claw Reborn]

Pascal down at 70% from the freethrow line from 77% last season.

Still early so it may go back to the mean but that is part of his bread and butter, he has to make them especially the bonus from an ‘and 1

[Primer]

The way it works with Barnes and Pascal is if Barnes can play center full time and they have really good guard play. Unfortunately, the guard play sucks (and the front office seemingly has no desire to address the problem) and Barnes might be a touch small to play center full time. Also, not sure if Barnes wants to play center.

Right, so it comes down to someone needs to play out of position with this pairing. They're both by far best off at PF. Moving one of them to SF or C is not ideal for either guy.

[The Great One]

Pascal's postgame interview last night showed a lot of growth and leadership.

[BrydenB]

Another game against a shot blocking centre, another game Pascal disappears. Another game Scottie is the main guy, another game Pascal disappears…

[LJ2]

It's been talked about since they picked up Poeltl. There's not enough room for pascal to operate in the paint with Scottie and Jakob occupying the same space. You could probably also talk about the departure of Fred and the lack of gravity from other players resulting in defenses loading up on Pascal.

Maybe iso Scottie needs to be a thing to open up space for Pascal?

[DanH]

It's been talked about since they picked up Poeltl. There's not enough room for pascal to operate in the paint with Scottie and Jakob occupying the same space. You could probably also talk about the departure of Fred and the lack of gravity from other players resulting in defenses loading up on Pascal.

Maybe iso Scottie needs to be a thing to open up space for Pascal?

Scottie and Jak is very promising as a PnR pairing. That threat is enough to buy Pascal space inside if they are smart about off ball actions both while Pascal is off ball and while he's posting up.

But that will only work with a couple shooting threats out there, an definitely won't work if someone else is running PnR with Jak...

[A.I]

It's been talked about since they picked up Poeltl. There's not enough room for pascal to operate in the paint with Scottie and Jakob occupying the same space. You could probably also talk about the departure of Fred and the lack of gravity from other players resulting in defenses loading up on Pascal.

Maybe iso Scottie needs to be a thing to open up space for Pascal?

Not sure I've seen it used that much, if at all, but curious how well a Scottie-Pascal pick and roll/pop would be. Pascal is more than capable of getting to the rim and can pop for a mid range if the defender drops.

[DanH]

Not sure I've seen it used that much, if at all, but curious how well a Scottie-Pascal pick and roll/pop would be. Pascal is more than capable of getting to the rim and can pop for a mid range if the defender drops.

Difficulty there is you presume the two best opposing defenders are guarding those two, so they switch and live with it. Bringing a third guy in like Jak generates the size mismatches you need to create advantages. Also makes the defence do something about Jak rather than ignoring him, so better for spacing.

[SkywalkerAC]

Was thinking the Hawks' interest in Pascal might be diminished with the emergence of Jalen Johnson but looks like he's killing it from 3. Meanwhile, Griffin and Bufkin* aren't really playing...

*broken thumb

[Kagemusha]

Difficulty there is you presume the two best opposing defenders are guarding those two, so they switch and live with it. Bringing a third guy in like Jak generates the size mismatches you need to create advantages. Also makes the defence do something about Jak rather than ignoring him, so better for spacing.

So why is the Scottie-Pascal-Jak trio still not clicking?

[DanH]

So why is the Scottie-Pascal-Jak trio still not clicking?

Because Scottie is not being used as the primary creator, which he absolutely should be. Sitting both Scottie and Pascal off ball and having them watch Schroder run PnR with Jak is no way to make that group work.

Scottie, Pascal and OG have a +12 net rating together. +6 with Jak. Nothing wrong with that core group.