Six years ago, Fred VanVleet helped the Toronto Raptors win the NBA championship over the Golden State Warriors. Today, VanVleet is back in the Bay Area for the postseason, this time with the Houston Rockets for their Western Conference first round match-up with the Warriors.
VanVleet, now a 31-year-old veteran, may not be the flashiest or most athletic player on this Houston team, but his steadying presence has been crucial in their rise to clinch the second seed this year in the cutthroat Western Conference.
His championship experience has been invaluable for this young Rockets team and his on-court impact–from timely three-pointers and assists to hard-nosed defensive plays and savvy reads–goes beyond the box score. He is familiar with this Golden State team and it is clear that he is not afraid of them.
In Game 6 against the Warriors at the Chase Center, VanVleet stepped up with his best game of the series so far, pouring in 29 points on seven-of-13 field goal shooting, including six-of-nine three-pointers. He hit all of his nine free throw attempts while adding eight rebounds and eight assists.
Whenever Houston badly needed a basket, VanVleet was more often than not there to deliver a timely three-pointer or assist. This has been crucial for the team, especially with Jalen Green, Houston’s top scorer during the regular season, struggling in his playoff debut series. VanVleet has stepped up and led the charge for the Rockets, especially over the past three games where he has averaged 26.6 points a night.
Houston has now won two consecutive games since falling into a 3-1 hole against the Warriors, forcing a Game 7 on their home floor at the Toyota Center. Come Game 7, VanVleet’s wisdom will be crucial for this young Rockets team to power through and beat their more experienced Golden State rivals.
The Warriors are very much aware of the level of threat that VanVleet brings through their shared history dating back to the 2019 NBA Finals. This Houston team is brimming with potential and with VanVleet leading the way, the hope is that they can turn this promise into actual results. The Rockets are for real and the entire NBA is now finding out.
