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Pascal Siakam: Scottie Barnes ‘definitely an easy guy to play with’

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam fielded questions from the media after Friday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. He talked about still needing some more reps to get his rhythm back, building chemistry with rookie Scottie Barnes, and what young players can take away from a long road trip.

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Video Transcript

- Do you feel like you're getting a better sense to playing with the younger guys, the faces?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I mean, I think, you know, obviously, I'm trying to get better every day and kind of getting used to everybody and figuring out everything else.

- It's a matter of like [INAUDIBLE]

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, yeah. I just-- you know, continue to focus on the little things, you know, defense, rebounding and do other things and then, you know, just again with time, just getting my rhythm on offense and finding ways to be more effective in things like that, but yeah. Just for me personally, just continue to do the little things and gradually just figure out of it.

- I don't-- maybe you have 31 assists, so obviously that's not like something that you guys probably would like to [INAUDIBLE] so how were they able to move the ball around so much?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah, they did a good job moving the ball. I mean, a couple of times we didn't get to the shooters like fast enough. We just felt like we were like a little step slower than we usually are. And yeah, when that happens, you know, it's tough to just come back and win games. And you know, we had some couple of good pushes and stuff. But it just wasn't enough.

- [? Last ?] in [? Alaska ?] with a quick turnaround, you guys play at home on Sunday. You've done this now a couple of years. What's the most important thing, the top priority tomorrow on Saturday?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Yeah. I think, we just-- get obviously to go back home and just you know, we got to get some wins in a row and just you know, stick to the game plan and play together as a team, kind of like forget about what happened today. And just you know, it's a quick turnaround. Great team, like a really good team coming in and coming home on Sunday. So we just got to stay focused, stay with it, stick together. You know, it's tough times, but I think, if we stay together, we'll get through it.

- Thanks, Justine. That's it for in here. Go ahead with the online stuff.

- Sounds good. We'll go to Mike Ganter first from the Toronto Sun.

- Hey, Pascal. I want to ask you about specifically how you're coming along with Scottie? I mean, is he a tough-- is he an easy learner or is it tough-- is he an easy guy to play with, I guess, is what I'm asking.

PASCAL SIAKAM: I mean, yeah, for sure. I think some-- everything that he's able to do on the court, you know, moving and passing. And just you know, he can know defend, he can switch out there. And I just-- you know, I think, you know, he's definitely an easy guy to play with. We just got to you know, again, like figure it out as a team. I think, like it's not like the-- you know, Scottie or me or whatever. It's just you know, I'll figure it out as a team, out of player and move the ball to attack defenses and use our advantages.

- Is there anything that you and Scottie have to do, just the two of you, though, to sort of get that-- find that chemistry?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I think, I mean, I think on defense, I think, we have the capacity to you know, like other teams out there. I think we've got to take it personal. You know, just more defending than anything. Just-- you know, like, make it our priority to go out there and stop people and get out in transition. And I think that you know, like we understand the ball on offense and we'll just continue to just play.

- Got it. Thanks, P.

- And next up, we'll go to Josh Lundberg from TSN.

- Hey, Pascal. For a couple of guys, this was their first long road trip in the NBA. Having gone through that yourself when you first came into the league, what kind of a learning experience is that and now after the 12 days six games, what do you think those guys were able to take away from this?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I mean, like you know, games are coming too fast. We've got to be ready. You know, all the games that we just kind of like-- was like a step slower or like things like that, you know? It was kind of hard to get back out there in the game and try to win those games. And again, these games are coming out too fast. You got to be ready. And then, once-- you know, there's one of those games where you know, everything is not working, move on. And I try to get the next one. And I think that obviously, staying together for that long and just kind of like the chemistry and just continue to help each other.

It's tough enough you know, I just-- being out there every day and trying to get wins, but we got to stick together. You got to stay together as a team. That's the only way. I mean, we can be the only ones that can do it. So we got to stick together and go ahead and do it.

- Did you learn anything about this team over the last 12 days?

PASCAL SIAKAM: I just think that you know, again, like we know what we can do when we are doing what we're supposed to do and like when we play with that type of energy that we need to play with and games where you know, we didn't have that you know, it was obvious. And I think that, that's kind of like what we can learn from it. It's like, when we all clicking on all cylinders and doing what we do, using our left length and athleticism and doing all those things, like we're a tough team to be and when we don't do that, it is the opposite.

- Thanks, Pascal. Safe trip back home.

- And next up, we have Steven from SportsNet.

- Hey, Pascal. You mentioned how like the team needs to kind of come together and you know, like certain things, like you guys still need to look at each other. But I just wondering, like where are-- what do you think that the learnings have been greater? Like offensively or defensively in terms of like, pure general cohesion as a group?

PASCAL SIAKAM: Like again, like I said, I think that we just got to like, we know like when we are playing defense together as a team and moving the ball and doing those things. The game comes easy. We get stops, we run. We just-- we got to be that team. We got to be that team that plays hard every night. And when we don't do that I think, that's kind of like the main thing, you know? Like, if you don't play harder than the other teams, it's tough to win.

- Is it difficult or have you found it difficult to keep up that energy level that sounds like you guys need to play with?

PASCAL SIAKAM: No, I mean, I think that you know, some nights like that just happens and we got to have the mental focus to just again, when someone who has not happened, just go back and try to be better.