It was last weekend, when it looked as if OG Anunoby might return from an injury to play on Sunday, that Fred VanVleet was being pestered with questions about a theoretical “small” Raptors lineup.
There had been issues with Aron Baynes as the starting centre some nights and Norm Powell had been tremendous most nights as a spot starter for Anunoby and the spectre of a small starting lineup was enticing.
VanVleet tried to deflect one question and then another and finally one more.
“To answer all your guys’ questions in one,” he finally said, “if it’s been 30 minutes (the small group had been on the floor this year), then we’ll have to see what the next 30 look like.