“Menacing” if he doesn’t shoot, Reed Shepard steps up

Seeing a size advantage over CJ McCollum, Amen Thompson attacked a Wizards player after picking up the ball. Arriving at the heart of the racket after his spin move, the Rockets winger attracted enough help to open the shot on Reed Sheppard at the head of the racket.

The latter took and converted the winning shot without hesitation. He has no interest in stalling. “ Amen told me earlier in the gym: ‘If you dribble again when you’re open and don’t shoot, I’ll give you one’ », the playmaker reports. « It’s true », confirms his teammate.

This shows if the Rockets want the 21-year-old to fire when the context suits him. This is nothing new for him. The sophomore guard is used to hearing this constant refrain from his coaches and teammates, who encourage him to be aggressive and keep shooting.

« That says it all. You could even say that the fact that your teammates trust you is even more important than the trust you have in yourself, simply because you know they will always be there », notes the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft.

An influence praised by Kevin Durant

This one, last year, had fewer opportunities to record these shots. Ime Udoka mobilized him only fifty times for an average of 4 points in 12 minutes. But the context has changed this season for Reed Shepard. Especially because Fred VanVleet’s long-term injury.

If the top pick in the draft did not return the starting position, he was still mobilized for an average of 22 minutes. And he’s acting like a true 6th man on his team, averaging 12 points on 49.5% shooting, including 50% from 3-point range. With a game-high 21 points (5/8 from beyond the arc) against the Wizards.

« This is the reed we like to see. In the last three matches, he played freely, without thinking too much, while controlling his game and hitting his shots. (…) If you keep working on your game and become efficient, the rest becomes pretty easy. And tonight he put himself in a position to be effective “, said Kevin Durant after this last meeting.

His teammate believes he is taking full advantage of the matchup against “KD”, in fact, as well as against Alperin Sengun. These “ do a really good job of finding the open player and then just make the right choice “. And so that you convert, and be full of trust.

« Last year was a big change for me, in every way. I was trying to learn as much as possible, to observe and really observe everything that was happening. This year I feel more comfortable, definitely more confident and really having a lot of fun », termine ainsi Reed Sheppard.

https://vvv.youtube.com/vatch?v=7jZrD_8CArK

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.