Fred VanVleet of the Houston Rockets was sensational against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, scoring 29 points, including 19 in the second half.
He looked like a player on a mission, a man wanting to push his team into Game 7.
That is exactly what he did, and now the series is tied 3-3.
Speaking with ESPN, VanVleet talked about stepping up for the big moments and seizing opportunities when they present themselves.
“You work all year and train all summer for these moments, and I’ve always prided myself on trying to rise to the occasion,” he said. “I’ve taken a different role for this team over the last two years and just trying to squeeze as much juice out of this group as possible. I’m ready and willing when the time comes to step up and make big plays.”
He certainly did rise to the occasion on Friday night, and he looked like a definitive team leader in multiple ways.
As he said, VanVleet has taken a “different role” with his team over the last two years.
The Rockets have a plethora of great, young talent, and they have been a team attempting to find their identity and figure out who they are and who they want to be in the future.
In other circumstances, VanVleet might have fought to be the team’s central star.
But with this Rockets squad, he is willing to share responsibility and help the team grow as a unit.
It’s not a one-man show in Houston, and VanVleet is comfortable with that.
With that being said, he was the main star for the Rockets on Friday, and the team is hoping he can perform like that again in Game 7.
It all comes down to this, and VanVleet has shown that when the season is on the line, he is ready and eager to step up and perform.
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