After the Toronto Raptors endured a brutal losing streak without stars like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and OG Anunoby in the lineup, Nick Nurse’s squad has finally reached the end of the proverbial tunnel. Siakam, Malachi Flynn, and Patrick McCaw have been listed as questionable for their game against the Detroit Pistons, while VanVleet has been ruled doubtful.
When he has been on the court, it’s been more of the same excellent stuff from VanVleet, as he is tied for the team lead in scoring with 20.1 points per game this season. However, given the poor start and disappointing string of bad luck, the Raptors find themselves in 11th place in the East.
VanVleet confirmed that he was symptomatic after his brush with the virus that has made life so difficult this season, claiming that he had a fever, headaches, back soreness, and general aches and pains.
VanVleet said that his symptoms were “an experience I won’t forget” and something that he “wouldn’t wish on anybody.” If that warning from a star athlete in his physical prime doesn’t make fans take this virus seriously, nothing will.
VanVleet said the symptoms came on shortly after testing positive and were "pretty rough" for a couple days (fever, headaches, back soreness, body aches). "Nothing like I've ever had."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 17, 2021
"It was a whirlwind. Definitely an experience I won't forget. I wouldn't wish it on anybody."
Fred VanVleet had a lot to say about the Toronto Raptors
VanVleet had to watch the likes of Paul Watson, Stanley Johnson, and Yuta Watanabe become featured offensive options without him. The result was dismal, as only Chris Boucher was able to be a quality scorer off of the bench.
VanVleet, who has become well-known for his candor when assessing the state of this team, said that he was “frustrated” watching these games, calling the losing streak “a missed opportunity for our ball club, for our franchise, for a lot of guys on out roster.”
FVV on the last 5 games: "It was hard to watch... I was frustrated that we didn't have more breakouts. I'm not blaming those guys & I would never hold it against them... I thought it was a missed opportunity for our ball club, for our franchise, for a lot of guys on the roster"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 17, 2021
VanVleet, who hit back at the stigma of testing positive by assuring fans that he followed every rule and procedure in the book, claimed that he followed all the league’s protocols, chalking his test up to random chance.
VanVleet wasn’t all doom and gloom, however. He is excited to get back out on the court for Toronto, as he remembered just how much he loved playing basketball.
VanVleet on being back with the team: "I caught myself walking into the gym just smiling, man. Just smiling. I forgot how much I love this s***... It's a blessing to be able to be back... I've been giving out more hugs in the last 24 hours than I ever have in my life."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 17, 2021
VanVleet and Siakam coming back into the fold might not be enough to get the Raptors back into the postseason, but it should make them a much more competitive team that will at least have a puncher’s chance at the playoffs.
If VanVleet gets hot from beyond the arc, Toronto should be able to pull off a few upsets here and there.