As a follow up, I really think Collier is the backup point guard we desperately need. Dude is really good at making good passes, while still has lots of potential to be developed.
I mean, at this point it feels like he's not going to do much of anything this season. He's not NBA ready in the slightest, and it's looking like he was a monumental mistake to reach for at 3. Having said that, he's still a good prospect who might be able to turn it around somewhere down the line if his confidence hasn't been completely destroyed yet. He's a G Leaguer, and that's where he should be right now if the Rockets really want to win. He shouldn't be taking minutes from basically anyone at this point.
For what it’s worth, I thought it was one of his best games of the season. He wasn’t hesitant to shoot and even took a shot inside the three point line.
He has the same problem as Cam, needs playing time.....consistent every game playing time, let him learn. DD
I think it's clear Ime won't allow him to do anything this season, it's clear he landed in just about the worst spot possible for his early development being on a team with a coach that has no interest whatsoever in developing any more players. Now that doesn't mean he won't ultimately develop on his own despite not being able to play anywhere, he has shown that he has the talent to pull it off, it just means he's at at significant disadvantage.
I kinda agree with that, but at the same time Ime wants to win right now. Playing Reed at all doesn't really help with that goal unless it's in garbage time. I want him to play, I still believe in the dude, but the fact that he's getting even the minutes he does from Udoka is kind of surprising considering the results. It's definitely not an ideal situation for Reed.
Ime wanting to win now is a bit of a problem - this is where strong leadership can step in as the org and say, we want to see Cam and Reed every game for at least 15 minutes a game. And it is up to Ime to make that happen. We are still a developing team, and we have no clue about some of our pieces because they are blocked by other players, we needed FVV and Brooks when we signed them, we still do, but now they are in the way of our future......they should have had their minutes reduced to allow Reed and Cam to play.....that is how we become a contender faster. We aren't winning a ring with FVV and Brooks starting. DD
Not bashing the dude because I think he'll be an important piece in the next few years... But how so many folks wanna just give him minutes in the home stretch of a playoff push is beyond me... His strength is shooting and he's not doing it, even at an average level.. I wouldn't give him minutes either.. For what? Development? Do that in the offseason and beginning of next year..
There's really no valid reason to NOT give him minutes given who else is on the team. Giving minutes to Aaron Holiday not only does nothing for the team going forward, it actively harms the team right now. If the team was just so talented that there were no minutes available, that would be one thing, but when you are playing absolute scrubs like Holiday and Tate instead of the future at the PG spot, it's just dumb AND counterproductive both in the immediate term and for the future.
Reed is playing like trash, but we know that Holiday is definitely trash, outside of the GS game. The difference is one is an NBA journeyman who is closing in on 30, while the other is a high draft pick in his rookie season. If they don’t have any confidence in Reed, really should’ve gone out and gotten a backup PG at the deadline. If they think he’s part of the future core, Holiday needs to sit his butt on the bench and they need to let Reed play through his mistakes. If they aren’t sure what to do with him other than 5 minutes of random burn here and there, send him to the G league and just let him be the #1 option for an extended period of time (not 3 games like last time).
“It’s a developmental year. We want to see what we have.” “In fact, we’re not going to make any trades!” “We’re not winning a ring anyways.” . . . “We’re in win now mode! We don’t have time for Cam or Reed!” If they’re in win now mode and the time is now!, you can’t defend Stone not making a trade for help. $40M in expiring/non-guaranteed contracts. Jaden Springer? Cody Zeller? If they’re not in win now mode and “we’re not winning a championship anyways”, can’t defend Udoka playing Holiday and Tate and nobodies who won’t be here in a year. Not gonna play him but not gonna send him down to play either (because “being around with da boyz is valuable experience! Watching practice is helpful!”) Reed wishing he got his wish to go to San Antonio.
BTG, I get that sentiment.. I'm not gonna sit here and pretend like Holiday is greatly better, even at this point of Reed's current play.. I just feel because he's a rookie that's struggling, he shouldn't just be thrown into the rotation because he needs to get up shots.. Now if it's garbage time, go for it.. My question is , do ya truly feel that he should get PT or is it primarily because of who is playing in front of him? If it's the latter, then that's on the GM more than the coach IMO.. Ime basically has to pick the lesser of 2 evils unfortunately .. Go with the vet that may or may not have good moments or the rook that may or may not have good moments.. Not to mention during a playoff push. But I will agree that Holiday should never get more than 10 minutes sans being hot, unless the whole backcourt has the flu.. They really should bring in another PG, even if he another journeyman.. I'd be ecstatic for an Ish Smith type that won't be jacking up shots simply because the offense , or lack thereof, dictates so..
I'm not going to say I like the fact that Reed is getting zero playing time, especially in a year in which they folded at the deadline in order to see what this young core can do. I mean if you're going to give up on the playoffs, why not see what Sheppard can do? That said, Aaron Holiday has clearly played better than him. Holiday has played like a low-end backup. Reed has played like a guy who doesn't belong in the NBA.
He shows tantalizing flashes, like that quick-release 3 he knocked down last night. But if he misses the next shot it looks like his confidence evaporates. His defense was not bad last night. He needs an off-season of heavy work (and maybe anabolic steroids and growth hormone?) and workouts with Chris Paul. Let's be patient, and hope our patience is rewarded.
I guess the way I look at it, if players are roughly equivalent, you ALWAYS go with the younger guy over the older journeyman about to be out of the league entirely. I feel like a lot of Reed's problems have to do with how he's been handled. He knows Ime is looking for any excuse to yank him from the game and not give him another shot. That's just about the worst thing that can happen to the confidence of a rookie. As to your other question, I think he should get playing time for both reasons. He's the guy that should be the future at PG on the team, AND there's no competent players ahead of him. I think if the Rockets had a coach that was interested in the team's best interest going forward rather than short term on paper success, Sheppard would have gotten solid playing time from day one and would look A LOT better right now than he does in his few token minutes before Ime pulls him. I think in that scenario, the Rockets have a better record right now than they do and their ceiling is higher. Due to that mismanagement, the team is fully dependent on FVV getting heavy minutes and staying healthy or they might not even be a playoff team THIS season.
Here the thing … We’re losing anyways by playing Holiday because he’s garbage and hit his ceiling years ago. People being like “bUt HoLiDaY iS pLaYiNG bEtTeR tHaN rEeD”, yeah no **** he’s a 30-year-old vet while Reed is the teenager we spent the 3rd pick on yet we’re not developing. Anyone other than Ime would be giving Holiday’s minutes to either Reed or Cam. And yes this is specifically an Ime issue because guys like Cam and Reed have much shorter leashes than guys like Holiday. Remember, it took Jabari having an injury for him to “give” Amen the chance to breakout. Ime is good at some things but horrible at others.
I actually liked what i saw last night on from Reed tbh. He was being aggressive with a quick trigger release on the few shots he did take, and while he didnt shoot well i like to see that confidence as its been something he has lacked all season. On defense he was getting cooked and blown by but he still had some nice moments of recovery use of hands. I honestly thought he deserved more minutes in the 2nd half over holiday for sure.
Noticed this a while ago, but last night it especially stood out... When Reed is in the game, anytime he misses a shot, or makes a mistake he immediately looks toward our bench to see if a sub is coming in for him... See if ya'll notice this next time he plays...
