Reed Sheppard is the Rockets’ Franchise Player™

Point here is a duality and double standards. Streaky shooting isn’t good. Good shooters and good players aren’t streaky. They’re consistent and they hit big shots and timely shots. And 2 straight months of 33% or so shooting isn’t good. We’re not talking about a couple games or weeks its 2 months where his avg is around 33% in 3pt. If people didn’t accept this for Green or Jabari they shouldn’t accept this from Sheppard.

I’m realistic of all Rockets players and if any of these guys pan out it would be several years I imagine. Like Sengun in his 6th or 7th year, Amen in 5th and Sheppard in his 4th or 5th.

 

And honestly Reed's rim finishing ability has somehow been just about as good so far as Jalen's was for us. Granted, he gets there less than half as often. But rim pressure isn't really what we need on this team anyway, got plenty of that.

 

Not sure on his POA defense. His offense stems from defenders can't go under screens due to his shooting, and it takes a 3rd defender to stop his middie and the roll man. Simple game as long as he's making shots to get an advantage and ballhandling is up to snuff to get around pick.

 

I dunno. I never really liked him as a player but he definitely can play. Something about him doesn’t scream champion. And he wilted in some of the biggest games of his career. I have to do some more analysis on his game. Haven’t really watched him closely.

 

I don't love him as a player or especially as a person, but he's the only 20-something #1 option I can currently envision becoming available in the next few years. Granted, things can change quickly sometimes.

 

I don’t see why this being refuted.

that seems to be the game plan to shut the rockets down. Pressure Reed (who isn’t the best PG in terms of shaking these guys off) , and KD beyond the perimeter, or collaping on senguin


Nobody e can buy a bucket.

they don’t even let Reed catch the pass, which is why Adams screens are being sorely missed as well

 

20 second mark, Amen gives the ball to Reed. Reed drives right and throws a dot to the opposite corner to Tari.

But watch Amen.

Im not going to blame him, but some guys dont naturally have these instincts. Thats why its important for the coaches to point out things like this on film. Some may still not know what Im talking about. But think about what Draymond wouldve done here. He wouldve screened the defender and slowed or completely stopped the closeout. Warriors were really good at doing stuff like this with him and all their guys during their prime. Play for your teammates. The small things. They can overcome some of their weaknesses like having two bad shooters if there were more playing for each other and not only looking to be the one who makes the play.

 

Good point. I was also disappointed on that play that Amen neither did the screen nor got into position for offensive rebounding. He just stood there and watched.

 

I’m on the record as saying that the G League and OTE in lieu of college likely stunted the development of a bunch of otherwise outstanding prospects.

 

So. It would be great if they all pan out in that timeframe. You are way too impatient. Why is it important for us to be championship contenders this year and next, when our chances of overtaking the likes of OKC, SA (if Wemby is healthy), Indiana or Denver next year. Why not trade the vets and set us up with a good mix 3 years from now? By then OKC will have to adjust because of the 2nd apron, Wemby will be Embid, and Jokic will be retiring. Pursuing a championship with this joke of a coach is fool’s gold.

 

i understand your point. I just don’t think this is a good example. Seems like Amen thought the ball was going to him and reacted. The defender was already running to a closeout. If Amen got in the way it may be an offensive foul. He did the right thing staying still. I thought he deterred the defender from a straight line just enough to slightly slow him.

 

not impatient at all. I am realistic and echoing the goal of this team. The goal as I stated ad naseum is to win now. This is backed up by direct comments from Stone and Udoka. This is why they got Durant. I don’t understand why this is such a difficult concept for you to understand or maybe you just don’t accept it.

Trade which vets? You are going on hypotheticals which may or may not happen. You don’t know what the Rockets will look like in a few years or how these other teams will look. I don’t know if any team rests on hypotheticals and assumptions of what other teams will do. The Rockets currently have Amen and Tari in their rookie deals. Sheppard is also still on a rookie deal. They have an aging superstar who they brought in to win a title. The time is now. Its not lets wait and hope OKC declines. That doesn’t make much sense. There may be a time when the market value for Amen and Sengun and Reed declines. Sell
Now.

 

At this point I think we all want him to be way more aggressive, but I'm afraid that depends on Ime and his "playbook"

 

Sadly not exactly true.

Reed is a 36.4% midrange shooter and Jalen was 36.2% last season. Jalen's current season numbers are a tiny sample size but he's above 50% so far. In general, they similar career efficiency (i.e. they both suck). I know Reed's middie looks aesthetically pleasing but I've been disappointed with his efficiency from there.

Reed is 37% on pull up 3's (2 attempts) to last season Jalen's 32% on pull ups (almost 5 attempts). This is really Reed's advantage although he takes less than half the number of attempts. This is where Reed is flashing generational shooting talent.

Jalen was 40.1% on catch and shoot (3.3 attempts). Reed is 39.2% (4.2 attempts). Again, similar with Jalen having the slight edge plus higher volume.

Reed will clearly be the better 3PT shooter no debate there but he's not sniffed Jalen's degree of difficulty in terms of volume (9+ attempts) and being guarded by the best perimeter defender every night. At Jalen's volume, I think Reed is more like a 37-38% shooter. I'm sure he'll be good at midrange sooner rather than later.

Please don't take this reply to mean I see them as equivalent shooters in the future. Reed hasn't even played 100 games yet so there's big jumps coming from him. He should have the better jumper from everywhere on the floor soon enough.

 

Franchise Fred is so good his backup PG is a #3 pick.

Can't wait to see them erect a statue for him next to Hakeem's. It should read: "37/34/81" to commemorate the special season in which he was our most valuable player.

 

Its too early to tell what he’s going to be. The 2 months regression is cause for concern

 

Not sure where you got the numbers.

Here's what I got from basketball-reference:

Jalen last season
3-10ft .418
10-16ft .298
16-3p .371
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greenja05.html

Reed this season
3-10ft .486
10-16ft .413
16-3p .440
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sheppre01.html

Reed this season is better than Jalen last season in every distance range, and by a lot.

Jalen's 2p% was slightly better than Reed's because Jalen could get to the rim better.

 

I was about to never believe my eye test again, because he looks like he is really ****ing good at those middies

 

Reed isn’t a thick dude like FVV and Lowry so he will need to need to get stronger and get to the right spots.

I think he just needs more reps on offense and he will be good.