Visit by Rockets' VanVleet, Brooks will give Raptors fans two opposing stars to embrace
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A homecoming for Dillon Brooks, a return to his first hoops home for Fred VanVleet, Sunday’s tip between the host Raptors and visiting Houston Rockets presents a multi-layered look at two franchises going in opposite directions.
At 18-9, Houston is among the best in a power-laden West, while the 7-21 Raptors have the NBA’s fourth-worst overall record.
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VanVleet was undrafted when the Raptors took a flyer on the man who provided the bet-on-yourself philosophy. He became the shining example for a Raptors franchise known for its development.
When the club defeated Golden State in the 2019 NBA final, VanVleet earned an MVP vote from the legendary Hubie Brown, who has decided to call it a career from the broadcasting booth.
VanVleet, however, is also a symbol of Raptors mismanagement when he was allowed to sign with the Rockets in free agency, with nothing in return for Toronto.
Meanwhile, Brooks is staunchly Canadian and fully embraces the ‘Dillon the Villain’ moniker.
His defence is elite on a Rockets team that has made that its identity under head coach Ime Udoka.
The Raptors, in contrast, are defensively challenged. In Thursday’s 101-94 loss to the visiting Brooklyn Nets, Toronto’s sixth defeat in a row, Cam Johnson lit up the homeside with a game-high 33 points, including 15 in the decisive fourth quarter when the Raptors managed to score a combined 18 points.
On one side, Sunday’s game sees a Raptors team trying to make amends for arguably its worst loss of the season.
On the other, there’s the nostalgia of having VanVleet back in Toronto — with all of the memories his return evokes — and the presence of Brooks, the Mississauga native whose game at both ends of the floor was showcased during Canada’s path to the Paris Olympics.
On the same night the Raptors were unable to maintain a halftime lead, the Rockets were blowing out the visiting New Orleans Pelicans. Brooks netted 26 for the Rockets on 10-for-16 shooting, including 6-for-10 from beyond the arc.
When Brooks scores at least 18 points, the Rockets have gone 5-0. His evolution mirrors the rise of the Rockets, a .500 team last season that currently sits in the No. 3 seed in the competitive West.
As for FVV, he enters Sunday struggling from distance. In his past five games, he has made nine of 47 three-pointers.
In a potential playoff preview with OKC knowing a berth in the NBA Cup final was at stake, VanVleet missed his first nine heaves from distance and finished 1-for-11 in Houston’s humbling 111-96 loss to the Thunder.
Brooks will receive more cheers than jeers, while it’s a given that fans in attendance Sunday will warmly welcome VanVleet, making it a rare evening where two opposing players are embraced.
Houston’s visit to Toronto is its one and only of the season.
While so much of Toronto’s potential success rests with Scottie Barnes, who did not play well in his return Thursday following an ankle injury, the Rockets spread the wealth. Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson and Tari Eason complement the likes of VanVleet and Brooks.
At the heart of Houston’s play is its defence. When the Rockets are making their shots, they become a tough team to beat because of their defensive identity.
Injuries have robbed the Raptors of establishing any type of identity.
From the moment they gathered at training camp, the goal was to become a better defensive team, at least compared to the sieve-like unit that masqueraded as an NBA team during last season’s debacle.
Offensively, they wanted to push the ball in transition, move it in the half court and create open looks when players are cutting to the basket and moving off the ball.
When three-pointers are dropping, much like they did in the third quarter against the Nets, the Raptors have been entertaining.
When the ball sticks and players are stagnant, much like the fourth quarter against the Nets, they are unwatchable.
With so much on their plate, the Raptors aren’t interested in either player or how the Rockets have been able to rise in the standings knowing Toronto needs to take care of its own business.
Sunday represents a bounce-back occasion for the Raptors, who were actually deemed as the betting favourite for the first time this season when the Nets came to town.
But they’ll return to their status as underdogs against the Rockets.
On most nights, a Raptors-Rockets matchup doesn’t generate much buzz. Sunday looms as an exception.
No one expects the Raptors to topple the Rockets.
However, they can’t be as bad as they were in the fourth quarter Thursday night.
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