He's really embracing the (Dennis the) menace role this season I'm here for it. He and DFS bring a level of physicality and not to be f***ed with that we've been missing.
He made Harden’s life out there very difficult tonight, I especially enjoyed him ripping the ball away from him when they fell to the floor to avoid the jump ball and get the foul called in his favor instead.
Then did some jawing with Lue after. Can we get him up to 20 minutes with Rui out? Don't think he needs much more than that based on his style of play. Hayes was bad, would've gladly given 5 of his 26 minutes over to Vando tonight
+20 in 14 mins?!?! MOAR Since Rui is going to be out a bit, Vando and DFS need to both get 30 mins each, or pretty close to it. Vando has no offense, but he’s a damn enforcer. Who would be the other “smash bro”?? One of the most elite defenders you will ever see. I love this guy. Please work on your corner 3s and FTs this summer, then you’ll have even more people cheering for you man. Keep it up Vando!!
I agree with all that. Totally. Of course! Effing love Vando! There are guys who influence the game way more than their stat sheet indicates. There has always been guys like that in the NBA: dudes who don't put up any numbers but make you better. And then there is Jarred Effing Vanderbilt. He takes it to a whole other level. He comes back after a year out, and immediately we surge to being a Top Five defensive team. Coincidence? I think not... The number of plays where their PG gets it at the point, Vando comes out, and eventually the guy just dishes it, not being able to get anything going against that spidery defense? The stifle! He's rebounding a bit. A made 3 or 2 FTs maybe? Not a lotta dimes. He gets steals. Yet makes a major difference every damn game since he's been back. My lawd this guy is a beast.
This clip just makes me smile. Vanderbilt just agitates opponents. Even Davis and Washington (?) (who is one himself) got a kick out of it. Irving seems amused at the outset. His hand was in his direction not really touching him. Not surprised we are better when he came back. To think we were hypothetically linking him to trades.
loved this part. stfu, lue. marinate in your poor career choice. all of this could have been yours if you believed in yourself for real instead of puffing up. in fairness, i don't think vando will ever play 70+ games. is what it is. hard to plan a team like that, and it's why he makes sub-MLE, imo. because his impact is obviously huge, even with him somehow being able to wedge a wide open 12-footer.
The robber baron, the Andre 3 stacks lookalike deserves game ball tonight. He was all over the place, getting rebounds.
I’ve always been high on Vando, and we all know what he brings to the table/his limitations. Tonight, the way he absolutely went after it reminded me of the WCF playoff run we had with him. Just wreaking havoc. Player of the game with DK.