Game 1 of the series between the Raptors and 76ers is shown on Saturday at 6 p.m. in RDS and Sportish.
TORONTO – If the longevity of the Raptors’ play-off kit depends on Fred Van Wlitt showing his full potential, seeing the star point guard in street clothes in the last three games of the season has not been reassuring.
Although VanVleet is scheduled to play on Saturday, when the Raptors open Game 1 of the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers, one question remains on everyone’s lips. How is his knee?
“How did I know that would be the first question?” He began with a smile.
The Raptors managed to avoid the NBA playoff qualifiers by giving VanVleet – and other injured players like OG Anunoby – an extra week to recover. However, the success of this team falls in part on the shoulders of the native of Rockford, Illinois.
“Partial rest, total rest, partial training, full-intensity training, getting back to my routine … I had a good week of work,” VanVleet said. I’m getting ready for this series. It can go very well or very badly. I’m optimistic about that. I feel good. I continue to do my job and my rehabilitation. »
VanVleet, who has a knee injury, has not played in 11 of the Raptors’ last 24 games. He added that the injury “will not go away”, but that “I really feel better than the last time you saw me”.
The 28-year-old averaged 20.3 points and 6.7 assists per game this season. These numbers, which is a personal high level of career, gave him his first appearance in the All-Star Game.
His steel nerves allowed him to take control of many meetings. And his strict work ethic is still unmatched. The cult image from game 4 of the 2019 NBA Finals, where VanVleet is lying on the floor of the Oracle Arena in Auckland, with his arm outstretched, blood flowing from a lesion under his eye and one of his teeth hanging a little further, is one of the proofs.
VanVleet, however, struggled in the first two rounds against the Orlando Magic and 76ers in the historic Larry O’Brien Trophy victory.
“It was an experience that brought me down to earth. “I needed to improve,” he said after training. There were more discussions with the coaching staff to determine where I felt most effective. »
The turning point for him was Kawhi Leonard’s famous basket that rang the bell in Game 7 against the 76ers. He kept the Raptors alive and gave VanVleet a second air.
“There are challenges in everyone’s career. I study acting, VanVleet noted. I watch basketball every night and I watch it. When it’s your turn to be the center of attention, it’s not fun. But almost everyone goes there. »
VanVleet expects a tough game against the 76ers, who “a few weeks ago were the favorites,” he said.
The 76ers have many headliners, including the imposing Cameroonian Joel Embiid, who won the top scorer title this season and his team’s most valuable player in 2018 and top scorer that season, James Harden.
VanVleet said maintaining possession would be an important factor for the Raptors as it is an integral part of the team’s identity. They are second in the league in offensive rebounds while the 76ers are 30th. The Raptors occupy the 8th total for rebounds, while the Pennsylvania club ranks 29th.
Aside from winning the duels, do the Raptors have a plan B?
“Sure! Let’s see, Nick Nurse is our coach,” replied VanVleet, who made the reporters present laugh.
A healthy Anunoby will be another key factor for Raptors. He lost 15 games earlier this season with a broken finger, but was excellent on his short comeback. Short, as he suffered a thigh injury shortly afterwards and missed the last four games of the season.
“Remember when OG did not play for two weeks, he came back and it seemed like he never left,” said Chris Boucher. Well, that’s exactly how it plays in practice. He will be ready for the playoffs. I did not see anything that showed me that he would not be ready. »
The second game in a row of seven will be played Monday in Philadelphia. The teams will return to the collar in Toronto for Games 3 and 4 on April 20 and 23, respectively. The series will return to Philadelphia for Part Five, if needed.
