The Houston Rockets suffered a big loss in the offseason when Fred VanVleet went down with a torn ACL. He was their lead ball handler last year and was a calming presence for a young team.
Even with the addition of Kevin Durant and the emergence of Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, the Rockets needed to offset the loss of VanVleet somehow. This is a team that has championship expectations after a surprising 52-win season last year.
Instead of panicking and making a trade, Houston general manager Rafael Stone bet on internal growth. So far, the Rockets have reaped the benefits.
Reed Sheppard has been the solution to Houston’s problem
Sheppard has firmly entrenched himself in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation. This comes after a rough rookie season that saw him ride the bench most of the year, and even in the times he did play, he looked overwhelmed with NBA physicality.
Sheppard worked tirelessly during the offseason on his game, and it has shown. He is averaging 13 points per game, three rebounds, three assists, and almost two steals. He is shooting nearly 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range. He’s also making 47 percent of his catch-and-shoot looks.
When Sheppard is on the court, the Rockets are nearly unstoppable. They have a +14.8 net rating with him on the floor and a 124.7 offensive rating. His movement shooting opens up the floor so much for their offense, and when he comes off screens, he has not been afraid to get downhill and create drive-and-kick opportunities that get the defense moving.
The five-man unit of Sheppard-Thompson-Durant-Smith Jr.-Sengun has a +9.3 net rating and a 121.5 offensive rating. This combination gives Houston a unique blend of defense, playmaking, shooting, and just overall versatility. It is the Rockets’ third-most used lineup this season (135 possessions).
Sheppard’s emergence makes Houston even more dangerous
Not only does Sheppard’s stellar play decrease the pressure on the Rockets to make a move via trade, but it also gives them more on-court versatility. Additionally, as their core gets more expensive, having Sheppard under his rookie contract for the next three seasons gives them financial flexibility.
Sheppard is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. Small guards usually take more time to adjust to the NBA game, and he has adjusted and then some. Once VanVleet is back next season, Houston could make their case as having one of the deeper guard units in the league.
