If these last few games haven’t convinced award voters that the Raptors’ Fred VanVleet deserves the Sixth Man of the Year award, I’m not sure what else could.
Since losing him in the final game of the regular season, Toronto has been unable to find an adequate replacement for VanVleet’s spot in the rotation. Everyone knew the injury was going to hurt — both player and team — but nobody could’ve predicted this. At this point, his near-mythic stature might even steal some MVP votes.
Lineup Struggles Across the Board
The Raptors bench has been a shadow of its regular season self since losing its primary floor general to a wounded wing.