There are athletes who just seem to be wired to come up big in big moments, to seize the opportunity and welcome the pressure and the intensity.
Fred VanVleet might be that kind of guy.
There’s every indication he has the tools and the mental makeup. And now he’s going to get a chance — fully healthy and fully integrated into his team — to be what he expects to be. What a difference a year makes.
“I was reflecting a little bit — coming into the gym and not wanting to shoot and not wanting to work out a year ago because I knew that my shoulder was hurt,” VanVleet said as the Raptors began preparing for Saturday’s playoff opener against the Orlando Magic.