What Siakam’s addition means for Turner, Mathurin
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — The “Spicy P” era is off to a great start in Indy. Yes, it took four games to land in the win column, but considering the schedule, injuries, and lack of practice? None of those losses should bring any real concern. After Siakam’s triple-double on Thursday night, fans are already dreaming of what the second half of the season, and the future, could look like. “Pascal the Pacer” has a nice ring to it, and what his addition means for his teammates cannot be overlooked.
Myles Turner was already having a strong season before Siakam’s arrival. After years of trade rumors, playing the four, and a lot of ups and downs throughout his career, Turner has found his confidence, his comfort level, and has become the stable force this young Pacers team needs. The addition of Siakam allows him to continue playing the five, and it gives Indiana a dynamic duo in the front court- something Spicy P himself has always wanted.
“His ability to space the floor, it’s something I’ve wanted my whole career,” Siakam said of Myles Turner. “I was telling him today, just continue to space.”
Even before joining the Pacers, there had been reports over the years that Siakam wanted to play with a stretch-five, and he now has his chance. Could Myles Turner be another reason Siakam wants to stay in Indiana long-term? Turner himself is understandably excited about the addition of his new teammate:
“I think we both open each other’s game up,” said Turner. “Just two vets in the league, man. It’s easy to make reads with him because he’s either going to go score, or my man’s going to help and I’ll be open. He sees the floor so well, and fits right into our mold.”
Bennedict Mathurin is another player I’m keeping a close eye on after this addition. There will now be less pressure on Mathurin to carry a heavy load full of expectations, and he could thrive. Before Siakam got here, the question was: “Can Mathurin become that second option with Tyrese Haliburton?” And now, that shifts to: “Can Mathurin be a great third option on a winning team?” That’s a big difference, and something I believe Mathurin can handle.
From December 28th to January 18th, Mathurin had an excellent 12-game stretch. He was consistently scoring 16+ points with excellent shooting splits, and playing with a ton of confidence. The biggest challenge for young players is finding consistency. Though he was consistent for those three weeks, he has struggled in the four games since the Siakam addition. He did play better on Thursday night, chipping in 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists. We’ve seen flashes of what he can do the last two years, and when Mathurin finds that consistency, the sky is the limit.
It’s not uncommon for young players to play better at home, and that’s been the case for Mathurin. This season, Mathurin is averaging 15.4 points and shooting 42% from 3 in home games, while averaging 12.8 points and shooting 35% from 3 on the road. This Pacers team has also been much better when Mathurin plays well. In wins, Mathurin averages 16.8 points, and averages just 10.9 points in losses.
Whether Mathurin continues coming off the bench or gets inserted into the starting lineup later this season, this team’s ceiling can change based on his play. Draymond Green said as much on a podcast recently:
As Pascal Siakam continues to get comfortable with his new team, other teammates will also continue to benefit. As long as Tyrese Haliburton gets healthy in the near future, this team will be incredibly interesting to follow in the second half of the season.
