For two consecutive years now VanVleet has been one of the league’s premier reserves, able to function as a good shepherd for the offense in bench units and as an elite fifth guy when playing alongside stars. VanVleet has been horrific in this playoff series whether operating in either role: he’s decidedly lost his minutes, even when paired with Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard. He’s been unable to hit shots when spacing off the ball, and has been downright abysmal with the ball in his hands. VanVleet was crucial for the Raptors all year, but he’s been the Raptors’ worst player in this series.
Game 5 Turning Point: Fred VanVleet was back
