Vanvleet steps up to get job done in Cleveland

Fred Vanvleet is coming around.

The point guard has been battling a variety of minor ailments and at times has not looked like the player who was an NBA sixth man of the year finalist just one season ago.

But he was one of the best players on the floor in Memphis Tuesday and shook off a slow, over-aggressive start in Saturday’s 106-95 win at Cleveland to finish with a decent night. While the Toronto offence didn’t run all that smoothly under Vanvleet’s direction, it was good enough. More important, Vanvleet is increasingly starting to resemble his old self.

“He said he felt really good in the game at Memphis, for the first time all year felt like he could move,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said.

“(Against Cleveland) he was probably three or four blown layups away from having a great game. He got where he wanted to go a little more than he has been this year, which, he says

(is because) he’s feeling better,” Nurse said.

Danny Green has enjoyed playing with Vanvleet.

“You guys know Fred. He’s always very steady. Steady Freddy. Cool, calm, collected,” Green said.

“Runs the team very well. Did what he was supposed to do. Attacked the paint, made plays happen. Didn’t shoot as well as I’m sure as he wanted to but shot good enough. Hit some shots for us. Played good defence. Communicated. Did everything we needed.”

Next Saturday won’t be the last night off for Kyle Lowry this season. Lowry had not missed a game yet and Cleveland presented a good opportunity to let him rest, even if a sore back was the official reason.

Teams can’t just rest players on the road anymore (they still can at home) under NBA regulations, so there has to be some kind of ailment. Lowry’s back has been a bit tender, but this would not have kept him out of any game of substance.