When will Reed be placed into the starting lineup?

Reed is a role player and not an offensive hub. He takes what he can get when defenses hone in on the two stars such as a kick out, rotation on perimeter, or driving when there’s a seam.

Why would he take touches away from the two stars who this offense is built around?

 

Reed is not an offensive role player. There is no rotation place in the 2025 NBA for a 6’2” offensive role player that isn’t a plus defender.

You can be Steph or Garland or Trae or CP3, or you can be Payton Pritchard or TJ McConnell. You either start and use the ball a lot, or come off the bench and use the ball a lot.

If Reed is on the floor he needs to be in the primary offensive action often — that’s why he is in the game / in the league. Simply being an off-ball floor spacer doesn’t counterweight the defensive disadvantage.

 

I think those are false dilemmas to a degree.

Like I said in my initial post, why was Fred going down universally viewed as a huge dilemma?
Why is there still a consensus that we need another PG? If FVV didn't get hurt or if we add another PG, then what?

Will Sengun, Amen and KD initiate less? Of course. But they should not be initiating as much as they are right now anyway.

I think you're kind of adding some hyperbole on each of those bullet points....Like Sengun becoming less of a hub to "accomodate Reed"...No...It's because most agree that the starting lineup needs a PG and Sengun would ideally cede some of the ball handling he does to a PG anyways....Not just to "accomodate Reed"

And then "Abandon" Amen as a point forward...Amen can still have plenty of ball handling opportunities when him and Reed aren't on the floor. Why would they completely "abandon" him handling the ball? But yes, Amen needs to handle the ball less out top and he needs to be in the dunker spot and in a position to cut a lot more than he is now.

Also, KD's "touches" won't be "consciously reduced". KD has never been a guy who does a bunch of setting the offense up. For the most part he's played on teams that were set up to have at least two other guys besides himself that touched the ball a lot or initiated the offense more than him. Will KD have less burden to set the offense up? Yes. But that just means he gets the ball more in positions to score instead of trying to do something that has never really been his strong suit.

But again...Will all those aforementioned guys see less touches and have the offense run through them less? Yes, of course....But that is the point.

That's why losing Fred was a big deal in the first place because none of those guys should ideally be running the offense as much as they are right now. Inserting Reed alleviates some of that burden.

 

Agreed, which is why I still think Reed should come off the bench. However, that leaves them with the problem of finding a worthy 5th starter.

There are obvious downsides to starting the double-big lineup with Adams.
Holiday isn't the answer because he's a lesser version of Reed.
When they are available, Tari and DFS will be options. I've recently taken the turn that Tari's injury history prevents him from locking in as the full-time 5th starter. I also love the energy of the Reed/Tari/Adams bench brigade that has inflicted some damage.

Off the cuff conclusion: They should try Okogie again. He is a plus defender that doesn't need usage on offense. The question is would he cause slow starts now that his shooting has dropped off.

Just thinking out loud. Feel free to poke holes.

 

What is your definition of role player?

The Rockets run their offense through 2 players. Sheppard is neither of those players therefore he’s a role player.

Online Definitions: “A role player in basketball specializes in a certain offensive and/or defensive skill set that could ultimately help their respective team win against the opposition.”

“A role player is often the player who comes off the bench. He/she understands and accepts his/her role on the team.”

Sheppard isn’t an iso player. Not great going to the paint consistently. He specializes in shooting 3’s and going to the paint when the attention is away towards the stars or other players or when he has a seam. He is often in lineups with either or both stars. He is a role player. A spoke on the wheel not a hub. Alongside Tari Bari Okogie Adams he fulfills his role as a supporting role player.

 

Reed is going to start sooner or later. They should let the starting unit gel as much as possible. Work out the kinks before the playoffs starts.

I want Reed to handle the ball and initiate more. But I don't want him to play like FVV. He's a shooter. He needs to shoot. He and Sengun can share the responsibilities. Amen can be the third playmaker. After half of the first quarter, they starters can stagger their minutes so that two of Reed, Sengun, Durant, and Amen will always be on the floor.

They'd better practice some plays designed to give Reed open looks. Use multiple (moving ) screens like how GS does for Curry.

 

I don’t get it. The structure of this team is vastly different than any Warrior iteration. We run our offense through a big and a 7ft SF/SG not Sheppard. As previously discussed he’s a role player who is important to space the floor when teams double the stars. He gets shots on kick outs or pindowns or drive when he has the lane or create if there’s no better option. That’s his role. Why is Amen reduced to third playmaker when he can dribble drive into the paint far more consistently than Sheppard?

Curry is the main hub of the Warrior offense not a role player. Are you asking our team to completely change the way we play and implement split action and flares the way the warriors run it?

 

Curry doesn't run their offense on every play. Draymond is the "hub" if you want. But he doesn't run every play either. Why do you have to have a fixed hub? And Sengun is 10 times better than Draymond on offense.

You keep talking about "role player" as if role players have no business initiating the offense. FVV is a role player. He initiated most of our offense when he was on the floor. Even if Reed is a role player as you claim, he can still be the initiator at least some of the times. But you must be one of those people who insist that the only thing Reed can do is shoot and nothing else. Watch him play next time.

 

At their best, Golden State players were constantly moving, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston.....you name them....

They only had to find the open or the better situated man..... well, before they got really Old.

 

Adams is actually the driving force of the whole Udoka led gimmick Offense......not even close.

• Denver has the best player on the Planet in Jokic
• Thunder have actually a full team of 2 way defensive monsters and 3 star players......that is why they are better.
• The Pistons are on par because their young core is really good.

 

And he SUCKS at offense, he should come off the bench.

DD

 

No Draymond isn’t a hub. He isn’t a main contributor on offense. To be hub, the offense runs through you or built around you as you are the main scorer. You must not understand the concept of what hub and role players mean or your definitions are vastly different from common understanding of these terms.

The offense is built for Curry through split actions, flares, and stagger screens etc. Our offense isn’t. We play an iso heavy offense this year with the two stars. You said you want Sheppard to be a second playmaker and initiator over both Amen and Durant. How is this feasible when both those guys can get to the rim or iso better than he can? What do you mean by initiate? Are you are strictly talking about pick and rolls?

our team hasn’t even played heavy pick and roll as we have last 2 years for whatever reason. Likely because Durant and Sengun are good iso guys that can draw a lot of attention.

Fred did 3 things. High screen roll, dumped to Sengun, or tried to find a seam/open man when all main options are not there. Besides Sheppard isn’t a natural point like Fred. He’s a scoring combo guard. I trust Udoka knows what he’s doing and probably sees much more than you and me.

You must also not have read what I wrote. I listed specifically what his role and capabilities are on this team. Maybe your emotional attachment to this player is interfering with your objectivity.

 

I mean if Reed is really this good of a shooter perhaps the team can run more plays for him? Lol is that allowed under your rules? I mean I’d rather have him take a few more shots and have Sengun take a few less of those flamingo fadeaways that never go in. Set a pick or two for Reed and get him open and let’s have him take more shots. He currently looks like he may be a top 2 shooter in the whole league right after Curry. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a dumb idea to get him a few more shots, don’t you think? Lol

 

You need to Stop being snarky and childish. I said nothing about my rules. These are my observations and understanding of the game as you have yours.

@Easy mentioned Curry and the Warriors. As I said these are two different offensive systems.

Ours is built on iso with the two stars and our third option is Amen with dribble drives or playing around the rim. These players open up the halfcourt for shooters. That’s how Sheppard gets his shots through ball rotation.

He also handles the ball a lot or “initiates” already usually off a high screen which he opts to shoot often. To play the way the Warriors play means to design a completely different offense that uses constant screens and off ball movement. Our personnel is built for those 2 stars who play heavy high or mid post. 2 different systems.

 

You still didn’t even answer my question. We don’t have to redesign the offense completely. All I said is do you not think it would be wise to try to get one of the best 2-3 shooters in the whole league a few extra shots per game? Instead of Sengun heave of one foot as the clock expires wouldn’t it be a solid idea to try to set a pick or two and get Reed open for a shot?

He is shooting absolutely insane percentages now. Do you think it behooves the team to try to get him a few more shots? It’s a simple question man. You don’t have to give me this BS about the golden state system for Curry….

Do you think it makes sense for the Rockets to get a top shooter in the whole league a few more shots per game? Or do you not think that makes sense?

 

Excellent points. I think opponents have answered the questions. If we observe the opponents' defensive schemes, they swarm either Alpi or KD when they get the ball. It has been easy for opponents to dissect the Rockets' offense because they know that when Alpi gets the ball, he either tries to drive through the phalanx of defenders that makes him turn over the ball or make hit or miss difficult shots. His other tendency is to pass to KD, who, in turn, gets immediately swarmed with the same results as Alpi.

The coaches and both Alpi and KD need to understand this defensive scheme from opponents that have shown to have some degree of effectiveness. I believe that the way to counter this scheme and to relieve some pressure off of Alpi and KD is for them to consciously make quick outlet passes to their outside shooters to make defenses honest. They also need to make quicker and more decisive moves once they get the ball. Ime should study opponents' defensive schemes and make the necessary adjustments to their offense to counter those schemes, especially the defensive swarming of the two major stars.

 

Calm down. You’re not making any money off your opinions. Sheppard doesn’t think about you each night.

Now What does Few extra shots a game mean? This makes little sense to me. Explain to me exactly what that means? You mentioned screens. You specifically said a screen or two.

• What kind of screens?
• How will this be implemented?
• How does this affect our offensive sets?
• How will our offense run?
• And what about other shooters?
• Are we implementing same screens for them as well?
• What if play breaks down what’s the next option?
• How many teams implement specific shooting plays for one role player?
• explain to me logically how to implement this with our roster and style of play.

I also already explained to you the type of system they run whether you accept that or not that’s on you. You also must not have been watching since Sheppard already comes off up and down screens and drags to get open. Most of the time he is spread out but he already is playing with screens.

 

Man, people's OCD is out of control. No you don't have to follow an older blueprint like it's universal law lol

If we start Reed he can be on ball sometimes and off ball the rest of the time - sharing the PG duties with Amen and Durant. His defensive assignment will be easier playing next to Amen so you don't have as big a negative to make up. If it doesn't work you tweak or change it or bench him. If it does work you stick to it.

I'm not ready for him to start though until I see his handle and passing get a little bit tighter. I also want to see how he mentally reacts to his percentages normalizing and having bad shooting nights. Maybe another ten games.

 

Who said anything about laws? Funny thing is some people are complaining that he doesn’t “initiate” the offense. Please re watch the Den game. He’s already had drags ran for him and down screens etc. But to compare him to Curry and how Warriors play makes little sense. 2 different systems. This is the context of the conversation

 

Apparently we don't have the same definition of a hub. Whatever. You seem to think that every play of the offense has to do with the star player. What if the team has two or more star players? Do you have to pick one and design the whole offense for him?