Raptors star Siakam returning ahead of schedule Sunday vs. Brooklyn Nets
Seemingly beneath minutes restriction at first after not taking part in for six months
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Ten video games into the season, the total Raptors, or a minimum of the just about full Raptors will make their debut.
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Pascal Siakam returns to the court docket Sunday in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets re-joining Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, the 2 remaining veterans primarily accountable for holding this Raptors staff projecting upward even in his absence. Nonetheless to make his debut is Yuta Watanabe however that’s not far off both.
The final sport Siakam performed was Might 8, a 109-99 loss to Memphis. Within the interim he has had surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum in his left shoulder after which went by way of all of the gruelling and tiresome rehab to get so far the place he’s able to play once more.
Siakam readily admits his conditioning may not be the place he would ideally prefer it for a return, however with a full go from his surgeon on the well being of the shoulder and the schedule being what it’s, it was a straightforward determination to simply make the bounce proper again into video games.
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“It’s only a matter of like, OK, do you wish to have per week making an attempt to follow with no follow, as a result of we don’t actually follow in between video games, so its onerous to get your practices in” Siakam mentioned. “We may wait that out like per week and attempt to get practices however it’s like, we’re not working towards. We don’t have full practices. So may as properly get on the court docket. Attempt to work it on the market. Go on the market and run. And I feel that’s the very best conditioning anyhow. So ,I’m making an attempt to get in as many runs as I can.”
Clearly Siakam shall be on a minutes restriction to start out and head coach Nick Nurse continues to be figuring out whether or not the staff is finest suited having Siakam return and instantly begin or return and work his manner into issues with the second unit.
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“We’re speaking by way of that proper now,” Nurse mentioned. “He’s in all probability going to be pretty restricted in his minutes simply as a method to handle these finest minutes as a starter or off the bench. It may go both manner at this level.”
However nonetheless Siakam returns, the apparent aim is to get him again on top of things with the starters as rapidly as doable.
“He’s a starter on this staff,” Nurse mentioned. “However I’d say this: even within the brief time period we’ve received some issues which will affect that we don’t have the identical beginning 5 each night time, relying on who we’re taking part in. I’d say I like to preserve that open. Like to preserve that open.”
No matter the way it unfolds, Siakam’s return in time will make a fairly good state of affairs to start out the yr solely that significantly better.
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Nurse mentioned it’s possible the selections on defence that may dictate the place Siakam begins in his return.
“I’d in all probability say it’s principally defence pushed,” Nurse mentioned. “I feel that we’ve received matchups the place we don’t really feel like we’re in too huge a bind and must go to one thing that has to take us out of our defensive character proper now, as a result of I like our defensive character proper now.”
For Siakam the return ends a troublesome stretch watching video games. He says he’s used that stretch to enhance and gave new assistant coach Earl Watson numerous credit score for serving to him get there.
“Working with Earl, we watch numerous totally different folks,” Siakam mentioned. “He would simply randomly ship me movies and the subsequent day we’d are available in and discuss it and work on it on the court docket and simply seeing various things. I feel he’s simply opening my eyes to issues I in all probability didn’t even see. It’s been nice.”
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Watson, clearly new to the Raptors this yr, brings that former participant aspect that solely a man like Adrian Griffin did earlier than and Siakam appears to gravitate in direction of that. There are additionally the ties to his non-Raptors household that Watson has that enchantment to Siakam.
“I feel identical to having folks that perceive — not solely the sport, as a result of all of the coaches perceive the sport — however like someone that’s performed and has been round gamers.
“… He’s been round nice gamers, nice coaches, simply making an attempt to study something I can,” Siakam mentioned. “So yeah, he’s positively a plus to us, and I feel like I mentioned, someone that’s relatable and I feel that’s tremendous essential. And that’s one thing that I at all times had with Rico (Hines, long-time low season coaching coach) like simply having that bond and figuring out that Earl shall be with me and he’s received my again, so simply having somebody like that and like I mentioned I take into account Earl household to me, so it’s nice.”
There’s clearly going to be a interval of adjustment each for the Raptors and Siakam in his return to the ground, however there’s no query any early hurdles will greater than be made up for with the return of that degree of ability and polish to the lineup.
mganter@postmedia.com