Reed’s gonna have bad nights as he develops. But I really wish I was sure he could develop into a point guard. I’m not sure. The org should not have drafted him if they weren’t sure he was a point guard. If Reed’s not a point guard he’s a microwave scorer off the bench and that is unacceptable for a #3 pick. Again, he’s still developing, but I continue to question this perception that the front office is good at drafting. It’s very well possible they’ve busted on all 3 top 3 picks. I certainly think they’ve busted on two. More looking ahead to next season to see how much of a jump Reed takes as a legit point guard.
I feel like his progress as a PG is going great. What do you feel is in the way other than tightening his handle a little more and gaining some muscle to be able to absorb a bit more contact on drives? Didn’t know anyone was worried about this. The rate of progress has been good. Summer is very important for improving handle and adding muscle.
yeah basically his handle. For example, Kon has a better handle in just yr one and he’s not even a point guard. The court vision is there sometimes and sometimes not, which is to be expected when you are developing. Obviously he’s got to be better defending other guards. I think he’s made big strides in yr 2. To be clear, I believe he will get there, but I just don’t think it’s certain. There are very limited paths for Reed to become an all star player because of his size and defensive issues. He’s got to become an excellent point guard. Undersized shooting guard won’t cut it. Narrow is the path. I think yr 3 will be critical.
I don’t know if he’ll improve at the general thing called court vision, but in terms of becoming an FVV-like team manager I think he’s quite close. Does he have to have elite court vision? I feel like he can just be a taller FVV with better shooting and that would be a very good starter.
man, he is so far away from having the handles of Fred. I honestly think his ability to improve his handles is make or break for the narrow path I’m talking about. It’s literally indispensable for Reed to be the player we hope he can be. but worth pointing out, his handles have improved dramatically from last season.
Oh I meant more like compared to Fred at the same age or stage of his career. It will take quite a while for him to have Fred’s current handles. Agree it’s indispensable. He has a little more leeway in this era especially if he is a generational shooter, but he’s not a true starter without a better handle.
I have seen so many players with bad D, but none of them are as bad as Reed. Even old man Mike Conley could easily pass him in one step. Perhaps Trae Young is at the same level with Reed, but Trae's offense and playmaking are way better.
Ah yeah, my confusion on the last bit. I just thought you'd read his in-shoes measurements which were 6'3, my bad.
I’ve always thought that is what Reed is, but I don’t have a problem with him being picked 3rd in a weak draft. To say otherwise, is hind-sight. For most people it was him or Dillingham. Castle looks like he may pan out, but very few would have picked him 3rd. We needed shooting desperately and that is why Reed was taken over the other iffy choices.
Define court vision. He’s incredibly good at that thing good NFL QB’s have which is the ability to see the passing seams and deliver the pass on time. I do think he’s guilty of ball watching on D, and his instincts tell him to swipe at the ball as opposed to stay in front of his man. Again with a football analogy, but it’s like the DB whose instincts tell him to punch the ball out as opposed to just wrapping up on the tackle.
A few weeks ago I used to get flamed by saying Reed is one of the worst defenders in the league (even though I said Ime needs to start him anyways). I really hate being right. I want Reed to prove me wrong, but I just don’t understand why he was taken at 3 given what anyone could see in the combine. Not only is he a shrimp out there, he also has some of the worst habits on top of that. I’m at the point where I cannot believe it but I think Ime should give Tate a chance to start for a couple games just to prove a point. And I cannot stand freaking JaSean Tate.
He seems to have good court vision at times, but the hyperbole around his bbiq is a little much and may be related to his skin pigmentation. I think he is above average for a guy his age and experience. Sheppard has a lot to prove on both sides of the court. I think Sheppard has made tremendous progress this year on both sides of the ball, but I would hold off on the platitudes until he can prove he is more than just a promising 21 year old. He has a lot to overcome with his physical limitations to hit the generational watermarks that so many are setting. I think he has proven to be a rotational player in the NBA. What is kind of sad, is that he is going to be relegated to a 20 minute a night bench role next year when FVV gets back, unless he blows the league away the rest of the year. Contrary to what his fanboys on this site think, I hope he proves to Ime and the front office that he should be the starter next year. If not, he will be set back another year.
strongly disagree. It’s not hindsight at all. Picking a 6’2” guard that high is a big risk. I like reed. Was happy we took him. But I had Castle as a better prospect and that was actually consensus. I also liked Clingan a lot and thought his floor was higher. You don’t draft for need when u are still rebuilding, which we were (and still are). Obviously I hope Reed works out. And I believe in him. But if the org thought he was an undersized 2-guard they should never have drafted him. That pick only makes sense if Reed is a point guard.
I don't know why there are still so many people after watching Reed for so many games still think he is an undersized 2 guard. He is a PG. He has PG skills (except ball handling) and playmaking instinct more so than scoring instinct.
I don’t know much about NFL but when I think elite court vision I think Nash/Magic/Kidd/Jokic. When I think elite floor general I think Stockton/CP3/Harden. I think Sheppard is in the latter type.
Imagine you are a person very invested in Amen Thompson being a PG or a person heavily invested in the idea that everything would be fine on the Rockets if they only had FVV to play PG. Those types have to call Reed Sheppard a SG or it destroys their narrative.
To me, it is quite obvious that Reed extends the defense north/south when he initiates the offense, and that really opens the offense up in a way Amen never could. On possessions where Reed is simply planted in the corner, there's no real advantage created.
