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Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet may not be the biggest guy on the court but he will definitely let his teammates hear it whenever they fail to make smart plays on the floor. His backcourt partner in Norman Powell can attest to VanVleet's short temper but eventually shrugged it off, knowing that the former undrafted guard just wanted the best for his teammates, via Josh Lewenberg.
Powell on VanVleet: "He's always yelling at me for something but that's just the relationship that we have. He's very smart when he sees something. If I miss something he's on me about it. We hold each other and our team to a high standard."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 20, 2021
VanVleet admitted that he has the tendency to lose his temper and thought that he already managed to overcome it as of late. However, the slow start of the Raptors to this season definitely brought the fire back out of him once again.
Fred VanVleet, asked what he's learned about himself amid the Raptors' slow start to the season, jokes: "I thought I had my temper and my anger problems under control, and I'm realizing that I don't. The losing has brought back that little fiery kid that I used to be."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 20, 2021
Indeed, VanVleet's tough love for his teammates worked wonders as Powell was able to come out with a huge performance on Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The former UCLA standout chalked up a season-high tally of 31 points on 6/10 shots from beyond the arc along with six rebounds.
Powell's production was crucial for the Raptors as they outscored the Timberwolves, 28-17, in the final frame to run away with an 86-61 victory. Amid a long season, head coach Nick Nurse will definitely need several of his men to step up for the team in order to regain their momentum.
Better performances from the Raptors players are also needed by the team now that their veteran leader in Kyle Lowry remains to be on the sidelines due to an ankle injury. VanVleet, Powell, and Pascal Siakam will definitely serve as key players in their bid to salvage their season and continue to vie for a playoff spot in their coming games.
Fred VanVleet hopes that his energy can rub off on his Raptors teammates and help them increase their confidence as the season progresses.
