Raptors: Stock up, Stock down after messy, injury-filled week

Stock up: Fred VanVleet

It was obvious to everyone that VanVleet was struggling to start the season, as his field goal percentage was under 40% and he shot 0-11 in a loss against the 76ers. Since returning from injury and having to be more offensively assertive following Siakam’s injury, VanVleet has gotten back in a groove.

VanVleet averaged just under 30 points per game in the two Bulls games and Rockets win, and managed to gut out 15 points and three assists in 29 minutes vs. OKC before leaving with an illness. It looks like all of the VanVleet haters have slinked back to whatever corner of the internet they crawled out of.

Fred VanVleet has impressed for the Toronto Raptors.

VanVleet is still not the most amazing all-around scorer, but it’s hard to tear down one of the game’s best shooters and feistiest perimeter defenders. Toronto is going to place the ball in VanVleet’s hands whenever they absolutely need to get a clutch bucket late in games.

The VanVleet-Barnes-O.G. Anunoby trio has proved they can win games without Siakam last year, but all three of the scintillating form they were all in during the early stages of last year. At the very least, one-third of this group is in a zone on both ends of the floor.