Reed Sheppard’s path to a bigger leap with the Rockets runs through Steven Adams.
Houston needs more from the former No. 3 overall pick, especially when it comes to creating offense inside the arc and becoming a more reliable playmaker. Sheppard has already shown he can shoot it from deep, but the Rockets want more than a one-note skill set. The easiest way for that growth to show up may be with Adams setting the table beside him.
That matters because Sheppard’s current profile leans heavily on the perimeter. Last season, he took 7 of his 11.5 field goal attempts per game from beyond the three-point line. That kind of shot diet makes the point pretty clear: he’s dangerous from outside, but still limited everywhere else.
If all Sheppard ever becomes is a specialist from long range, that would be useful enough. But Houston clearly wants more than that. There’s room for him to grow into a more complete scorer and a bigger threat with the ball in his hands.
The biggest issue is what happens when he tries to get downhill. Sheppard has not been nearly aggressive enough attacking the rim, and that’s a real problem for a young guard trying to round out his game.
The Rockets’ own belief in Amen Thompson shows how much they value rim pressure and finishing, even if Thompson brings those traits alongside elite defense. Sheppard doesn’t have that same defensive or athletic cushion, so his scoring gaps stand out even more.
That’s where Adams enters the picture. For a young guard, he’s about as ideal a teammate as you can ask for.
He brings leadership, he’s a steady presence, and his screening and offensive rebounding create the kind of space guards live off. Those bone-crushing screens can give Sheppard cleaner looks and make Houston’s pick-and-roll game more dangerous overall.
Adams also helps explain why the Rockets have been comfortable with their current center group instead of chasing upgrades. But the team’s options got thinner after Adams suffered a season-ending injury last January. Houston had to lean on Clint Capela, who is far removed from his best days with the Rockets, or turn to undersized backup-center options.
No one else on the roster, not even Alperen Sengun, can create openings with screens the way Adams does. Around the league, there are very few centers who can match him in that area.
Sheppard may have felt that loss more than anyone. Without Adams, he had a harder time finding openings from 2-point range and leaned even more heavily on 3-point attempts.
The effect wasn’t limited to scoring, either. His playmaking stalled too, as he finished with just 3.4 assists per game last season, a rough number for an undersized guard.
Adams can help there as well. By giving Sheppard a reliable pressure release and adding some connective passing of his own, he can make life easier for a guard who needs every bit of help getting into the paint and making the next read.
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Amen Thompson Just Got Another Huge Vote Of Confidence
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The Rockets have been encouraged by Thompsons greater production on that end of the floor, and they view his ceiling as the kind of two-way impact that can anchor a serious contender. In a league where young players often get graded on flashes, Houston is betting that Thompson can become one of the centerpieces of what it wants to build next. [Read more 🡒]