On December 1st, Fred VanVleet had his best game of the season with 38 points against Oklahoma City. Since then, he has been losing momentum since, over the last six matches, he has only shot 26% and 17% at 3-points…
What is interesting is that it is not a simple breakdown, which would be very occasional and could be quickly forgotten. The Houston playmaker is accustomed to this fact with, since the start of the season, difficult periods in several matches.
A different role
How to explain it? Because Ime Udoka is already pulling the string. Against the Pelicans, one of the weakest teams in the league and while the Rockets won by twenty points, Fred VanVleet played 35 minutes… Here again, there is a reason: the coach simply cannot do without the formerly of Toronto.
He doesn't have a creator at this level off the dribble, although Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun can carry the ball and make differences. And when he was with the Raptors, “FVV” played alongside Kyle Lowry then Scottie Barnes, he didn't have as much responsibility. And that changes the shots and the decisions he has to make.
“It makes a big difference. My role is different,” confirms the playmaker The Athletic. “My game has changed greatly over the past year. My goal when I arrived here was to take the players with me. We have guys who can set up systems, create plays and give me shots, but Ime Udoka wants me to carry the ball and set things up. I do it, it's different for me, but I like it. This shakes up my offensive game a little, which is why I'm a little irregular from time to time. But I will find solutions to shoot better and improve my skills. »
Not always being at the creation of the game
The figures show it clearly: between his end of adventure in Toronto and his seasons in Texas, Fred VanVleet takes fewer shots after a screen away from the ball and plays the pick-and-roll much more.
If Charles Barkley went far by recently saying that the Rockets don't know what they are doing on offense, one thing is certain: they are dependent on the 2019 NBA champion.
A little variety would not be too much to relieve him and allow him to rediscover reflexes from his Canadian years. Against his former team, Sunday evening, he finished with a terrible 1/10 in shooting…
“It would be the ideal solution, to take the pressure off him”says Ime Udoka. “Alperen Sengun can, low post, create shots for others, but the more Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason, Jalen Green progress, the more he will be able to play away from the ball and have easy shots. It will benefit him. He will also have lighter legs, with catch-and-shoots and easy shots, rather than constantly creating actions. »
| Fred VanVleet | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 37 | 8 | 35.1 | 37.9 | 81.8 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 76 | 20 | 42.6 | 41.4 | 83.2 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 8.6 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 64 | 28 | 41.0 | 37.8 | 84.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 4.8 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 11.0 |
| 2019-20 | TOR | 54 | 36 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 84.8 | 0.3 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 17.6 |
| 2020-21 | TOR | 52 | 37 | 38.9 | 36.6 | 88.5 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 19.6 |
| 2021-22 | TOR | 65 | 38 | 40.3 | 37.7 | 87.4 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 6.7 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 20.3 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 69 | 37 | 39.3 | 34.2 | 89.8 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 7.2 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 19.3 |
| 2023-24 | HOU | 73 | 37 | 41.6 | 38.7 | 86.0 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 8.1 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 17.4 |
| 2024-25 | HOU | 25 | 35 | 37.7 | 30.3 | 80.9 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 15.2 |
| Total | 515 | 31 | 40.3 | 37.1 | 86.5 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 15.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
