Stay prepared, the coaches say, because you never know when you’re time will come. They’ll tell you being ready, and being professional and being able to do what is asked when it’s asked is what separates prospects from suspects in the NBA.
So Fred VanVleet worked, in practice and pre-game, and in the D-League when he had to, always staying ready, waiting and itching for his chance.
He has it now — at least temporarily installed as a viable backup point guard to the Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry — and he has proved, in two weekend games at least, that he heeded the advice of his coaches and teammates.
“You have to be a professional, be ready when you’re called on,” the undrafted rookie said. “We talked about it (Friday) in Orlando — they didn’t want to throw me in there totally off guard — but as of now I’m just trying to prepare for each game as if I’m going to play. And if I don’t that’s fine, but when I do I’m going to try and make the most of it.”
VanVleet was solid if unspectacular as the Raptors split the final two games of their most recent road trip. He had 15 points in 23 minutes of a loss in Orlando on Friday, and 10 points in 21 minutes of a win Sunday in Brooklyn. He provided solid backup minutes to the heavily-worked Lowry.
Coach Dwane Casey — while insisting the Raptors still need Cory Joseph, the guard VanVleet has replaced in the rotation — is looking to the six-foot VanVleet for a steady hand rather than one that is going to overwhelm the opposition.
“He didn’t blow by, use his explosiveness as much (Sunday in Brooklyn) as he did in Orlando but I liked the way he quarterbacked,” Casey said after that win. “He had four assists, knocked his free throws down in the end and I thought he did a good job defensively.
“We’ll see but, again, Cory is still a big part of what we’re going to do.”
Having three point guards — and that’s not counting Delon Wright, who has skills that make him valuable — creates an interesting situation for the Raptors, beyond Casey having to juggle their minutes. It could create trade possibilities for president Masai Ujiri, with teams having video to dissect all the guards. And competition for playing time is hugely important in pushing players to get better.
VanVleet understands the mercurial nature of his job; Joseph has more experience and has been a key member of the Raptors rotation for a season and a half and could reclaim his job at any moment. But, until then, VanVleet’s going to do what he’s always done: Prepare and be ready if his number is called.
“I’m a young player. But I’m in the fire and I have to help this team win, so I’m just trying to grow each game,” he said. “Just be ready to go in there. That’s the gist of it.”
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