Just wanted to offer a correction and say I think you mean Oakland, not Maryland (which you've said multiple times, hence why I couldn't ignore it anymore). As for this point, I don't necessarily disagree that it was a terrible game by Reed. But after having watched it and multiple other games, I really think Cal is just a terrible coach with a terrible system. Well maybe it is good for developing guys vs winning games, can't really speak much to that. But I actually got the sense that Reed probably did exactly what the coaches wanted him to do in that game, but Kentucky couldn't really get much going....because it was a terrible game plan. The whole team really struggled to figure out what Oakland was doing, even though I think Oakland mostly just did what they always do. I will say that even if they told Reed to just create for his team, he probably wouldn't excel at that. I've said I don't think he could do as well as others in a situation where he has high usage, needs to create from isolation, etc. Maybe he could become that "Steve Nash" comp (which *keeps* showing up outside ClutchFans for some reason), but I don't think that is likely.
While Hakeem his his late career prime was indeed more skills and talent, when he was drafted he was clearly the raw talent pick. Sheppard's top 1% outcome of the 1984 would not be Olajuwon nor Jordan, both of whom had absolutely everything scouts drool over. His comp would've been Stockton who was drafted 16th. Regardless of whether you agree with teams' drafting methodology over the years, it's clear that Sheppard and Olajuwon are clearly not even remotely close in terms of prospect pedigree. If anything I feel Sheppard is only getting hyped to be #3 is due to modern NBA's emphasis on shooting. I personally wouldn't mind the pick at 3 myself, but I'm not going to say he's a hidden gem that everyone is stupid for overlooking.
We have plenty of big men. We have plenty of wings. What we don't have is a long term PG. Fred is not going to be here very long. While I really hope Amen will be our future PG, it is not a lock. It depends on him developing two things: a reliable outside shot and NBA PG level ball handling. Jalen is also not a lock to be here long term. It depends on him developing two things: a reliable jumper and at least decent defense. The ideal situation is that both Jalen and Amen pan out as we hope. If that's the case, they will be our future backcourt for a long time. If only one of them pans out, Reed will be a perfect guy playing alongside him. Reed as the PG with a star level Jalen will be lethal and Reed can be at least as good as Fred on defense. Reed as the SG with a star level Amen will also be lethal. Amen can guard the bigger guard on the opposing team. If both Jalen and Amen turn out to be star level player, Reed can be a 6th man or if Reed also reaches star level, we can trade one of the three for some star level player for other positions. In summary, our long term PG position is the most unreliable at this point. On top of it, the uncertainty of the Jalen situation calls for getting a guy who is already great at shooting and is also a good defender and dependable, if not elite. passer.
I don't think Jalen and Reed would be a good fit, but Reed could still be a backup (or the other way around). I see Reed as a great fit for Amen. I don't really care about fit until the Rockets know who their star player is so Jalen Green being on team or not likely would not affect whether the Rockets would draft Reed or not.
Never liked Green's shooting mechanics from Day 1, and John Lucas allegedly sped it up.... There is hope that Sheppard delivers. But I think like every year people always hype and glorify said player's high end ceiling... not going to fall for that every darn year around...
I think people do go overboard on upside. That said, unless you get lucky and get Wemby, most rebuilding teams are gambling on upside and failing as the alternative is going after floor which won't be enough (i.e., guaranteed failure) as it is just really hard to win a championship based on depth (unless it is depth of stars).
I know, just wanted it pointed out, it is like the old slave market where your slaves are being promoted... and sold to the highest bidder. I think if you have a player like Sheppard who has high IQ and good fundamentals, then the worst he is a very good role player........that is the so called floor..... As long as his fundamentals are good......so would he...
Round 1 - Pick 9 Reed Sheppard SG KENTUCKY • FR • 6'3" / 181 LBS PROJECTED TEAM Memphis PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st PPG 12.5 RPG 4.1 APG 4.5 3P% 52.1% With Ja Morant on the floor for just nine games, it was a lost season in Memphis. Now, the urgency to win mounts as Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. navigate their primes with big contracts. In this scenario, the Grizzlies might consider trading up to land a multi-year college player such as Knecht, Clingan or Carter. But if not, Sheppard makes sense as a two-way combo guard with a sweet 3-point shot.
So a combination of Steph Curry and Tyrese Haliburton then. Can someone fill me in on whether those guys are any good.
Lmao.....that is the funniest thing we have heard that Reed is a leaper but Curry is not and they are 98% simiilar in Athletic Abilities.
The fit is assuming that the other guy can shoot too. If Green can shoot at at least average efficiency with volume, then Reed as the PG would fit. I see Reed as a better shooting, more athletic version of FVV. Think how good this team was when Jalen played at a very high level in March. I think it would be at least that good if you substitute a mature Sheppard for FVV. The worst case scenario is that Jalen turns out to be his bad version and Amen never develops into PG material. Then Sheppard would need another competent scorer/defender to play alongside him in the backcourt. I guess the point is, Reed Sheppard's skillset fits well with any star player. The only kind of player he wouldn't fit is another small guard in the backcourt.
I don't think it's about "falling" for upside. When you are looking to pick BPA, you have to think about potential. The "P" in BPA is really Potential when you are picking that high.
Bruh I was not talking about BPA, I was talking about the Showboating part of the Draft. Everyone is a sellout ....nobody is highlighting the weaknesses in a big way, which is understandable. Spoiler And if we are talking BPA, there is no concensus, which means the Rockets' BPA can be sligthly different than other teams'. And Stone hopes that it is different.
It's saying their physical attributes like height weight and reach are 98% similar, not their athletic ability. Sheppard is more athletic than Curry.
That's the nature of confirmation bias. Everybody has it. If you like a player, you tend to emphasize his good traits. If you don't like a player, you tend to dismiss his good traits. Both sides are guilty of it.
