I think all our young players have been subject to it at one time or another, but I think Reed is currently being over analyzed because people are hyper-focused on him. I went back and looked at the game and I don't think Reed picks up his dribble any more than other players do. Also, not once when he picked up his dribble in this game did it result in a turnover. There are plenty of examples, but these are just some examples from last game:
Continued from previous post... Here is one of the times Reed did it: In this game though, when he picked up his dribble, much like the other players he was able to find or hit the open man within a second or two. I know Reed has had some bad turnovers in his pro career and that Dallas stretch is etched into everyone's mind. BUT overall, this year he has the highest ast/to ratio on the team out of guys who regularly play, Only JD Davison has a higher asst/TO ratio but he's been mostly a garbage time player: I know Sengun does a lot for this team, but this past game he led the team with 6 To's with only 4 assists. That's not a knock on Sengun at all, but just an example I think of being hyper focused on a guy like Reed who had 0 Turnovers and leads the team in assist to turnover ratio being criticized for his penchant for turning the ball over.
I noticed this one in the game too. The zero left hand. I can see if he doesnt want to get trapped on the left baseline. But he could have went left side earlier here, and drove into the paint the same way he ended up doing, without all the other wasted motions. But then when he did drive in paint using left hand, the handle was shaky even doing that. To me, that is something to keep an eye on.
I’m focused on the decision making not the TO’s. The overdribbling. The jacking up shots from deep. Off balanced low% leaners. Awareness of the clock and situations. I will post examples later. Some of it is likely experience. But again my concern is playing a young developmental guy big minutes who barely played last year on a team that’s trying to win now. Seems contradictory to what they’re trying to achieve.
Thank you for looking into it, i never really saw Reed turnover the ball much when he picked up his dribble so i thought the comment "often turns it over" was a bullshit generalisation. Like i said, from the eye test I believe Reed has one of the lower turnover rates and probably has one of the higher Assist to turnover ratio in the team. They are probably confusing Reed's turnovers with JG's cause i DO remember JG turning it over often once he picked up his dribble LOL
It’s uncanny how fast he makes the second pass, often from distance and right on the money. He always knows where the next man is.
Great post. This is what we need more of, a good argument with receipts. A few thoughts: 1. The Lakers were especially weak at pressuring the ball handler, so it’s his least likely game for turnovers 2. He does try to avoid turnovers, and this seems to be why he picks up the dribble. But the price is stalling the offense, requiring a bailout, and burning clock 3. But yes, his assist-turnover ratio is good because he’s a generous passer and really good at it.
"Often" is relative. In this case, it's compared to if he didn't pick up the dribble. And some of the turnovers might not be charged on him. But you can see when he picks up the dribble without any plan, his teammates have to scramble to help, which creates chaos for that possession. Turnover "often" happens when your offense becomes chaotic.
Agreed. There are times id like to see him probe more and not pick up the ball just because he's being crowded. There was also a clip I didnt post, but can later where I thought he OVERdribbled and had a middy he could've taken but dribbled out.
Thanks for the clips. Yes, I might be overanalyzing Reed's game because I am a big fan and hope he does well. That said, there are different kinds of picking up the dribble. Of course every player does it at some times, especially if you are the main ball handler. A lot of the Luka's instances, for example, happened when he planned on making a pass but the teammate was not open as was expected. It's not the same as when the guy picks up the dribble simply because he is being pressured or because he is stuck. Amen is guilty of it when he drives toward the basket and is met with a wall of defender there.
Reed needs to work on his handle 24/7, it’s the main thing keeping him away from playing meaningful minutes every game (sure, the argument can be made about his defense too, but I think that’s improving a little at s time). What turned Steph Curry from basically another JJ Redick coming out of college to a superstar was when Steph worked his ball handling skills to becoming top tier in the league, like almost Kyrie-level. Reed with the ability to handle the rock under pressure and consistently create shots for himself and his teammates would be a scary thought for opposing teams.
Thanks for all the videos of him dribbling with his left with no pressure. While I wasn’t specific, I thought it was implied that I meant dribbling with purpose. Bringing the ball up with your left isn’t hard. But he repeatedly kept trying to go back to his right at the top left side of the court when they were giving him an angle to go left.
Yes! I remember that. This is where I think of CP3. Reed is at the stage where he looks in, sees a spot where he thinks he can shoot, and uses a screen and maybe a juke to get there. He goes in with a plan. He's not yet at the stage where he feels comfortable going into the tall trees, having no immediate shot option, and creating one with contact or a move. Basically not comfortable with improvising. Which is understandable when you don't yet trust your handle.
In some of those Luka clips he picked it up with no plan when he was pressured by a good defender...but I do think it looks different/isnt as big of a deal when he does it because hes 6'7" and burly and can get passes over or around defenders easier. Kinda the same thing with Amen. And ill be honest, the times I saw Reed pick up his dribble in this past game wasnt due to pressure really. Looked like how you said with Luka that he was planning on making a pass already. That said, I do agree that in games this season he has picked it up due to pressure.
Well it wasnt implied since you said he refused to go left. None of the clips I posted was about him bringing the ball up with his left. They were about what he did in the half court. Yes, he did try to go back right a few times when he was on the left side of the court but thats what he should do...he just was t successful at it. He was trying to get back to the middle of the court because they were trying to trap him against the sideline...they weren't just "giving him the left"... And in the clip i posted where he was top right, they didnt try to turn him to the sideline and he went left all the way to the rim for a layup. And tbh I still dont know what you meant now since you added a bunch of new qualifiers now...some of which is negated by video evidence.
People are over thinking this. Sheppard is trying to fit in with a demanding coach, a top 10 all timer, and other young and emerging players. Most of the time his defense is fine. He can improve in some areas - and likely will but it’s a process.
