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Toronto Raptors: Stock Take, and Norman Powell sets a career-high

By Thomas Valentine

TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 3: Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors grabs the rebound against the Miami Heat on December 3, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 3: Norman Powell #24 of the Toronto Raptors grabs the rebound against the Miami Heat on December 3, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Fred VanVleet (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Fred VanVleet

I, for one, have been made to look like a fool this season. Look, Fred VanVleet is a great player, he showed as much down the stretch in the playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors, but I never knew how good he could be as a starter over a longer period of time.

Well, after a shaky-ish start to the season, it looks like we have our answer: VanVleet is a very competent starter in the NBA, for a title-contending team. Sometimes, it’s difficult to predict the transition until it actually happens, or maybe some people are just tougher to convince. But here I am. Convinced.

VanVleet has averaged 18.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game this season, shooting 40-percent from the field and 39-percent from three on just over seven attempts per game. As the lead guard in the absence of Kyle Lowry, VanVleet stepped up. Even with Lowry returning against the Miami Heat, VanVleet will see more of the ball.

In the past three games, he’s averaged 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, seven assists, and 3.7 steals per game, shooting 46-percent from three on 9.3(!!) attempts per game. He’s taking on elite NBA defenses with no fear, attacking the rim and reaping the benefits.

Now that he has his running mate back beside him in the guard spot, maybe VanVleet will get even better. We’ll certainly hope it means a little respite, he’s averaging 39 minutes a night in his last three. Yeesh.

VERDICT: STOCK UP

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