NBA: One x-factor for every team heading into the restart

Toronto Raptors

X-factor: Fred VanVleet 

After losing Kawhi Leonard during the offseason, it was quite evident that the Toronto Raptors were going to someone to step into the shoes of their star. Pascal Siakam did his part and emerged as a true superstar this season. However, they’re going to need more than just Siakam and Kyle Lowry to make a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference.

One player that was proving to be valuable for the team before the hiatus was Fred VanVleet. he was having the best season of his career thus far, averaging 18 points and seven assists on 39 percent shooting from 3-point range.

If the Raptors are going to defend their title and make it difficult for any team to dethrone them in the East, they’re going to need VanVleet to pick up where he left off in the regular season and step up in a big way for the Raptors. Question is, will he do it? We know he has the capability to.