Fred VanVleet, an All-Star point guard for the Toronto Raptors, will be out for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers with a left hip flexor strain. VanVleet said with a smile, "You can stop holding your breath." after he sat down in a courtside seat at the Wells Fargo Center prior to the Toronto Raptors shootaround Monday morning. I was able to get an exam that showed a hip flexor strain. I will be out tonight, but I will take it day by day and go from there. When asked if he would be able to return in Game 6, VanVleet sounded pessimistic but said he would feel great. There is only one problem with that. No team in NBA history has come back from a three game deficit to win a series. I don't know. I really don't know, I'm always going to leave that window open. It is not one of those things where I will be out for four weeks. It's probably going to take some time. I would be happy if we could extend this thing and play in the next round. I think we can win this series. I will be happy about that. I will take a day at a time and get as much rehabilitation as I can, but I will stay positive. VanVleet was hobbling throughout the first half of Saturday afternoon's Game 4 before he committed a take foul with 4:57 to go in the second quarter, ripped his jersey in half and hobbled off the court, never to return to the bench. He went to the doctor on Saturday and got an exam that showed the hip flexor strain. VanVleet admitted that he ripped his jersey out in frustration because he wasn't able to continue playing and that he was worried that his hip would be damaged. Probably both. I knew I wasn't coming back and I wasn't worried about needing surgery. You are trying to go until you can't go anymore because you have been hobbled a little bit. Being in the moment, wanting to be out there with the guys fighting, trying to get a win. The NBA playoffs began Saturday and run through June, when the league will crown a champion for its milestone season. Day 2 had the biggestTakeaways from Day 1
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VanVleet, who made his first All-Star appearance this season, has been dealing with nagging knee issues for the past couple of months, and he said the hip flexor issue is something he has managed at times throughout the season as well. This time, it was worse than before.
Nurse said it was clear that VanVleet, who is shooting 35% from the field and 33% from 3 through the first four games of the series, hasn't been himself.
Nurse said it had been a tough year for him.
I think everybody could see he was laboring a bit before this. I don't know. I don't think this one will last forever, and I hope that it can help other things, too, while he's out, too.
The Raptors still have a game to play. Nurse said that Barnes will handle the ball a lot like he did in the second half of Game 4 when he came back from his own injury.
VanVleet said he would be locked into trying to help his teammates throughout the day and joked that he may even wear a polo shirt during the game. He said he is trying to be as positive as he can be.
It is gratifying to know that you are not 100 percent for your teammates and for your brothers in the locker room.
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