Reed Sheppard is the Rockets’ Franchise Player™

Because he's still shooting 38.7% from 3 which is 3rd best on the team (really 2nd best considering Okogie takes 3x LESS 3s than Reed).

Would it help you if he shot a consistent 38%-40% every game rather than having to use any type of context with averages?

 

There needs to be a level of trust for coaches to start or play a player. This means players must earn playing time. This would only be meritorious and handing a title or position to a player without the player showing they are capable of the responsibilities is negligent of a head coach and fosters entitlement.

Besides, Handing a player a starting position doesn’t mean that player will perform well in that role. Wood and KPJ were given bigger roles and they both weren’t starting level players. JG was given big minutes and a starting role but that didn’t solve his consistency issues.

Sheppard did nothing to earn a starting pg role at the beginning of the season. Had a poor rookie year and poor summer league. In college he was a combo guard but most of the playmaking and point duties was done by Dillngham. Shepard still isn’t a point and the Rockets don’t have a pure point on their team. Most of the lineups Sheppard is in is with Amen, another combo guard.

Starting isn’t important and players are on the bench to balance lineups. If Sheppard starts that would mean Holliday plays in that second unit. Sheppard anchors the second unit and still plays big minutes. If Sheppard continues to improve in terms of passing, defense, and shooting then sure. These things take time to develop. That’s why they call it player development

 

That doesn’t answer my question why he gets a pass from fans when his shooting has been inconsistent and poor in stretches of games.

He had a hot start of a month and a half or so then 33% for Jan and 32% for MAR. And since late DEC to mid FEB was very inconsistent. Very few people talk about his inconsistency in shooting. You combine this with the turnovers and decision making and defensive issues. Is this a player that should start?

Again I believe he is being developed every day that’s why he’s getting big minutes and allowed to play. He has improved in some things but highly inconsistent and disappointing to me in his shooting as he’s a boom or bust type player. Some games shooting 70% then giving you 0% to 18% for a stretch of 4-5 games so forth. let’s put on the objective lens here and be reasonable

 

No, you're just too obtuse to admit to the answer.

 

I’m with you on the lack of objectivity concerning Reed, but there are legit reasons to start him. At this point in the season, it is a reasonable observation that playoff seeding really will have no measurable positive effect on our ability to compete for a championship. There could be some information gleamed from having Reed playing more with the starters and developing synergies with his likely backcourt mate next year. The more minutes Reed can share with the starting unit, the more information the team will have in revamping the offense and/or roster next year. Some might say this is a defeatist attitude, but I see it more as a focus on our goal of winning a championship, rather than a short term feel good goal of maximizing regular season wins. It’s a tough ask of Ime, but it’s not much different than asking a coach to tank for the long term good of the team.

 

and yet tari gets to start despite being even worse from 3