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Toronto Raptors: 3 players who need to step up to secure a playoff birth

By Pirasanth Gunasekaram

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 27: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 27: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MARCH 29: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MARCH 29: Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

2. Fred VanVleet

You might be surprised to see VanVleet in here. He’s been solid this season, averaging a career-high 19.2 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 6.2 assists per game. He dropped a career-high 54 points against the Orlando Magic in the best individual game this season for Toronto.

But lately, he hasn’t been himself. In April, VanVleet played six out of 14 games. He was out for seven games due to a hip injury. When he came back, he averaged 12.6 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 6.0 assists per game while shooting the ball at a 35% clip.

VanVleet’s struggles might continue because his hip injury is still bothering him. And from the looks of it, they might not go away anytime soon.

Fred VanVleet must return to full health soon for the Toronto Raptors.

If he can’t come back from his injury, that will hurt the Raptors because they need VanVleet. They need his playmaking and scoring, and leadership. Without him, their chances of going to the playoffs are unlikely.

We like Malachi Flynn! He’s not VanVleet, at least not yet!

It might be hard to do, but if VanVleet can play through his injury, he needs to step up and play like the way he did earlier this season. Even if he’s not 100 percent, but he can still play half as well as he did during the first half of the season, Washington might start shaking in their boots.