Rockets learn something crucial about Reed Sheppard

Billy Heyen

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Rockets learn something crucial about Reed Sheppard image

Reed Sheppard hardly played as a rookie for the Houston Rockets.

That made it easy to forget that the uber-talented guard was the No. 3 overall pick out of Kentucky.

It also made it easy to worry when Fred VanVleet's season ended before it started due to injury, making Sheppard the best point guard remaining on Houston's roster. Would the kid be ready?

Turns out, the Rockets' strategy here has worked out just fine. Sheppard looks comfortable.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps summed it up this way in a new article on Friday: "Reed Sheppard is right on schedule."

"When Sheppard struggled opening night against the imposing Oklahoma City defense, questions arose about how the second-year guard would fare as a key member of a rotation that lacked a true facilitator in the wake of Fred VanVleet's knee injury," Bontemps writes. "Patience from the Rockets has been rewarded, and Sheppard -- who is averaging 13 points, shooting over 40% from 3 and getting 1.4 steals per game -- is providing high-impact play off the bench, such as when he scored 21 points in Tuesday's comeback win over San Antonio."

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Bontemps also quoted a scout with a take on Sheppard.

"People wrote him off way too early," the East scout told Bontemps. "I think people are starting to respect him more, but people poked too many holes in his game. He can play."

The Rockets are in a favorable position when it comes to Sheppard's usage. Because they can initiate offense with forward Amen Thompson and center Alperen Sengun, Sheppard doesn't actually have to shoulder too big a load.

That has allowed him to integrate his way seamlessly into an explosive offense, and it's all coming together quite nicely for Houston.

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Contributing Writer