Adam Spolane: Cam Whitmore is shooting 40 percent from 3 in the NBA after shooting 34 percent at Villanova. Why the Improvement? “Fred is a point God,” Whitmore said. “I think he can just see the floor better than anybody else.”
Source: Twitter @AdamSpolane
Source: Twitter @AdamSpolane
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
VanVleet with lots of post-game hugs for his former teammates — yes, including Scottie Barnes. – 10:15 PM
VanVleet with lots of post-game hugs for his former teammates — yes, including Scottie Barnes. – 10:15 PM
Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
VanVleet wins his first game vs his former team, and he’ll see them again in Toronto next week. His new team improves to 23-25, passing their win total from last season in 34 fewer games. Ugly loss for the Raptors. If you’re into moral victories, Barnes was the lone bright spot. – 10:14 PM
VanVleet wins his first game vs his former team, and he’ll see them again in Toronto next week. His new team improves to 23-25, passing their win total from last season in 34 fewer games. Ugly loss for the Raptors. If you’re into moral victories, Barnes was the lone bright spot. – 10:14 PM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
After VanVleet and Schroder tussle over a loose ball, VanVleet levels him running through a screen and gets the foul. Brooks steps in to calm things down (!). VanVleet and Schroder get into it on the sideline. Credit to Schroder for trying to raise the temperature a bit. – 9:37 PM
After VanVleet and Schroder tussle over a loose ball, VanVleet levels him running through a screen and gets the foul. Brooks steps in to calm things down (!). VanVleet and Schroder get into it on the sideline. Credit to Schroder for trying to raise the temperature a bit. – 9:37 PM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
66-47 Rockets. They have gotten 50 points from five players who were born between Feb. 2002 and July 2004 or who are between 19 and 22 years old. Old man Fred VanVleet has seven and five. 22-year-old Scottie Barnes has 16 points for the Raptors. – 9:07 PM
66-47 Rockets. They have gotten 50 points from five players who were born between Feb. 2002 and July 2004 or who are between 19 and 22 years old. Old man Fred VanVleet has seven and five. 22-year-old Scottie Barnes has 16 points for the Raptors. – 9:07 PM
Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
With a VanVleet buzzer beater, Houston hangs a 37-point quarter on the Raptors. Rockets are shooting 65% and lead by 14 after 12 minutes. Sub-optimal start for the Raps, on both ends. – 8:38 PM
With a VanVleet buzzer beater, Houston hangs a 37-point quarter on the Raptors. Rockets are shooting 65% and lead by 14 after 12 minutes. Sub-optimal start for the Raps, on both ends. – 8:38 PM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
37-23 for the Rockets over the Raptors after 1Q. VanVleet hits the buzzer beater and has seven, tied for game high. Rockets are shooting 65.2 per cent from the floor. Raptors are at 39.1 per cent. – 8:36 PM
37-23 for the Rockets over the Raptors after 1Q. VanVleet hits the buzzer beater and has seven, tied for game high. Rockets are shooting 65.2 per cent from the floor. Raptors are at 39.1 per cent. – 8:36 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets 37, Raptors 23 after 1 as VanVleet beats the buzzer with a 3. Rockets 4 of 8 on 3s, were worst 3-point shooting team in the league in January. Shot 65.2 % in the first quarter. – 8:36 PM
Rockets 37, Raptors 23 after 1 as VanVleet beats the buzzer with a 3. Rockets 4 of 8 on 3s, were worst 3-point shooting team in the league in January. Shot 65.2 % in the first quarter. – 8:36 PM
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
VanVleet aces a 2-for-1, and it’s 37-23 Rockets after a quarter. Sengun and Fred have 7, Scottie has 7 for Raps. – 8:36 PM
VanVleet aces a 2-for-1, and it’s 37-23 Rockets after a quarter. Sengun and Fred have 7, Scottie has 7 for Raps. – 8:36 PM
Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Scottie squaring up FVV in the middle of the court and airballing a 27-foot 3 is an odd shot choice – 8:17 PM
Scottie squaring up FVV in the middle of the court and airballing a 27-foot 3 is an odd shot choice – 8:17 PM
Ryan Wolstat @WolstatSun
Was going to drop a stat of the day, but Matty D beat me too it.
Here it is anyway: Fred VanVleet has shot .373 from three in Houston, which is exactly what he shot as a Raptor in about 10 times the sample size. – 8:14 PM
Was going to drop a stat of the day, but Matty D beat me too it.
Here it is anyway: Fred VanVleet has shot .373 from three in Houston, which is exactly what he shot as a Raptor in about 10 times the sample size. – 8:14 PM
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Bruce Brown stays in the starting lineup with Quickley, Trent, Barnes and Poeltl.
FVV, Green, Brooks, Smith and Sengun for Rockets. – 8:00 PM
Bruce Brown stays in the starting lineup with Quickley, Trent, Barnes and Poeltl.
FVV, Green, Brooks, Smith and Sengun for Rockets. – 8:00 PM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
Big thanks to @adriancheddie for his fine work on the latest ‘Words by Grange’ as the Houston Rockets Fred VanVleet plays against the Raptors for the first time: sportsnet.ca/nba/video/bet-… – 7:55 PM
Big thanks to @adriancheddie for his fine work on the latest ‘Words by Grange’ as the Houston Rockets Fred VanVleet plays against the Raptors for the first time: sportsnet.ca/nba/video/bet-… – 7:55 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Rockets starters: Brooks, Smith Jr., Şengün, Green, VanVleet.
Raptors starters: Brown, Barnes, Poeltl, Trent Jr., Quickley. – 7:33 PM
Rockets starters: Brooks, Smith Jr., Şengün, Green, VanVleet.
Raptors starters: Brown, Barnes, Poeltl, Trent Jr., Quickley. – 7:33 PM
David Hardisty @clutchfans
#Rockets starters tonight:
G – Fred VanVleet
G – Jalen Green
F – Dillon Brooks
F – Jabari Smith Jr.
C – Alperen Sengun
Raptors starters:
G – Immanuel Quickley
G – Gary Trent Jr.
F – Scottie Barnes
F – Bruce Brown
C – Jakob Poeltl – 7:31 PM
#Rockets starters tonight:
G – Fred VanVleet
G – Jalen Green
F – Dillon Brooks
F – Jabari Smith Jr.
C – Alperen Sengun
Raptors starters:
G – Immanuel Quickley
G – Gary Trent Jr.
F – Scottie Barnes
F – Bruce Brown
C – Jakob Poeltl – 7:31 PM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
“He’s grumpy as hell most of the time, it’s good for our team” — Rockets head coach Ime Udoka when @SavHamilton11 asked about what Fred VanVleet has brought to the Rockets 😂😂. pic.twitter.com/mxnJy1jBCj – 6:24 PM
“He’s grumpy as hell most of the time, it’s good for our team” — Rockets head coach Ime Udoka when @SavHamilton11 asked about what Fred VanVleet has brought to the Rockets 😂😂. pic.twitter.com/mxnJy1jBCj – 6:24 PM
Doug Smith @SmithRaps
Ime Udoka just asked about Fred VanVleet averaging a career high in minutes and the more things change … – 6:24 PM
Ime Udoka just asked about Fred VanVleet averaging a career high in minutes and the more things change … – 6:24 PM
Josh Lewenberg @JLew1050
Fred VanVleet, who faces his former team for the 1st time tonight, has only played with 1/3 of the current Raptors roster (6 of 18 players). Could be even fewer by the time he faces them again next week (Feb 9, day after the trade deadline). He was a Raptor less than 8 months ago – 12:43 PM
Fred VanVleet, who faces his former team for the 1st time tonight, has only played with 1/3 of the current Raptors roster (6 of 18 players). Could be even fewer by the time he faces them again next week (Feb 9, day after the trade deadline). He was a Raptor less than 8 months ago – 12:43 PM
Eric Koreen @ekoreen
Fred VanVleet on his ending in Toronto, and how it is informing his start in Houston
theathletic.com/5245237/2024/0… pic.twitter.com/NuVPB5hXdy – 10:03 AM
Fred VanVleet on his ending in Toronto, and how it is informing his start in Houston
theathletic.com/5245237/2024/0… pic.twitter.com/NuVPB5hXdy – 10:03 AM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Fred VanVleet ready for trip down memory lane with two games against Raptors houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 9:33 AM
Fred VanVleet ready for trip down memory lane with two games against Raptors houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-n… via @houstonchron – 9:33 AM
Adam Spolane @AdamSpolane
“This is not your typical reunion because they’ve had so much change”
Fred VanVleet admitted it will be weird to face the Raptors for the first time on Friday, but he’ll be facing a very different team from the one he left over the summer: audacy.com/sportsradio610… – 3:19 AM
“This is not your typical reunion because they’ve had so much change”
Fred VanVleet admitted it will be weird to face the Raptors for the first time on Friday, but he’ll be facing a very different team from the one he left over the summer: audacy.com/sportsradio610… – 3:19 AM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
It was great to catch up with Fred VanVleet before his first game against the Raptors, where he made his name and made history. The love remains, but he knew that change was coming and now that he’s in Houston? “Yeah, I came out of it all right” —
sportsnet.ca/nba/article/wi… – 5:50 PM
It was great to catch up with Fred VanVleet before his first game against the Raptors, where he made his name and made history. The love remains, but he knew that change was coming and now that he’s in Houston? “Yeah, I came out of it all right” —
sportsnet.ca/nba/article/wi… – 5:50 PM
Michael Grange @michaelgrange
Last year, Fred VanVleet saw the future: “Like, if we can trade DeMar, who the hell am I? If Kyle got to the point where it was time for him to go — he’s the best Raptor of all time — who the hell am I? You have to be realistic with yourself.” — sportsnet.ca/nba/article/wi… – 5:36 PM
Last year, Fred VanVleet saw the future: “Like, if we can trade DeMar, who the hell am I? If Kyle got to the point where it was time for him to go — he’s the best Raptor of all time — who the hell am I? You have to be realistic with yourself.” — sportsnet.ca/nba/article/wi… – 5:36 PM
More on this storyline
The Magic have been on this track for over a year, looking for long-term help at point guard. They were involved in talks last year for Fred VanVleet before the Raptors held onto him (and subsequently lost him in free agency). Orlando has kicked around every potential option on the board, and the latest interest involves two veterans: Kyle Lowry and Chris Paul, according to sources. -via Action Network / February 4, 2024
On Friday in Houston, VanVleet will play his first game against his old team; a week later, he returns as a visitor to Toronto for the first time. “I was just talking to Kyle about it: He told me I was gonna (cry),” VanVleet said of returning to Scotiabank Arena. “I’m not a big crier. It’s kind of anti-climatic. I’m gonna see the team (in Houston), what’s left of the people I know. And it’s not just the team (that has changed), it’s staff, a huge overhaul. There’s a couple of people that I’ve been dying to see, but whatever the fans do will dictate it. -via The Athletic / February 2, 2024
For his part, VanVleet said in Houston he is now trying to learn from his mistakes made “over the last two years.” “I don’t think I bonded as well as I would have liked to with just the group in general,” VanVleet said. “On the court chemistry was fine, there was no beef or disconnect there. “I’m now coming in (Houston) as a new guy: How do I create those relationships with these guys? Because it was kind of like everybody was on the same playing field (in Toronto) and we all were striving for our own different things. Sometimes the timelines don’t match and sometimes interests don’t match.” -via The Athletic / February 2, 2024
