90% of the time he has played I have always come away, thinking he’s been a positive. Maybe not in hitting his shots but in playing the right way. There have been some times when I could see the benefit to having a giant like Clingan or a POA guy with potential like Castle instead. one of the podcasts before the draft talked about don’t take Shepherd unless you’re prepared to try to mold him into a point guard. I think that is what is going on, mostly behind the scenes. I expect his athletic prowess to raise a couple levels over the next two years. So I’m content who is the pic and I do believe it was the right decision. I could see the benefit of him being sent to the G league. That being said he probably is a role player on this roster for the next two or three years so maybe they are just trying to get him settled in there. Whitmore is also obviously a role player on the roster, but I think his G league time was more important because if we do give up on Green next year, there is a chance that we slide Can into the role of perimeter option number one. Not to mention even his role right now is to come in and attack.
I actually don't get annoyed at Sheppard's box score so much as when I'm actually watching him. Because when you watch him you feel he's very limited. He passes up looks that you typically expect a shooter to take. He doesn't really do off the dribble 3s. His penetration and mid-range game is non-existent after his summer league stint. If he didn't have the #3 pick pedigree and all you know is what he's done so far this year, you'd guess he's a low 1st rounder trying to make the club as a hustle guy. I'm actually less concerned about whether Sheppard will bust or not, since I was lower on him during the draft than most people (I pegged his ceiling as JJ Redick fwiw). But for a team that can't shoot, it's disappointing the guy who's a cant-miss shooter is also somehow not shooting.
What is our expectation of Reed Sheppard YEAR 2? I know we talk mostly about his shooting Can he run his team? Can push to tempo? Limited Turnovers High Assists. Can he play decent to high level defense. I think his shooting is the least of our worries with him Rocket River
If given playing time he will be a strong back-up point guard who will be starting by the end of the year. If Fred misses any time at all Reed will be the starter for the next decade plus.
He just needs consistent minutes. He looked great late in the season against LAC, LAL, and OKC. FVVs minutes need to be reduced to 30 and Reed needs to be the primary backup PG at 18 minutes or so a game.
I truly agree. FVV needs his minutes cut back not because he is bad but because we need Reed to develop I don't care if we are not the #2 seed . . . if we go into the playoffs ready Rocket River
I hope and expect him to be a good shooter (38% or even higher) that doesn't pass up open looks. I also expect him to be able to run an offense. And I expect him to be sneakily good at steals and blocks. However I don't expect him to create much offense (not for himself and only a little for others) and I expect him to be overpowered on defense quite a bit. Both hopefully shouldnt be deal breakers. We have others to create offense and he should be guarding the worst opposing guard with some help behind him. Playing 15-20 minutes with good shooting efficiency and a net 0 on defense is fine by me. But of course I hope he far exceeds that.
that’s pretty bold prediction about a 2nd year player that has barely seen the floor and shined in maybe 2 games his rookie season. I think Reed has a decent amount of potential, but that prediction is way out there. I fully expect the Rockets to bring in a combo guard with the MLE which will really put a lot of pressure on Reed’s opportunity to get the minutes necessary to make a big jump.
Rockets absolutely loved Reed Sheppard throughout the 2024 NBA draft process. Even after his rookie season, they have not tempered their enthusiasm for Reed Sheppard. I saw that one of his biggest comparisons is that of a blend between Fred Vanvleet and Steph Curry. So if that is what Reed is showing promise to the Rockets brass, it is super exciting. I personally see more of a Mark Price ceiling player, but if he’s Steph Curry good, that’s much better. If Reed Sheppard was in the 2025 draft, where do you think he would have been taken?
He definitely needs to get in the weight room I don't know about blocks but he can take chances on steals because the team defense Rocket River
His shot mechanic is pretty but to volume shoot it in the best league is whole other thing. That is why this Steph Curry thing is out of reality in the near future. FVV is a chucker when he is off, and when he is on he is Lillard like but he is usually off. You don't want to be Fred when it comes to shooting. A decent target would be Andre Miller, a scoring version Shaun Livingston.
