Not sure there is much to criticize about Sheppard. I'm really shocked that there is much discussion at all about his future. He looks like a solid player that makes the right plays, he also plays smart on the defensive end, and when he is able to get some more shots up in the future, I imagine he is going to be making them at a high clip. Ime just needs to give him more minutes and stop playing Fred so much.
I suspect it’s a few things… one, if you watch the box score, you probably think he’s a bust. Open the box score, 2 points on 1/3 or 3 points on 1/2 or even last night, 7 points on 3/8. Doesn’t jump off the page. I think many were expecting a Jalen like 17 ppg in his rookie season, as a 3rd pick. But, it’s not his fault. This team is very different than the 2021 Rockets. There’s a lot of talent, it’s a deep team, and we have playoff hopes. He’s barely gotten any burn and it’s tough coming in for 4 minutes, getting 2 shots, and then see ya next game. If you watch the games, you see what a smart player he is, making good decisions and looking for the right play. He just isn’t out there jacking up shots in the first 5 games of his nba career, a la Cam. That’s ok, he’s finding his spots and getting used to the speed of the game. I think people were thinking he was going to come into the nba and shoot 50% from 3. Which is unrealistic, even with regular minutes. If he gets regular minutes, I think he will be around 40% this year. He’s actually at 36% right now, on basically no regular playing time. When you get 1 attempt from 3 per game, that’s tough. Even his misses are right on, though. His form is pure. He’s not bricking, those shots are all right on line. He will be fine, and will be a fantastic shooter in his career. I also like his mid range shot, when he shoots it coming downhill or off a screen. Smart, savvy defender, even though he’s undersized. He will be just fine.
His misses are dead-center, rimming out. It's a matter of centimeters, which is a comfort thing. I feel like it gets better with more minutes and more volume. They really need the shooting, so I hope he gets it going.
he's going to be unlocked when he gets confidence to let the jumper fly instead of looking like the scared freshmen afraid to piss off the seniors.
Wierd vibe in this thread. The kid's shot SHOULD be dead-center. He SHOULD be expected to hit open shots. He SHOULD possess all of the little intangible that you're giving him credit for possessing. You don't get drafted #3, at 6'1", w/out having all of that on lock. What do you think got him drafted at 3? His playmaking? His athleticism? His rebounding and rim protection? No - it's all the things you guys are listing as almost surprisingly impressive lol I hope he will be great. But a bunch of people sitting there like, "golly that little guy does all the little things right"....wake up. If you're impressed he does those things right then it's criminal he was drafted at #3 b/c a 6'1" guy who doesn't do all those things goes undrafted most of the time. My hope is that by February/March he's a solid 12 mpg on good efficiency w/ an occasional 18-20 min game where he catches fire and carries the second unit b/c he certainly has that potential w/ his shot. I'd love more but I want to be realistic.
This post is absurd. It’s not that he’s displaying these traits; it’s that he’s displaying them so early in his NBA career. Perhaps learn a thing or two about NBA rookie development before posting such drivel.
How is that sensible? Why would I put his face on kneepads that face the floor? If you’re gonna be vulgar, at least make sense.
Just following your lead on the personal insults. And I think you know exactly how it works sister. No, don't draw me a diagram. Out here acting like he has projectable parts of his game like these long, athletic, wings and front-court players that are a staple of the top 3. No, he should be more advanced in other areas than them right now. That's why he was drafted where he was. Small guards have far less projectability to their game. That's NBADraft 101 ace. Want to know Reed's comp in the last 5-6 years? Tre Young and a distant second would be Scoot. Reed is miles behind Tre at this point although clearly ahead of Scoot in several critical areas. I can't believe I actually helped you out w/ more information after the way you engaged but here you go.
He doesn't get enough minutes. Of course it matters the little things he does. Even in the offense, there aren't many plays ran for him and as other have mentioned, he is usually having to create his own **** for the few minutes he is in there. There isn't much to judge right now but the little things, so as long as he keeps that up we should be fine. EDIT: I'll judge him harden once he gets some real minutes. Ime really has to think about FVV long term and stop playing him so damn much.
Personally insult me all you want. But you didn’t answer my question. I’d want that beautiful mustachioed face front-and-center, not on kneepads.
Wait, am I using the kneepads as I…you know…with Sheppard? If so, why would I need his face on the pads themselves? The whole premise confuses me.
I agree with your post. I'm not saying the little things don't check a box or that they don't matter. They absolutely do. My argument is moreso that's an expectation vs some magical reality that the Rockets and the League didn't expect a tiny guard lacking playmaking pedigree to possess in spades. I love his hustle on D. That's the type of thing you can't simply expect. That's want and desire. I'm not impressed by what I expect. I'm impressed by what surprises.
You're overthinking the PG and SG positions in this offense. Cam was benched because he doesn't play intelligently and is 1/16 from long range. If he can't hit from 3, he's not a rotation player. I'm not a Reed fanatic like some, but I believe in him long term. If Reed is already near-equal or better than Cam, Cam doesn't have much of a future here because I expect Reed's rate of improvement will far exceed his this season. But there is a long way to go. Cam needs that 40% to return and he'll be fine.
He played 14 minutes and ran PG against a title contender. He's learning and playing at his pace. If he was on a worse team he'd be averaging way more on good efficiency in losses. He's played more than Cam Whitmore playing a much harder position.
Weird summary of the vibe of the thread. From what I see, it is: Rosolian and a few others: "Sheppard is a disappointment" Reasonable fans: "No, he's doing exactly what you'd expect for his maturity" You: "Why are you so happy that he's doing what you'd expect?" The context matters - we are pointing out to those who have an almost irrational dislike of him that he has been exactly what we expected and should progress to what we need. I don't think anyone is amazed by anything he has done.
"His misses are dead center" "His form is pure" I think you overlooked the excuses rolling in. This is what I addressed. Once you enter the excuse making phase for a dead-eye shooter who is missing wide-open looks you're babying him and not holding him accountable. Reed doesn't need anyone to do that. Do you think he finds comfort in missing close? No, of course not. It's a bit perplexing that some fans do. This attitude ignores the fact that his incredible shooting was the primary reason he was drafted so high. That's the vibe I addressed.
