Capricorn Walker retired against the Heat

Journalists did not have to launch him on the subject. “ I really want to talk about Walker », coward Rick Carlisle at the exit from a big Pacers win against the Heat. The second success in a row marked by the adjustment of his five: leave Jay Huff and hello Capricorn Walkerwho has not been a starter since the beginning of December.

The 22-year-old, who is still struggling to find consistency in his performances, did not miss the opportunity to prove himself. In 30 minutes, he scored 13 points (4/8 on shots including 3/5 from distance), 9 rebounds and 4 assists. For +31 favorable influence when in play.

« Ooh, ok, ok, ok! », Pascal Siakam is delighted when we report this statistic to him. ” I thought he battled hard on defense, he was really involved, getting rebounds and getting open shots. It’s that simple. I didn’t feel like he was forcing anything. We didn’t feel any pressure. (…) Generally, the game rewards you for this. That is difficult. He assured “, he fired.

Their coach, who wanted to adopt a smaller five to adjust to the heat, with Kel’el Ware coming off the bench and no longer next to Bam Adebayo in the racket, also won.

Pascal Siakam remembers his beginnings

« When you look at his entire body of work, I think this is one of his best matches here. Defensively, he was solid. On two or three occasions he found himself in positions where he was impassable. They couldn’t get through it. Then he played the ball and made a turnover for us. And then there was the success on shots at key moments that accompanied it all, as well as good work on the rebound. He was really phenomenal », qualifies Rick Carlisle.

So many compliments that should allow the No. 8 pick in the 2023 draft to build confidence for the future. In recent weeks, he has alternated between outings of 10 or more points and anecdotal outings. Averaging nearly 9 points and 4 rebounds on the season, he is posting career best averages.

But given his draft status, expectations are higher. This situation has Pascal Siakam (27th pick in 2016) thinking about his first years in the big leagues. Before becoming an MIP and an All-Star with the Raptors, ” it was nothing amazing “, he describes.

« But I think you have to stick to your job and ignore the noise. I don’t know what it’s like to be in his position, but I know that when you stay focused on the game, on the good things, and you have a pure heart, and you focus only on that, (…) Things work out in your favor in the end. So I want to continue to encourage him. I know the ups and downs, how it feels in this situation, when you have a good match, a bad match, a good match. Everything must be evacuated », recommends the Cameroonian.

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.