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Toronto Raptors: 5 things right and wrong, including VanVleet’s All-Star case

By Alexandro Fidanza

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a shot on Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 10, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a shot on Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 10, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors – Fred VanVleet (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

VanVleet’s case for being an All-Star

If the All-Star vote were to happen right now, Fred VanVleet certainly has to be considered, right? Fred VanVleet is averaging a career-high in points with 22.3, and he just had himself an impressive week scoring 34 points against the Celtics and 35 against the Kings — 5th game this season with 25 points or more. (Oh, and it is known defense doesn’t get you All-Star votes, but it’s worth noting that he held Curry to 11 points and a 2/16 shooting night.)

Back to what gets people to voting, scoring. And VanVleet has been doing that on elite efficiency with a 58.5 effective field goal rate. VanVleet is shooting 41.1 percent from three on a ridiculous volume of nine threes per game; he has finally improved his efficiency at the rim, shooting 54 percent (last season it was 51); and not only is he now taking mid-range shots, but he’s also doing it at a clip of 60 percent (last season he shot 32 percent from that area).

In the Eastern Conference among all guards, he is seventh in points, seventh in steals, 9th in assists, and first in three-point shots made with 3.8 per game. He is playing the best basketball of his career, and if he continues on the same track he will have a legitimate case for being an All-Star.

He has improved in every season he has played this year, and I don’t see that stopping now. Let’s just hope he can get to the free-throw line a little more.

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