‘Whatever it takes': Veteran Fred VanVleet steps up as Rockets face playoff pressure

USA Today

02-05-2025

Brian Barefield
Rockets Wire, Big Sarge Media
Throughout the first two games of this first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, veteran guard Fred VanVleet struggled to find an offensive rhythm with the Rockets.
While trying to help his young teammates, who were experiencing the NBA playoffs for the first time, Houston's floor general scored a combined 17 points in Game 1 and Game 2 while shooting just 23% from the field and 14.9% on 3-pointers.
Knowing that things were not going his way as a scorer, VanVleet took it upon himself to be more aggressive over the next three games. From Game 3 through Game 5 of this best-of-seven series, VanVleet averaged 22.6 points per game while shooting 52.9% overall and 55.5% on 3-pointers.
That mindset helped his team stay afloat. Now trailing 3-2 in the series, VanVleet and the Rockets will try and stave off elimination for a second time in Friday night's Game 6 at San Francisco's Chase Center.
'Coming out extra aggressive,' head coach Ime Udoka said of VanVleet after Houston's decisive Game 5 victory. 'The offense is icing on the cake and an added bonus. He is doing it all, facilitating, scoring, and guarding extremely well.'
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Although the Rockets are only 1-2 in their last three games, VanVleet's improved performance has helped keep Houston competitive amid ongoing struggles from backcourt mate Jalen Green.
VanVleet, a member of the 2018-19 Toronto Raptors team that defeated the Warriors in the NBA Finals, likely needs to continue his hot shooting to force a Game 7 back at Houston's Toyota Center. His head coach knows he has the capability of doing that.
'He takes whatever the game gives him,' Udoka said. 'They're keyed in on Jalen a lot, and he gets freed up a little bit there and creates those advantages for himself. But, he also makes the right reads, like he usually does.'
'He's not the type to force it. Obviously, he wasn't shooting it the best in the first few games, but he has had the same great looks and has been knocking them down. Whatever it takes, he's not a stat guy, he's a winning guy.'
After Monday's last-second Game 4 loss at Golden State, VanVleet had one message for his young teammates as they headed back to Houston, facing potential elimination. It's a message he probably has repeated more than once since Game 5.
'Just got to get one,' VanVleet said. 'One game at a time. Anything is possible.'