3 Raptors who must step up with Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr. out

1. Fred VanVleet

Update: Fred VanVleet has been placed in the league’s Health and Safety protocols.

VanVleet has performed at an almost superhuman level for the Raptors this season, as Toronto will routinely blow convincing leads the second he exits the game to take a breather. If Toronto wants to keep their head above water, they may need VanVleet to be superhuman once again.

VanVleet is averaging over 20 points per game while leading the team in assists and playing some excellent defense. While VanVleet, currently leading the NBA in minutes per game, has been overworked for most of the season. his brief moment of respite is not going to come in this game.

Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet must show he is an All-Star.

VanVleet will get the bulk of the shots with Siakam and Trent both out, but the fact that the team is lacking in point guard depth puts even more pressure on him. Malachi Flynn will get more minutes, and Goodwin was added to the mix, but this is far from an ideal situation.

While the missing players might be able to return before the end of the calendar year, Toronto has three straight games against above .500 teams coming up. VanVleet needs nothing short of a masterclass to both keep the defense sharp, but the ball in the basket, and prevent this team from fraying at the seams.