Reed Sheppard's Defense

Why bother spending that much time writing completely made up narratives with no grounding in reality? You're not adding anything to the forum at all, it's just chaff with no substance.

 

You’re right, but you can also not be too non-factor on offense despite being a slightly better than average defender.. and for some reason Ime plays too much with this type of players, while drying out Reed. This time he opened with A.Holiday against Sac was probably the worst example of this.

 

The problem is, we are missing Dillon Brooks. They were hoping DFS would bring the same intensity but he hasn't thus far.

And Jabari is having to do the same things as Amen. Guarding the wings but manning the interior too, when Sengun is in the game.

Last yr, everybody was able to play their own man, except Sengun, which made it easier. Now they have more leaks defensively, which makes it harder both mentally and physically.

 

I think there is a place for Reed but I would not play him too much with Sengun. That's where I think Ime is messing up at.

If you notice, last night he kept them both in going down the stretch and they lost the lead. Then he tried to change it up in OT but the damage was done.

 

@dmoneybangbang

I told you

 

Well yeah I can relate to this argument. I think that Sengun played a little-bit too much minutes last night, while Reed should have got more.

 

I would not give a damn on not playing him if he’s defensively inconsistent AND consistently has a negative impact.

But NUMBERS DO NOT LIE.

 

This is a great point. Kyle Lowry and Chris Paul were also tiny but they were good defenders because they pushed what they could get away with. Little guys get more leeway with poking and slapping. Also, since he's so light and people want to back him down, he has to learn to pull the chair or flop for charges.

 

Honestly - charting out just that little 6 minute clip there, the most glaring issue was KD TOs turning into automatic Sixers points - that ultimately decided the game because each one turned into uncontested buckets(aside from a bad Jabari foul 'and one').

Alpi had a few bad plays there(especially earlier in the game)....he did struggle to contain Maxey off of Embid Screens but those mostly amounted to tough floaters in the lane so would love to see Alpi do better there, but Maxey is just too fast for almost all guys big enough to guard Embid so I can't totally fault that on Sengun so much. There was also a few plays where Houston probably could have done more to stop Maxey/Embid with the ball to close out the game but it appeared they were playing a "prevent" defense to not allow 3s so for instance Tari is not in a position to actually deter Maxey on a drive because he is shaded too close to the wing shooter....I think in instances like that where Maxey and Embid are putting up nearly all the points - you probably should help off of shooters and force someone else to beat you. It felt like Udoka trusted his guys to contain one on one but Maxey is a particularly tough assignment and Philly was able to get Amen/Tari off him and guys like Okogie are just not going to get it done. Houston's switchable lineups come with a bit of an asterisks because the reality is, they have a couple of guys who can legit hang with guards on the perimeter, but most of our guys are much more adept at switching to taller/slower players than smaller quicker ones. Okogie and DFS are more 3-5 switchable with a handful of slower 1s and 2s thrown in there.

...but to your point - I didn't necessarily see Reed allowing much there.

 

The rockets don’t need a pg. they need another shooting guard and they need to defer more to Amen to run the offense

 

If you’re the guy the other team targets when you’re in the game, you’re likely the weak-link defender on your team. Sure, matchups play a big part, but there’s a reason teams pick on you.

Reed was okay in college because his great reflexes and exceptionally quick hands were tools enough to get the job done very well on D. In the NBA, he quickly learned that he would need to learn to play a more physical style and not rely solely on those quick hands — especially with Ime as the coach.

He’ll get there in time. Until then, the quick hands (and the shooting) make up for his deficiencies. It’s tough to watch when he gets abused, but it’s also awesome to see the looks on some of those guys when he picks their pocket.

 

To be fair, Sengun objectively produces more than Reed per 36 so his defensive liabilities are more tolerable.

 

So players can just sag off Amen?

I think there’s a reason why most of the two man game doesn’t involve Amen. His lack of shooting prevents him from being the type of player you keep insisting he should be

 

He gets into the lane at will. 9 assists last game with 1 turnover. He is shooting his middies very well thank you and getting to the line. When Reed and company are hitting their 3’s, the spacing is great and Amen makes the most of it. Durant is a much bigger problem with spacing than Amen. This is not a 1 game phenomenon. He is clearly turning the corner as a pg. We are not running pick and rolls with anyone. That is on Ime. You guys have made up your mind about Amen, regardless of the facts of his progression after 40 games. You will see.

 

It's just amazing how some basketball fans can be so passionate about the game, but also so clueless about the actual gameplay & strategy.

It's just objectively accurate that nearly every single team on offense schemes to go directly at Reed when he's on the court. Its easier to spot that a pick and roll.

People want to get mad a Clutch or Tim McMahon or whomever because they feel that Reed is being unfairly analyzed. It just shows how little fans actually understand the game that they watch, or just so blinded by their own emotions to not see what is right in front of them.

Get a grip people. Reed is objectively hunted on defense for a reason. No that does not mean he won't be a good player down the line, and no that does not mean that anyone is praising Ime for benching Reed down the stretch. But the defense is a real thing objectively. Don't get mad at us. Get mad at nearly every NBA coach who has played the Rockets this year as well.

 

I believe my eyes over the defensive stats with Reed. The guy is just awful defensively when he isn’t getting a steal or block (which is usually when he is helping)

 

The opposing team targets him when he comes in. We have to do better scheming around that. Other than that, it's fine.

 

Because defenses sag off Amen. He is objectively shooting worse from 3-10 feet, by a small margin, and way worse from 10-16 compared to last season. His free throw % is the biggest jump and bright spot while he still gets the same amount of FT as last season. He has marginally improved his assist rate, but it's close to the same as last season.

I haven't made my mind up on Amen.... I think you have. I just don't see what you are seeing in regards to playmaking or being a "PG".... the basketball reference numbers don't really back up some big jump in playmaking..... I definitely think you underestimate what it takes to be a "PG" or run an offense which is why you were always so hard on FVV.

 

And I feel like that is the issue.... We essentially have it schemed to play a more frenetic, switching defense when Reed is on the floor because he will get blown by on the point of attack that causes the defense to scramble.

It will definitely be a cat and mouse game because Reed will be the player who will be mercilessly targeted on defense.

 

I suggest you guys go read this thread:
https://bbs.clutchfans.net/threads/reed-sheppard-report-card.327622/

No, it's not from an expert. (Who is an expert on this board anyway? 99% of posts are nothing other than their own subjective opinions?) @Will at least pays full attention on how the guy plays and attempt to make some observations, good or bad.

The fact is, Reed is not consistently good but he isn't consistently bad either. The Rockets defense isn't a sieve when he is on the floor. Do teams try to attack him? Yes. Does that happen every play. Of course not. Only the most incompetent offensive coaching would do the same thing every time. People just like to exaggerate to build a narrative.

You can nitpick even the best defender in the world how he got beat time and time again. This is the NBA. No one can consistently shut down every attack. Confirmation bias is a real thing and everybody is guilt of it. You see what you already believe.