Reed Sheppard report card

Report from the Raptors game:

Ugh.

It's not the shooting that bothers me. His misses from 3 were mostly just a couple inches off, so the percentages will work in his favor over time. But his inability to handle the ball under pressure is a killer.

One of the great things about Harden was that he always made contact the defender's problem. He expected it, invited it, and used it. Reed is exactly the opposite. He fears the contact and lets the defender take away his options. He's easily bullied not just physically but psychologically.

This kid needs to get in the weight room and build strength till he has the confidence to take on the contact. Until then, he's a sitting duck.

 

Report from the Pelicans game:

One notable change from Reed in this game: Looks like he's been working on how to manage being screened. He was pretty consistently either (a) stepping up on the ball handler, away from the coming screen, to preemptively force the ball the other way or (b) backing up into the screener with arms on both sides to maximize his ability to go either way. More preemptive, more physical. Still limited in his execution, but he's learning the right tactics.