Nick Nurse Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors Details Why Pascal Siakam fought in NBA Bubble

After a fabulous run in the 2019 NBA championship, the Toronto Raptors failed to repeat the same success this year, as they were sent home in the Eastern Semi Conference Finals.

Even though they lost Kawhi Leonard in the off-season, they were still expected to go further in the playoffs. However, one of their best players, Pascal Siakam, had a terrible post-season run. He was a shell of himself and gave in under the pressure of leading his team.

As a result, Siakam received a lot of slander from Raptors fans. However, coach Nick Nurse believes the 26-year-old will recover next season.

“He was really firing on all cylinders until 11 March. I mean, he was really playing well and just kept growing. Closing games. Fourth quarter friction and all that stuff. Then the pandemic and the layoff got off to a bad start.

“For some reason, after the firing and the bubble, he wasn’t quite the same player. I really believe in him, he’s a fantastic person, a fantastic worker, has a great set-up and knows what it means to be a professional. “

Before the abrupt break, Siakam was experiencing a phenomenal season. He had a career year and was awarded his first All-Star team selection. In fact, in the regular season, Siakam averaged 22.9 points per game and seemed ready to lead the team.

But during the playoffs, each team was returning from a long hiatus, which ultimately hampered play for some players. Pascal Siakam was one of them.

Will the Toronto Raptors be able to return next year?

Preparations for the upcoming season will begin shortly once the opening day date is confirmed by the league. The Raptors will most likely repeat it with the same team in the 2020-21 season.

However, to be successful, Siakam would have had to step up his game. If he fails to do so, the Raptors may not be very successful in the Eastern Conference as well. Next year, there will be a number of teams that will have the talent to make it to the NBA Finals.

Do you think the Raptors have what it takes to make another trip to the NBA Finals?