Is Fred VanVleet back?

[pingpongrac]

Fred VanVleet didn't have big box score numbers last season, but he was quite the advanced stats stud; he sported a NetRTG of +10.5 and RPM of +3.40 while the team was also much better with him on the floor (+2.5 OffRTG, -4.8 DefRTG; +7.3 NetRTG). Almost every one of Toronto's best lineups featured FVV and he was consistently closing games, which lead to him being nominated for 6MOTY. In the first ~25-30 games this year, I think we can all agree that FVV was generally underwhelming - and even frustrating to watch at times - but it seems like he's coming around again. Since he missed the buzzer-beater @BKN, he's been playing at a much higher level.

Last 7 games:
31.3 MPG
13.1 PPG (.455/.472/.833)
3.4 REB
5.4 AST
1.0 TOV
1.3 STL
0.6 BLK
+7.0 NetRTG (+3.5 in the 23 previous games)

In that span, FVV started 5 of the 7 games he played because of injuries to Lowry/Leonard. We've been playing good/great teams (outside of the Cavs), so it's encouraging that he's having this good stretch against tough competition; he hit 5 threes and finished with 19 points against the Bucks, notched a career-high with 14 assists against the Clippers, had a 21/8 game against the Blazers and hit some huge shots while playing excellent defence on Oladipo down the stretch against the Pacers a few nights ago to help seal the win. He's been much more "Steady Freddy" and less "Not-Ready Freddy."

[RaptorHusky]

Hope it is true

[azorian]

It would be nice. We need our secondary players to step up especially if they think they're starters

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[Inevitable]

This board can’t handle the fact a role player might struggle multiple games a year. People were losing their **** early in the season.

[StopitLeo]

His shooting has come around big time. His penetrations that get stifled are still a problem but hopefully he figures it out.

[LJKO]

His driving can still use some work but yea he's looking more and more like the Freddy we know from last season.

[SurgeIblocka]

His shot is somewhat back. His biggest problem is over dribbling the ball. He is still looking for fast moving cutters which were Siakim and Purtle last year. The problem is no one moves on the second unit so he just dribble hoping someone will get open and then realizes he has to make a play. He needs to more off the ball and just pass and let the ball swing. Nurse has alot of work to do with the second unit. They need a new style of play

[Alpha Mentality]

He remains very inconsistent and is a poor defender. He is fine his role but his usage has been suspect this year at best.

[basketball royalty]

Strictly from my observations, I think FVV can into the season out of shape and basically played himself into shape. Seemed to be a step slow and jumper short to start the year. Now seems to be able to do what we’ve seen from him in the past.

[alienchild]

This board can’t handle the fact a role player might struggle multiple games a year. People were losing their **** early in the season.

Fortunately, they have a lot of it.

[pingpongrac]

I think it's also important to note that FVV had a slow start last season too and he got better as the year went on.

First 30 games in 17/18:
6.2 PPG (.394/.338/.857) - 7 games of 10+ PTS
3.0 AST

Last 46 games in 17/18:
10.2 PPG (.441/.444/.822) - 28 games of 10+ PTS
3.4 AST

[vaff87]

He remains very inconsistent and is a poor defender. He is fine his role but his usage has been suspect this year at best.

He’s not a poor defender, at all. He’s actually a really good defender, smh

.

[bluerap23]

He remains very inconsistent and is a poor defender. He is fine his role but his usage has been suspect this year at best.

He’s not a poor defender, at all. He’s actually a really good defender, smh

Easily our best on ball pg defender. This is why he gets so many minutes

[TorontoBaller]

Love this thread. Ty op.
I sure as heck hope he’s back!

Sure he gets outsized. So does KL a bit too.
But when the raps play their jawdropping, suffocating defence, he’s on the floor digging into people’s handles.

It’s a thing of beauty.

Hitting clutch 3’s makes him a necessity at the end of the game.

[PseudoFan]

I never worry about FVV, his name is steady for a reason. There was obviously an adjustment period, but when you're as mentally tough as he is, and posses the basketball IQ that he does, it's only a matter of time before you'll figure it out.

Not only was he our most consistent player last year, he was arguably our second most important player. He finished most of our games for a reason.

I honestly can't picture our best closing line-up without him, and I'm sure as we approach the playoffs, he will once again establish himself into that role.

Tough, intelligent and winning players like he and Kyle, you never have to worry about.

[lebron stopper]

He remains very inconsistent and is a poor defender. He is fine his role but his usage has been suspect this year at best.

He’s not a poor defender, at all. He’s actually a really good defender, smh

Easily our best on ball pg defender. This is why he gets so many minutes

He's a good defender when he's up against the likes of Mike Conley and Stephen Curry.

Against athletic beasts and big guards like Russell Westbrook/Jrue Holiday/Klay Thompson, he is toast.

[Alpha Mentality]

He’s not a poor defender, at all. He’s actually a really good defender, smh

Easily our best on ball pg defender. This is why he gets so many minutes

He's a good defender when he's up against the likes of Mike Conley and Stephen Curry.

Against athletic beasts and big guards like Russell Westbrook/Jrue Holiday/Klay Thompson, he is toast.

His defensive metrics are also not exactly supporting your guys claims either lol. Hes in no way on the floor late in games for his defense. Hes on the court to add an additional ball handler and shooting.

[lebron stopper]

Easily our best on ball pg defender. This is why he gets so many minutes

He's a good defender when he's up against the likes of Mike Conley and Stephen Curry.

Against athletic beasts and big guards like Russell Westbrook/Jrue Holiday/Klay Thompson, he is toast.

His defensive metrics are also not exactly supporting your guys claims either lol. Hes in no way on the floor late in games for his defense. Hes on the court to add an additional ball handler and shooting.

I was cringing at the sight of Lowry and FVV guarding Jrue Holiday all night in that blowout loss against the Pelicans. A pylon would have done a better job of guarding him.

[gojoorange]

Easily our best on ball pg defender. This is why he gets so many minutes

He's a good defender when he's up against the likes of Mike Conley and Stephen Curry.

Against athletic beasts and big guards like Russell Westbrook/Jrue Holiday/Klay Thompson, he is toast.

His defensive metrics are also not exactly supporting your guys claims either lol. Hes in no way on the floor late in games for his defense. Hes on the court to add an additional ball handler and shooting.

Which metrics? His defensive stats are pretty good especially in the context of the poor play of the bench.

[vaff87]

Kabookalu has put together examples of Fred’s defense. I don’t know how to find them. Wondering if he still has them?

.