Even going into the game down 3-1 in the series, it seems that such a lopsided deficit wasn't enough to shake Fred VanVleet's reputation as a riser in matchups against the Golden State Warriors.
I am all too familiar with the highs and lows of a Fred VanVleet experience, especially given his history on the Toronto Raptors. I came to love FVV after that 2019 championship run, and in the years that followed, I would quickly find myself having a love-hate relationship with his polarizing style of play. But at the root of it all, VanVleet is a proven hooper at heart, and he can either shoot the lights out or shoot your team out of a game.
Rockets fans have grown accustomed to VanVleet's stretches of showing up and not showing up as an impactful scorer, but thankfully for them, in these 2025 playoffs, the 31-year-old veteran is finally proving to be the hero Houston fans have been longing for.
Game 4 was a coming-out party for VanVleet, who caught fire from deep with eight made three-pointers, even though the Rockets ultimately fell short. This time, in a do-or-die Game 5, VanVleet once again proved to be the wily veteran who stepped up as the Rockets secured a 131-116 victory.
VanVleet continues success in 2025 Playoffs with massive Game 5
VanVleet managed to match his field goal total from his last strong outing, going 8-for-13 from the floor. He also sank four of his six three-pointers, finishing with solid efficiency overall. For a team whose young guns—like Jalen Green, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr.—are largely falling short of expectations, the Rockets don’t have many vets to rely on in this tough time. Despite his flaws, VanVleet continues to step up for a Houston team fighting to keep their season alive.
I still think the general consensus around VanVleet is that he's an ultra-streaky shooter, kind of like another ex-Raptor, Gary Trent Jr., who just had a wild game of his own. But GTJ's hot shooting was overshadowed by a shocking collapse that ultimately cost the Milwaukee Bucks a surefire victory.
I said in the last VanVleet piece that "Vintage VanVleet" had to keep up this level of play or his Rockets team would get bounced out quick, and wouldn’t you know it, he’s doing just that. Have I and many others come to see VanVleet as an unreliable option? In a sense, yeah.
But when he’s locked in—cue that GIF of him screaming during the 2019 NBA Finals—that version of VanVleet is unstoppable and a real problem for Steph Curry, in particular.
It is now 3-2 in the series, and if I were the Golden State Warriors, I wouldn’t be so confident anymore, knowing the Rockets are inching closer to a narrow winning margin. This Friday will make or break the series for either team, so we’ll see where VanVleet’s playoff hopes stand next.