As could be expected since the announcement of the Knicks-Pacers series, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby found themselves on the field last night during Game 1 of these Conference semi-finals. Teammates for almost 400 games in Canada, the two forwards have a very clear assignment in this series: to annihilate each other in defense.
Pascal Siakam & OG Anunoby will face off in the second round 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oNMfXnfB6b
— Hoops Alerts (@TheHoopsAlerts) May 3, 2024
382 games together under the colors of the Toronto Raptors. 28 postseason matches. Five playoff series. A ring. Between Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, it’s not new. Pascal Siakam is quite simply the teammate with whom OG Anunoby participated in the most matches in his career. OG Anunoby is only outclassed in this area for Pascal Siakam by Fred VanVleet. Pascal and OG went so far as to win a title together, even though Anunoby, injured, was unable to participate in the victorious Playoffs in 2019. What should be remembered is that since the selection of OG Anunoby at the 2017 Draft, the two players had never left each other until the off-season of this year when both were transferred by Masai Ujiri. OG on December 30, Spicy P on January 17: the Toronto chapter has closed.
More than empowered in their new Knicks and Pacers teams, both advanced to these Eastern Conference semifinals, where only one of the two can emerge victorious. And to put the experience they have acquired from each other to the service of their new teams, what could be better than to defend one on the other in long sequences during this series?
Chuck: “I like Indiana in this series…I wanna know who’s gonna guard Siakam”
Kenny: “AND Anunoby” pic.twitter.com/3Lnn7QFiQN
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 6, 2024
OG Anunoby is a defender at heart, so it is only natural that he would take care of the Siakam case, he who is the most obvious scoring threat for the Pacers. Pascalou, for his part, has the height and experience to disrupt OG’s offensive game, more focused on long-distance shots while Pascal’s game is now more focused on drives.
OG Anunoby Guarding Pascal You all series pic.twitter.com/BYqRDru2OA
— Russ’ TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) May 6, 2024
For their first meeting against each other in the Playoffs, it is OG (13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 interceptions on 5/14 shots and 3/7 from distance) who leaves with the victory. His defense on his former comrade Pascal Siakam (19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 interception on 8/16 shots and 1/3 from distance) was rather satisfactory. See you at 2 a.m. tomorrow evening for round 2 of the Raptors-brawl.
2024-05-07 08:36:00
#Anunoby #Pascal #Siakam #find
