Bilal Coulibaly stands by calling Pascal Siakam overrated

Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
After they won the second overall pick, the Washington Wizards will have the power of choice in the upcoming NBA Draft. Here’s my dispatch from Chicago, including comments from Will Dawkins and Bilal Coulibaly.
theathletic.com/5488547/2024/0… – 8:09 PM

Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Story: The Wizards just missed the No. 1 NBA Draft pick again, but landed the top consolation prize this time.
Bilal Coulibaly on Zaccharie Risacher : “I can help them with the scouting report. I like his game.” @washingtonpost @PostSports
washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/05… – 8:08 PM

Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Bilal Coulibaly with a quick update on his injury recovery. No cast anymore. He’s back to shooting and dribbling with his right hand. pic.twitter.com/pyNvzjFXnz – 5:43 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
Jalen and Siakam now going at each other as the half ends — Siakam walked by and bumped him and Jalen grabbed his uniform and they started talking — Rick Brunson, among others, steer Jalen to the locker room. – 4:40 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Pacers going small with the Siakam-Toppin frontcourt against a Sims-Hart frontcourt. – 3:57 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Not a great defensive start from Siakam. Late on the rotation on the Hartenstein dunk, then Achiuwa blows by him 1 on 1 for a foul. – 3:43 PM

Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Bilal Coulibaly and the Wizards have a 14% chance of landing No. 1
(via @WashWizards) pic.twitter.com/qHmZ47WJaj – 2:34 PM

Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
In the 2-minute report, the NBA determined the referees ruled only one play incorrectly — Siakam should’ve been whistled for an offensive foul on Hartenstein with 1:57 left. – 5:12 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
Anyway here is the one call they ruled incorrect – 1:57 remaining – Siakam grabs Hartenstein, preventing him from defending. No call. Leads to go-ahead basket and would have fouled Siakam out of the game. official.nba.com/last-two-minut… – 5:04 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
NBA Last 2 minute report and only incorrect is an offensive foul that should have been whistled on Siakam. – 4:52 PM

Mark Montieth @MarkMontieth
Siakam finished with 26 points in 31 minutes, hitting nine of 14 field goals. So why did it feel like he wasn’t playing well? My bad. – 10:00 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
“We got one. Three more to go.” Pascal Siakam says. – 9:42 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Siakam tonight:
26 PTS
7 REB
9-14 FG
7-9 FT
First 20-point game since Game 2 of the First Round. pic.twitter.com/fOzfcbGRp8 – 9:42 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Siakam with an important bucket with a goaltend call, and the Pacers lead by 3 with 54.1 to go. Huge play. – 9:36 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Siakam got away with holding Hartenstein. Would have been his sixth foul. pic.twitter.com/28LQq5d2N5 – 9:35 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Siakam to the line with a chance to give the Pacers the lead with 5:42 to go. – 9:18 PM

Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Thibs sticking with Alec Burks here in the fourth quarter even though Pascal Siakam is taking advantage of the size mismatch with no Precious Achiuwa in the game. Let’s see what happens. – 9:15 PM

Brian Geltzeiler @BGeltzNBA
It’s time for the Knicks to put Achiuwa back on Siakam. Make him beat you from the perimeter. Siakam is too long and strong in the alone for Hart to handle – 9:13 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Siakam will head to the line after this stoppage with a chance to tie the game at 99. This series, man. – 9:12 PM

Steve Popper @StevePopper
And Hart steals from Siakam in isolation. Crazy effort up and down the lineup right now. – 8:54 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Knicks got this game close, then the Pacers went on another run. They lead by 11 again. Siakam and Haliburton making it happen here. – 8:42 PM

Dan Favale @danfavale
pascal siakam = damn good pic.twitter.com/ZTaFrRKAiJ – 8:17 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Weird, broken play, but Siakam scores just before halftime. Pacers up 63-58 at the break, their third halftime lead of the series. Haliburton with 23 points, Siakam with 12, Turner with 12. – 8:14 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Pascal Siakam just hit 2/2 from the foul line. – 8:13 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Wait, did they just clear out a side for Pascal Siakam and let him attack 1 on 1? They’re allowed to do that? – 8:12 PM

Tony East @TonyREast
Nembhard and Siakam now with 3 fouls each. Ben Sheppard and Obi Toppin filling in with the rest of the starters right now. Burks at the line with a chance to tie the game. – 8:01 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Third foul on Siakam with 10:21 left in the half. Drawn an offensive foul by Brunson.
So Siakam heads out, replaced by Nembhard. Need to take advantage with Anunoby out for the game. (NYK 26-4 when he plays) – 7:45 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Can’t let Siakam shoot layups.
Send him to the FT line – 7:44 PM

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Wait was that a Pascal Siakam PnR against a guard? They’re allowed to run those? – 7:26 PM

Fred Katz @FredKatz
Tom Thibodeau on if he would start Josh Hart on Siakam:
“We could.”
On if he would rather deal with the Pacers trapping but having the defense or prioritize spacing:
“We could.”
I tried. – 5:38 PM

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer
Start Precious
Survive the chaotic first 10 minutes
Rebound.
Don’t turn the ball over
Don’t give Siakam easy looks (make him shoot 3PTs and send him to the FT line a bunch)
Slow down / grind down the pace
Give Brunson/Hart/DDV a chance to steal the game late – 3:41 PM

Ian Begley @IanBegley
“Siakam relies on 1-on-1 drives in isolations. Anunoby made him veer from the paint in some of those plays. The help defenders are cutting him off far away. All defenders are keeping him from a straight drive to the rim”
Brendan Brown’s NYK-IND analysis: sny.tv/articles/break… – 1:10 PM