'We all listen': Pacers praise Siakam's leadership after first-round victory

Bringing in some championship experience for a young and developing team is never too bad of an idea.

That's what the upstart Indiana Pacers did when they made a blockbuster trade with the Toronto Raptors for Pascal Siakam, and their purchase paid dividends in their first-round playoff win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

The all-star forward received some lofty praise from coach Rick Carlisle and his Pacers teammates after their 120-98 series-clinching win in Game 6.

"This is one of the reasons we acquired Pascal Siakam," Carlisle said. "To have a chance to not only get to the playoffs but to advance in the playoffs. He showed tonight the kind of difference-maker he's been here.

"He's been tremendous, and he's also been a tremendous teammate and a great leader."

Though his boxscore wasn't out of this world on Thursday night, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists on 9-for-15 from the field, the Pacers forward did everything that doesn't show up on paper, guarding a physical Bucks frontcourt and acting as the talented connective passer he'd been for years in Toronto.

This is the first time the Pacers made the big dance since the 2019-20 season and the first time since the 2013-14 season that they advanced past the first round.

They're also a young squad, with an average age of 25.6 — good for 10th in the NBA. More than their age though, it's an inexperienced team when it comes to the post-season.

Only Myles Turner, T.J. McConnell and Doug McDermott remain from the 2019-20 team that last made the playoffs. And even then, that threesome only played four games in the post-season, suffering a sweep at the hands of the Miami Heat.

Elsewhere on the roster, only Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith and James Johnson have playoff experience and of the three, only James Johnson has averaged more than seven points over the course of their runs.

Siakam is just what this young team needed. Experience, leadership and a player that can deliver veteran guidance while still being an all-star level contributor.

"I feel like Siakam coming here was a big thing for us," Toppin said following Game 6. "Obviously he has a ring, but he's been around great players ... Having the playoff experience, it makes it a little easier to vocalize to the players what needs to be done.

"We all listen."

Siakam, who spent his whole career with the Raptors before being traded ahead of this season's deadline, has had his share of runs and big performances in the post-season. Over 58 career playoff games, the 30-year-old has averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

However, this series has been his masterpiece, as going into Game 6, the forward had averaged 23 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

After the game he spoke about how much it means to him to be back in the playoffs and to do it in front of his new fanbase.

"So excited, man. This is the reason why I came here," Siakam said to Pacers reporter Pat Boylen while addressing the Indiana crowd. "Being able to play these types of games, being able to play for you guys. Hopefully, we continue to make you guys proud."

Siakam and the Pacers will now head to New York to take on the Knicks in the second round after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers earlier on Thursday.

Fortunately for him, Madison Square Garden is a building he's done some damage in, scoring his career-high 52 points in the 'Mecca of Basketball' back in 2022 while on the Raptors.

Though it's more than just scoring for Siakam, as his teammates emphasized, he's already broken his playoff career-high twice during this run with back-to-back 36 and 37 points games to start the first-round series. What could be in store under the bright lights of MSG?

Game 1 of their series tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on May 6.