I think it's only right to coin the mythical player "Bay Area Fred" because anytime VanVleet plays in that enemy territory, he seems to elevate his game to another level. Well, we can also attribute it to the birth of his child during the 2019 playoffs, but you get my point.
They may have lost in a razor-close Game 4 final tally of 106-109, but at least VanVleet finally showed up in a big way, delivering a stunning shooting performance that made it seem like he had turned back father time.
Ex-Raptor Fred VanVleet comes up big for Rockets, despite the loss
I already mentioned in a previous piece how VanVleet's playoff struggles, combined with the ongoing shooting slump of backcourt mate Jalen Green, have been detrimental to the Rockets' hopes of keeping up with an ultra-competitive Warriors squad.
For Raptors fans, we know the cycle of VanVleet all too well: he's a certified bucket when he shows up, but if he can't get into a rhythm, be prepared for a very long night ahead. Such is the duality of Fred VanVleet. Another former Raptor fits that description as well, having recently demonstrated in a historic playoff performance that his shooting remains a formidable weapon. Of course, I'm referring to Gary Trent Jr.
In fact, of all the players currently in the playoffs, VanVleet stands out with the lowest three-point percentage at 20.7%, based on a minimum of 20 attempts. But on April 28, FVV managed to deliver a franchise playoff record-tying performance, shooting an impressive 8-for-12 from three and finishing with a stat line of 25 points, six assists, and two rebounds.
Now, while he silenced the doubters with a long-awaited breakout, VanVleet's scorching night wasn't enough to seal the deal for Houston, as he couldn't secure a hail mary game-tying three-point shot. But you can't knock him for the loss; his strong performance deserves a tip of the cap, nonetheless.
Good on VanVleet for coming up huge, but I can't help but think that Rockets Nation is shaking their heads, asking why he couldn't do this a lot sooner. Now down 3-1 to the Warriors, VanVleet and the Rockets have an extremely tall task ahead, and it looks like the Dubs are cruising toward an inevitable W.
Like I said before, and in the title, it's just the way things go when you have VanVleet on your team. We saw this in Toronto, and now we're seeing it in Houston. The only thing standing in their way now is whether VanVleet can find that spirit within him to maintain a flow of consistency, because if not, the Rockets are going to be sent home packing.
"Vintage VanVleet" has a lot riding on his shoulders.