Toronto Raptors: Stock Take, plus Terence Davis is for real

Fred VanVleet

With Kyle Lowry temporarily on the shelf, Fred VanVleet has shifted from his role as the secondary starting guard to the Toronto Raptors starting point guard. Lowry has been missing since the second quarter of the Raptors away bout against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 8th.

Since then, VanVleet has stepped up, averaging 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.6 steals per game in his last five games, shooting 43-percent from the field and 35-percent from three.

Those past three games against the Mavs, Hornets, and Magic have seen only a slight dip in his form, with VanVleet averaging 19.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 2.7 assists per game, shooting 43-percent from the field, and 32-percent from three.

VanVleet has shown his ability to run an offense in, not only a half-court offense but in transition where the Raptors do their most damage – scoring 20.4 fast break points per game which rank first in the NBA.

He’s showing that he can score outside the arc, and target big men on switches and attack the rim, even in spite of his height disadvantage. If we’re being honest, Fred VanVleet is a watered-down version of Kyle Lowry. That, in itself, is a pretty good thing to be. VanVleet is his own man, but he’s showing out like the star he is this week.