(ESPN) Jeremy Woo: Rockets have interest in Sheppard, with both the FO and ownership intrigued

Muggsy Bogues at 5’3, 136. Doesn't even sound right

 

I do think that in the regular season, it *probably* won't matter a ton, especially if Reed makes some improvements there (especially in terms of strength, technique, etc).

I do think that in the playoffs (especially deeper runs), Reed will be targeted heavily, and I don't know how he'll be able to handle some of those matchups. Maybe he's just draining 6+ 3s a game, so it won't matter, but I think it will be a weak point on the defense. It is good you should have guys like Amen, Tari, Jabari, etc., to help out, but I think there's only so much you can do there (especially without a crazy rim protector...and I love Sengun).

I guess if that's the biggest issue (i.e., "oh no, he will only take you deep in the playoffs but never win a NBA Final!"), that's a good problem to have.

 

If Sheppard is targeted heavily, that's good news for guys like Sengun, Amen, and Cam.

A teammate having that kind of gravity would greatly help everyone else on the team.

 

Kidd was known for being an oversized point guard who could defend multiple positions. I don't think he's a great comp for Reed. Fair enough on Nash

 

Nash, Stockton, A. Miller, Price....

DD

 

Not saying Reed is Steph, but coming out of college the same exact things were being said about Steph.

 

To be clear, when I mean targeted, I mean targeted when on defense. As in guys like ANT, Luka, etc., will run ball screens that try to force the Rockets to have Reed guarding those guys. The Rockets can try to peel switch and scheme for that, but I think there's only so much you can do (especially to minimize mistakes/confusion). Ultimately, someone like Reed will likely have to defend a high end scorer like that. If you want to go far in the playoffs with someone like Reed getting major minutes, he will need to prove that he can somewhat handle those matchups. Obviously even the best defenders can't stop those guys, but if Reed is just giving up points way too easily, then that will be a big problem.

Unless like I said he's scoring 40+ points on the other side on 70% TS or something like that against top 5 defenses. If that's the case, then yeah who cares. And actually...to be a bit more serious/realistic, perhaps a good offense is the best way to defend those high level scorers (as non-intuitive as that sounds). *shrug*

I do think Reed's gravity on offense has the potential to help the other guys a lot though. You can almost make it 4v4 in some ways (with Reed just being a decoy 25-30 feet from the basket). Sound familiar to anyone?

 

I don't think he's the guy that would be targeted on defense, he's got lightning fast hands and a really high BBIQ, he was good defensively in college and should be solid in the NBA. He's not Rob Dillingham.

Right now, the guys who would be targeted on defense would be Jalen and Cam since they'd be the weakest defensive guys in the rotation.

 

Kidd is bigger for sure, Kidd's real height is 6'2.5 and he was listed at 6'4 just like how Charles Barkley's real height is 6'4.5 but he was listed as 6'6 and Olajuwon was something like 6'9 or 6'10 and listed at 7'0.

The league was just smaller back then so a PG that was 3/4 of an inch taller than Sheppard was seen as oversized.

 

The switch hunting is way overblown. When we play Luka, ANT last season Brooks, Amen were their primary defenders. I don't remember many possessions where Jalen Green was hunted on switches. Hunting for switches takes a lot of time off the shot clock and doesn't always work, especially when the other team is prepared. We literally have a 6'0 starting PG on our team right now, and it's not like our defense breaks down

 

Met him & his sister in BMo... I am barely 6'0" and I felt like I towered over them.

That man was lightning quick tho.

 

Rob and Reed will both be targeted in the NBA due to their size (and in Reed's case, possibly a lack of lateral quickness). Reed has a leg up because of the things you mentioned, plus Rob just simply gave up on plays way more. Reed should be given credit in that at least his motor and effort were pretty much always there even when he was making big mistakes on defense.

Maybe we agree to disagree, but I think if guys like Mike Conley are being targeted in the playoffs, Reed will be too. I'm optimistic he is good enough to make it work, but his size is really an issue (especially if he doesn't add some strength and continues to shy away from physicality).

I don't disagree that Jalen might be targeted too, though he's getting a bit bigger and did OK-ish in some things on defense this past year. I do think if he doesn't improve much more so, then you probably don't want to put out a defense in the playoffs that involves giving Reed and Jalen a ton of minutes (especially given Sengun's limitations). Unless those guys are just phenomenal on offense.

Cam I think actually will be fine long-term, especially if we're talking about on-ball defense. His off-ball defense is...probably not the best right now (and he can be targeted in that way), but I don't think teams will be trying to get Cam in mismatch situations (because more often than not, *he* will actually have the mismatch advantage physically).

I did clarify in another post that I think it will probably be fine in the regular season. Like you mentioned, I don't think teams do as much hunting during the regular season. I do think it is much more of an issue in the playoffs though (and I'm pretty sure those later rounds showed that).

As for FVV, I do agree that things don't break down with him during the season, and I think even if he was targeted in the playoffs, he is so strong and physical that he's able to make it work. FVV on defense is basically what I'm hoping Reed could turn out to be, but that would involve adding a lot of weight/strength, becoming much more physical, having the experience/IQ that FVV has, etc. Reed is a bit taller and possibly more athletic, so he has that going for him too. Certainly possible, but that would be on the upper end of his outcomes (and likely not happen for several years).

I know I've said it like 50+ times, but I still remember FVV just ripping the ball away from Jarrett Allen on one such mismatch during the season. Also saw him give Paolo fits too. I'm not really making any point about this other than FVV truly is awesome in his own ways.

 

LOL

One of the most ignorant statements I've ever read here. Uhhhhh maybe the dude that's the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals.

Do you even watch basketball???

 

If he’s the second coming of Mark Price that would be amazing.

I said MARK, BB Gods not Brent ok?!

 

I feel most of the worried posters are imagining another Matt Maloney debacle.

 

draft reed sheppard and call it a day. i'm not ecstatic about whoever we draft but just draft the best shooter and hope for the best.

 

Because he is out of their draft pick range, duh.

 

Not Atlanta, Washington and SA. Plus, no team is going nuts trying to trading up to get his generational shooting on their team either. They are for Risacher and Clingan though. Multiple teams.

 

Excellent.