He’s leading the team in minutes played this post-season. His 22.9 points per game are second only to Leonard, and just shy of double Kyle Lowry’s 11.6, which rank third. On a Raptors team starved for size and struggling against the length of the Philadelphia 76ers — who have opened up a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final — Siakam leads Toronto in rebounding, is second in blocks, and has scored more points in the paint than anyone. He’s been indispensable.
Now, it is certainly worth mentioning that during the fourth quarter of Thursday’s game, in a momentary and uncommon loss of composure, Siakam used his right leg to trip Joel Embiid after being stuffed at the rim. Embiid weighs nearly 300-lbs., and he appears to drive his left knee directly into Siakam’s right calf on the play before toppling forwards. That could certainly cause a contusion.
And with that in mind, maybe Toronto’s listing of Siakam as doubtful is merely a bit of gamesmanship meant to give Philadelphia something else to think about. The injury would have to be awfully serious, and awfully limiting, for Siakam to sit out a game this important.
Norman Powell and Serge Ibaka are Nurse’s other primary options. They’d bring more size than VanVleet, which carries extra weight in this series considering how much Philadelphia’s length has bothered the Raptors.