One thing I think people underrate when they talk about "player's coaches"... you imagine that meaning a guy they like to hang out with, a guy who lets them play the way they want, etc. And that may be the case for some guys around the league. But you have to remember that most of these guys are not just coasting on raw talent, they are professional athletes who have busted their butts their whole lives to get here, they are accustomed to discipline and hard work, and this is a ten to fifteen year career that they are expecting to provide their main source of income for the rest of their lives, and they are trying to make the most out of it. A coach who pushes them to be better players and puts them in positions where they can succeed is hugely important to achieving their own career goals.
Would be nice if he could design a pro offense though......as well as motivate..... And there is no way Reed would be breaking out if FVV were healthy. DD
Note that split action between Amen/Reed with Adams as ball handler. Reed cuts for a pass by Adams. Both this guy and Vecenie called that split action “Zoom”, which is more commonly run with side-line split action. Out front like this, it’s actually Princeton Point action. Subtle difference, but it’s more accurately called Princeton Point bc Amen initially has two options: He can go “over” Adams or “away”. Away is what we saw in this play. “Over” has other threats, both immediate DHO from Adams and another sideline Zoom option with Okogie. So, it’s only Zoom split-action as part of the larger Princeton Point Action package. Ime started this last year … Princeton and Zoom are heavy diets out of called plays. But last year, Jalen and others rarely ever utilized the various slit-action cuts, preferring to convert them all to DHO two-man game. Lot of that was bc defenses took the cuts away, by giving us the threes. look forward to what Ime started implementing last year working better this year with our 3s actually unlocking split-action cuts, finally. Here: this is the back door cut option of Point Away or “Zoom” split-action It’s Princeton Point bc on Pinch Post entry by Amen to Adamx, he can cut “Over” Adams as well…ie towards Okogie for Zoom or immediate hand-off by Adams for 2-man game.
It is amazing that these things happen given Ime simply 'rolls the ball out and lets them play' according to many on here. Or, and maybe this is possible, those people know almost nothing technical about high-level basketball and are not qualified to judge what they are seeing.
Reed would still be playing about the same amount of time as Amen would just slide to starting SG. If FVV was healthy, he would still be on the bench mostly when Reed played. It takes a really large bias to think FVV being healthy and on the bench would keep Reed from playing well versus FVV being hurt and on the bench. I may overvalue FVV, but the FVV hate on this board is absolutely nuts. FVV is probably the best Houston player that I've ever seen Houston fans celebrate his injury that wasn't based on off field/court issues.
Last year we were a poor shooting team. Defenses rightly thought that it's less dangerous to let us shoot 3s than cut. Reed's 3pt threat is so much more that teams will likely give him the lane.
Some notes on Reed's season so far, offensively: Reed isn't a 33% 3P shooter like last year, but he's also not gonna be a 50% 3P shooter at the NBA level either. I want to see him maintain this level of aggression and engagement when he's on a 2 for 20 stretch from 3 (which will happen). I also want to see Ime keep him on the court. One of Reed's biggest problems up to this season has been poor passing velocity. He sees the right passes but can't zip it there fast enough. That's improved a little bit this season, to my eye, but he still needs to get stronger and work on his flexibility. A big next step for Reed is developing the savvy to punish defenders who are overplaying his shot or his dribble - and thereby giving himself more space. Reed doesn't need to be as much of a foul baiter as Brunson or Trae, but he needs to learn how to force the call when defenders get too aggressive challenging his shot, which they already do. Reed has drawn only 1 three shot foul on 200 career 3P attempts. Steph gets about 1 in every 40 attempts. Trae/Lillard about 1 in every 30 attempts. Harden 1 in every 10 attempts lol. These differences are basically 1-2 points in team net rating by themselves (a few wins over the course of a season), before even considering the second order effects. Reed has benefitted from the increased hierarchy in our offense this season, with guys knowing their role and sticking to spacing principles rather than over-cutting. It's hard to develop as a passer/playmaker when all the off-ball guys want to cut at the same time and there are 8 people in the paint. Reed (and others) would benefit further from even more consistency in roles, hierarchy, and systematic execution. It's partially up to Reed to earn enough respect for teammates to acquiesce to him being the primary initiator when he's on the court however; he's getting there.
As the biggest Reed hater Reed deserves an A+ 9 games into the season. 50% 3 pt and 68% TS even if his defense is bad the league breaking efficiency more than makes up for it and Reed will prob break a few records if he can keep this up for the whole season.
Not hate, you are misreading, I am not saying FVV was in the way, I am saying Ime would have played FVV over Reed because Ime loves FVV .......and it would slow Reed's development. DD
That is a fair point, I think teams will figure out a way to slow us down, and we will need to adjust and that is what I am thinking about. IMHO, Ime has cost us 2 of our 3 loses with playing double bigs too long....etc....and not adjusting....the only loss I think was earned was the OKC one...the other two should have been wins if we adjusted during the games. But yes, that is being pretty danged knit picky...... DD
Yeah, I might. But the Vecenie vid and the one I quoted mention it as Zoom. Guess I could do one to show how it’s probably more accurately Princeton Point. The vid I really want to do is a contrast to last year, as well, where we rarely cut out of split-action. would be fun to do it,,,just gotta find time. also, kinda waiting of more examples of cuts out of our split action
If Reed continues to be selective with his shots the entire season, I think it's possible he finishes well above 40%. He definitely should try to bait some fouls but I doubt that is something he'll learn this year.
These are smart observations. As a Sheppard fan, I especially like the realism and honesty about what he needs to work on. More of this, Clutchfans!
No one celebrated FVVs injury. This team is a better team with FVV on it vs not on it. However, there is a very real possibility that the ceiling gets lower as well. Reed absolutely does not play as much as he has if FVV is active. Ime has no choice but to run him out there because there is no viable alternative. Thus he gets to play thru his mistakes. I just dont think that FVV is on the same arc as Durant. He still has more of a story to write vs Durant who is treating this as icing on his cake. I wish FVV was as much of a coach as people think he is....but he isnt. Not saying he isnt one....I just think he's way less of one than people think. He's like a more passive aggressive CP3.
