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Tim BontempsESPN
PHILADELPHIA — Toronto RaptorsAll-Star point guard will not be available Fred VanVleetThey will be playing the opponent in Game 5 of their first-round series. Philadelphia 76ersYou may experience a left hip strain for many years.
VanVleet smiled with a wry grin after sitting down in a Wells Fargo Center courtside seat before he began to shoot around Toronto on Monday morning. “I’m out tonight. I was able obtain an MRI… it wasn’t too severe, but showed a slight hip flexor strain.
“So, I’ll be out tonight. Kind of take it day-by-day and go from there.”
VanVleet said the injury happened in Game 4, but he didn’t sound optimistic. Instead, he stated that he was excited to be back and look forward to the possibility of an Eastern Conference semifinal.
That’s the only problem. Toronto goes into Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead and having lost Game 4 by 3-0, a deficit which no team has overcome throughout NBA history.
“I don’t know. VanVleet stated that he doesn’t know what his status is for Game 6. I’m always going to leave that window open. It’s not like I go out for four weeks. It will probably take some time. I hope we can extend it and I would love to play in the next round.
“It is impossible to believe that we can,” [win this series]Yes, but I believe we can. It will be a positive feeling. “But I’m going to keep positive, get as much rehab and recovery as I can, and take one day at time.”
VanVleet clearly hobbled throughout Saturday’s Game 4 before he committed the take foul with 4:57 left in the second half. After ripping his jersey in half, VanVleet walked off Scotiabank Arena’s court and never came back to the bench.
Later Saturday, he went to an MRI and found that his hip flexor strain was present. However, nothing more serious. VanVleet said that the frustration caused by the ripping of his jersey was due to not being able continue playing and fearing imaging might show any real damage to the hip.
“Probably both. “Probably both. Being in this position with the team and being a little bit hobbled already, it was kind of like you know that you will be coming back at some point and you just keep going until you are unable to. More importantly, it’s just about being there in the moment and trying to win with the guys.
VanVleet made his All-Star debut this season. He has been suffering from nagging knee problems for the past few months. VanVleet also said that he has had to deal with the hip flexor problem at times throughout the season. However, this time was much worse than the previous.
Nick Nurse, the Raptors’ coach, expressed sympathy for VanVleet and said that he is not shooting as well as he should.
Nurse stated, “I think it was a tough year for him.” “I think it has been a difficult year for him.
“I mean, he was, even prior to this, I think everyone could see that he was laboring a little, right?” I don’t know. I mean, this one won’t last forever. I do hope it can help.
The Raptors have one more game. Nurse stated that Rookie of Year was her choice. Scottie BarnesAfter he returned from his injury to his left ankle in Game 4, he will be handling the ball much the same way he handled the ball in the second half of Game 4, at the point VanVleet was absent. Pascal SiakamVanVleet was forced to the bench, so we are also taking up some of that slack.
VanVleet stated that he’ll be working hard to help his teammates Monday. VanVleet joked that he may even wear one polo shirt Nurse’s coaching staff wears during games. VanVleet said he was trying to be positive about the situation.
“It’s still very satisfying to be able to put it on the line for your team, your fellow teammates, your locker room brothers and know that you are not a hundred.” [percent]VanVleet declared, “My body just tapped out, and here we are.”