Vanvleet's return a huge lift for slumping Raptors
Point guard's presence on the floor and his impact on teammates can't be overlooked
Determining the greatest impact of Fred Vanvleet’s return for the Toronto Raptors is likely a fool’s errand.
But space needs to be filled and deadlines need to be met, so we’ll take our best shot.
In general, Vanvleet’s impact was everywhere on the floor in San Antonio as he returned from a five-game absence over which the team seemed to lose its identity and restored things to the norm in a 119-104 win over the Spurs.
Defensively, the team looked in lockstep for large portions of the night, something they rarely showed in Vanvleet’s absence.
Suddenly there was someone there stopping the ball from the easy entries into the paint that had become so commonplace.
Vanvleet is by no means the most imposing figure on the floor given his size, but his combination of basketball savvy, quick hands and quick feet make getting around the man a tough assignment.
Not to be overlooked is the very presence of Vanvleet on the floor and the impact that has on those around him.
As rookie Scottie Barnes explained post-game:
“He’s a leader on this team.
He’s on us non-stop on the floor about getting stops, getting to our spots. It makes it easier. It opens up a lot more space. He’s a general out there on the floor. So, it helps us all when he’s out there on the floor with driving lanes being more open. When he’s there, his presence is just really big for our team.”
Now obviously Barnes is talking about both offence and defence there, but the message is clear. Vanvleet just stepping on the court makes everyone want to be better. That’s the full impact of a true leader. Even before he makes things easier with his own contributions to the team goal, just him being there gives everyone a lift.
Offensively as the lead point guard and floor general for this team, his impact is obvious just as his absence was glaring. With no disrespect to Malachi Flynn or Barnes himself or even Pascal Siakam — who stepped in to steer the course with Vanvleet on the sideline — only on the rarest of occasions is the replacement going to improve on what the starter brings to the table.
But if we had to pick just one area of Vanvleet’s game that was missed the most, it would have to be his ability and willingness to shoot the three.
The mere presence of a threepoint threat changes the way opponents defend you. Vanvleet by himself is responsible for, on average, 10 of the nightly 34 shots the Raptors have thrown up from behind the arc this season.
As a 40 per cent three-point shooter, he’s good for four treys on his average nights and more when he gets hot.
But whether he makes them or misses them, Vanvleet is doing the team a lot of good just by taking them.
Opponents know they have to account for Vanvleet regardless of where he is on the floor. That spaces out a defence and opens gaps for the likes of Siakam and Barnes and yes, Gary Trent Jr. who seemed to miss Vanvleet as much as any Raptor on the roster.
Trent Jr. simply did not have the room or space he had before, following Vanvleet’s removal from the lineup.
Upon the return of the Raptors’ floor general, head coach Nick Nurse said he expected things would return a little more to normal for Trent Jr., who has struggled to see the ball go in since the season resumed following the break.
Nurse was asked about Trent Jr.’s shooting issues before the San Antonio game and said it’s not a coincidence that it happened with key pieces like OG Anunoby and later Vanvleet out of the lineup.
“The spacing, as you well know, has not been great lately because of lineup changes and just not quite getting used to those lineup changes,” Nurse said. “(Having) three of our best four shooters out is going to probably change some spacing for Gary. I just think his rhythm gets thrown off, the spacing gets thrown off or whatever. But we’re were able to do all the stuff we can do on the road (that we do) at home. But I think mostly it’s just he should hopefully have a little better rhythm and feel out there with Fred alongside him and a little more of somebody else they have to stay a little closer to.”
So, it’s not just the four or more three pointers Vanvleet brings to the table just about every night. It’s also the extra space he buys for guys like Trent Jr. or Siakam or these days Precious Achiuwa, who is suddenly knocking them down with some regularity.
So that is our two cents’ worth about where this team missed Vanvleet the most, but what about Vanvleet himself? What did he miss?
“Happy to be back doing what I love to do,” Vanvleet said after his 26-point effort helped lead the team out of a three-game losing skid. “It’s a lot more fun playing than it is watching and coaching so it’s a good feeling.”
There were a ton of Raptors fans feeling exactly the same way Wednesday night.