Image Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Fred VanVleet has received heaps of praise from his counterpart, Draymond Green. The Houston Rockets took game 6 away from the Golden State Warriors and have forced a series finale on Sunday night. Warriors’ defender, while talking in the post-match press conference, was blunt about the impact VanVleet has had against his team.
Draymond Green said, “No, I’m not surprised one bit. Fred VanVleet is the reason we lost to Toronto in the Finals, so we know what he’s capable of. Not surprised at all.” The Warriors’ Center is wary of VanVleet’s record against his side.
Fred VanVleet was one of the key orchestrators with Kawhi Leonard in striking down the Golden State Warriors while playing for the Toronto Raptors. In the 2019 NBA Finals, the Raptors used three-pointers to dislodge GSW’s prowess. Despite having many close games, the Raptors eventually won the series 4-2.
Fred VanVleet’s last three games:
29 PTS – 53% FG – 6/9 3PM
26 PTS – 61% FG – 4/6 3PM
25 PTS – 61% FG – 8/12 3PM pic.twitter.com/ZdFzYNxUGM
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Fred VanVleet is having a similar impact on the Golden State shooting with precision and taking out his opponents’ three-point prowess. VanVleet was instrumental in the Rockets’ game 6 victory on Friday night, scoring 28 points in the 115-105 win. He shot 7-13, out of which six were three-pointers.
Warriors’ Gamble Backfires at Chase Center
The Golden State Warriors have walked directly into their trap after blowing out a 3-1 lead in the series. Steve Kerr’s side had the momentum and energy to take the series home early. However, overconfidence killed the Golden State’s chance, and now they are on the brink of elimination.
Steve Kerr allowed the Houston Rockets into the series after taking his starters early in the last game. This gave a much-needed confidence boost for the Rockets. However, the Warriors’ bench performed exceptionally well and cut short the 27-point deficit by half in the fourth quarter.
Even during the fourth quarter, Kerr could have allowed his starters to unleash by closing out the game late. Instead, the likes of Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green rarely featured. Now, with a home court loss in game 6, the Warriors are in an unwanted territory with momentum on the Houston Rockets’ side.