I don't think the coach actually sees that. All he sees are defficiencies on defense For a 1% gain on defense he would give up 50% on offense. You're right, and PJ was actually one of my favorite players. I just don't want to see him from the 1-5 like this team. Juwon is probably a better example
I know what you meant by Battier & Tucker. They had their specific niche as 4th/5th options But you can not have multiple of them on-court the same time. 1 preferably. Udoka will put out 4 of them in together, with Juwan as the "offensive hub" lol Even in "The 90's", Mark Price the frequent Sheppard comparison, played on solid rugged defensive teams. Heck Price & Steve Kerr were teammates a few years, for the "small'ish white outside shooter" guard similarity. Sheppard has better physical skills than them, updated relative to the modern athletes. About guarantee that Price was the worst defender of the starters. Similar'ish to how Nash & Curry are the weakest starters on D. But it's about the overall contribution. The Rockets won today literally ONLY because they HIT MORE 3'S with cleaner looks han usual. If not for Sheppard & Durant 10-14 from 3, this is at least a 5 point loss. There is nobody else on this Rockets team capable of that consistently
Report from the Wolves game: Finally the 3’s are going down again. I’m happy for Reed, especially because this takes pressure off the rest of his game. His handle still isn’t good enough to reliably exploit big men when he gets that matchup, as we saw a couple of times with Gobert tonight. But if he shoots well, he’ll keep drawing closeouts, and that will give him more opportunities to work on his penetration game. Defensively, he’s still not playing with the speed and aggression he showed a few games ago. But he continues to get more physical, and in non-shooting situations he’s getting away with it. Tonight he absolutely shoved Gobert out of position to help us get a rebound in the 2nd, and the refs didn’t even flinch. Good for him. Also, on the plays where Reed gave up drives to the basket, part of the problem was that he had Capela behind him instead of Adams. Reed knows he can funnel guys to Adams. Tonight, in those positions, Clint gave up a couple of buckets he shouldn’t have. I know a lot of you think Ime has it in for Reed. I don’t agree. Tonight, after chewing out Reed for failing to follow DiVincenzo and giving up an open 3, Ime left him in the game. Reed responded by driving inside and scoring on our next possession. Then on our next defensive possession, when Reed’s man and KD’s man crossed on the baseline, Reed instantly communicated to KD to switch, which they executed seamlessly. Then on our next offensive possession after that, Reed found KD crosscourt for an open 3. At the end of the half Ime put Reed back in, and Reed rewarded him with that nice lefty drive and cross-court to KD for another 3. Reed’s deliveries were a big part of KD’s 6 of 8. And as a bonus, right after making that pass, Reed bolted back in from out of bounds to contest Randle so he couldn’t get off a final heave. I skipped the halftime commentary, so I’ll see what they had to say about Reed not getting more minutes. But for anyone who thinks Reed’s 4/6 vs. Josh’s 0/3 should settle that question, I encourage you to spend more time watching Josh. His work without the ball is impeccable.
I don't think he should replace Josh/Tari in the starting lineup. I wonder if he should replace Jabari though. Starting lineup needs Reed's shooting/playmaking more than it needs a PF next to Durant and Sengun. 82% of Jabari's shots are open or wide open, I would love to see teams try to leave Reed Sheppard open that often. I think Sheppard's jumper opens up easier drives for Amen/Sengun/Durant. As a 6th man it's much easier for us to absorb Jabari auditioning a dribble drive game alongside his jumper. He could lead the bench unit and get more meaningful shots. Defensively, Reed can be hidden on worst perimeter threat (thanks to Okogie and Amen guarding the 2 best perimeter players): Sengun Durant Amen Okogie Reed We desperately need more and better shooting. When we take an average number of 3PA our efficiency is bad. Reed's 3PT efficiency and volume is badly needed in the starting lineup. All the scorers are suffocated at the moment.
We need a more balanced team on the floor, Reed balances our team more than Josh or Tari, he opens the floor for KD and Alpi. DD
Reed has no leverage to demand anything. He would be cutting off his nose to spite his face to even bring it up.
While it would be a bad look for him to demand a trade... you know he's praying for one. Also, it has to be difficult for him... along with the rest of the team, to not openly show disdain for how incompetent Ime is. If everyone else can see it, they can see it.
Everything is a risk to benefit assessment. There are a lot of people around the league asking about Reed, the rockets have been shutting it down in part due to his potential and also KD. At the rate this is going with Udoka Sheppard is going to regress even more just like all our other lotto picks. The best predictor of future events is past events. If you’re going to be screwed and borderline unplayable under this mad idiot (and pickup terrible playing and habits along the way), it’s worth being a bit of a head case for. This league will always value shooters like Reed who are otherwise levelheaded and total team players
It also helped that Minnesota didn’t have their superstar playing. It allowed Ime to relax about Reed’s defensive blunders (of which there were a few). What was more glaring to me was the greater utilization of pick and roll and lots of movement. Also, no zone and no double bigs, it did open the floor up for better looks. We should probably trade DFS and/or Tari with a draft pick for a shooter that can stay on the floor. Not sure if there is a match available, in which case we are screwed if Jabari and DFS don’t step up. We need at least 3 consistent 3 pt shooters on the floor at all times and Durant being willing to change his shot mix.
I’m not disagreeing that trading Reed might need to be on the table. I think we are stuck with Ime, FVV, and Durant for at least another year. I was just commenting on Reed being able to demand a trade. Guys on rookie contracts that aren’t even starting have no leverage whatsoever. Whether to trade Reed or not is strictly up to the Rockets and what is being offered.
Our keyboard fingers and phone thumbs may be worn and bloody from our labors, but we in the Clutchfans bleachers soldier on
That really depends on how they are viewed across the league. If San Antonio decided to not play Wemby, he could absolutely demand a trade despite being on a rookie contract. Having a head coach as dumb as Ime changes things. It would still be a bad look for Sheppard if he actually demanded a trade, but it would be more understandable than other guys stuck on the bench. Other teams with more competent coaches would love to pick up a guy that would be a 21 year old who could come in and put up something like 18/5 for them if given minutes shooting over 40% from 3. So, I think he COULD do it, but I don't think he would demand a trade....he'll just hope for one while putting up with the simpleton Ime in the meantime.
Probably not gonna hear anything from him this year but if this sh** continues next year, there’s gonna be grumblings. Reed and his reps aren’t dumb. They’re not gonna get played like Alpi did. And unlike Tari, his health and shooting gives him more leverage.
It seems to me that Reed is showing his character well if he's getting chewed out and turning that energy into performance. He's either seething underneath or learned to handle tough coaches a long time ago. If he's able to take meaningful criticism and grow from it then he will be an All-Star someday. What remains to be seen is if Ime can handle criticism. The national media are onto the Rockets lack of offensive movement or creativity and bringing it up in half-time shows. At least Udonis Hasslem did during the OKC game on Thursday. I hope someone has the balls to tell the king he's got no clothes and needs to get some. I also hope the king has the humility to accept fair criticism coming from anyone other than himself. Or to admit his lack and seek help. I think there are a few on this board ready to go to work if duty calls. If Ime can show his willingness to grow out of his BS then we will be fine long term. Otherwise....fee-yurk.
