yahoo - 3/4/2026 7:15:59 PM - GMT (+2 )
For NBA offenses that struggle in half-court situations, the question of structured offense versus a read-and-react system is a sliding scale that differs from team to team. Younger, less experienced players tend to benefit from set playcalls, with the idea that as games and seasons are accumulated, they’ll eventually be able to conduct possessions on their own based on what an opposing defense presents.
A team like Houston, which has been a bottom-third half-court offense since head coach Ime Udoka took over in 2023, is an interesting case study. As far as age is concerned, the Rockets sit firmly in the middle when both minutes and usage are taken into account, which makes sense given how Udoka tends to approach things. Not too young of a group to need instruction, not too old to give full autonomy.
“It’s a balance,” Udoka said late last month. “We’re not the fastest-paced team, but I don’t want to stop and call plays every time. I think at times, you need to get the proper look or shot. But that’s where we talk about the growth of our young guys. Understanding what to get and when to attack — Amen [Thompson] and Reed [Sheppard] are in that boat. At the same time, I don’t want to slow down and have them thinking too much. Use their strengths and not take away their aggressiveness.”
Specifically concerning Sheppard, the former No. 3 pick who has seen his playing time double due to his emergence as a reliable playmaker and bonafide floor spacer, Udoka’s words are poignant. The Rockets have won four out of their last five games, with Sheppard averaging 19.2 points, 5.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 46.3% from 3 on nearly 11(!) attempts — in addition to 2.2 steals and 1.0 blocks a night. He’s third in minutes during that span and second in net rating while posting the best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team.
Sheppard’s recent improvement as a creator is noteworthy. Whether it's because of a confidence boost, growing IQ or both, Sheppard looks poised with the ball in his hands, capable of making wraparound passes, finding downhill threats or simply keeping plays alive. According to Second Spectrum, Sheppard’s 63 assist points created over the past five games wedge him between Stephon Castle and LaMelo Ball — a good indication of his growth.
In other words, he’s looked every part of a legitimate NBA starter. A really frickin’ good one.
Because of the similarities both Sheppard and the injured Fred VanVleet share, a lot of what Sheppard is able to accomplish this season will naturally be viewed through that lens. VanVleet is widely regarded as one of the premier floor managers, with a knack for limiting turnovers while being able to keep an offense organized. (Houston’s half-court issues last season were more from spacing, personnel and tactical issues that VanVleet’s structure couldn’t always accommodate.)
The only guards anywhere close to FVV's TO influence on both ends are either not as influential on defense, prohibitive to acquire, or both
— David Lee (@dlee4three) February 23, 2026
historically it's legitimately only all-time great PGs who replicate this influence (prime Lowry would've been perfect)
look at Jose pic.twitter.com/Z3reefMvvK
I’ve previously referred to Sheppard as a low-risk initiator, but there’s a “potentially very good reward” caveat that needs to be added. It’s one thing to be a trusted source of ball security — his 10.4 turnover rate is in the 83rd percentile among guards, according to Cleaning the Glass. It’s another to be that good of an outside shooter and relocator playing next to Kevin Durant, one of the most gravitationally inclined players in NBA history. It’s even more mind-boggling considering Houston’s insistence on taking any shot but a 3. The Rockets are 28th in 3-point rate, but have quietly climbed to 22nd over the past five games — mostly due to Sheppard’s presence. He’s simply too good of a shooter on a low-volume team to be buried on the bench, especially when you consider what he can do with the ball in his hands.
(The book is out on Houston, and in the postseason teams will throw every zone possible at the Rockets and force them to beat them from deep. Sheppard’s spacing has the potential to alter Udoka’s game plan, a necessity if they have any hopes of making a deep playoff run in a few weeks.)
But what is Sheppard’s ultimate role on this team and where/how do you fit him in? He’s currently been inserted into the starting lineup while Jabari Smith Jr. manages an ankle injury, but Udoka told reporters that Smith will slot back into his original role upon his return, pushing Sheppard back to the reserves.
In all honesty, the question of starting or coming off the bench truly doesn’t matter as much as who closes games, which is where Sheppard can truly make his mark. The Rockets remain one of the league’s more confusing clutch units, with the third-worst turnover rate and a bottom-10 net rating despite the No. 1 offensive rebounding rate. Most of Sheppard’s minutes are shared with the starters plus reserve big Clint Capela, and it’s clear Houston has been pushing the combined development of Sheppard and Thompson for its long-term success.
Still, it’s critical that Sheppard is given both the time, freedom and personnel to have his greatest output. Udoka has tried both approaches — allowing Sheppard to operate on the fly and calling him over to go through actual sets — and that combination is how the second-year guard can flourish, quickly.
“It’s a little bit of both,” Sheppard told Yahoo Sports recently of how he sees the floor in real time. “The defense isn’t going to be the same every game or every trip down the court, so having some plays in your back pocket that you can go to no matter what.”
The Sheppard question is one that will surface repeatedly between now and the end of the season. It’s understood that Udoka has a preference for defensive-minded players, and Sheppard is a playmaker in that regard. Yes, his size and frame make him a target — and he could become a focal point in the playoffs — but there’s no denying his mentality in competing at that end of the floor. Sheppard is in the 76th percentile in DARKO DPM, a defensive impact metric per 100 possessions, and is 84th in Stop%, a Databallr combination of steals, blocks and offensive fouls drawn per 100 possessions.
There’s no doubt that Sheppard has the tools to be a very impactful player for a very long time. But the frequency in which he’s given the opportunity, how that affects Houston’s order of operations and the marriage of both is the biggest underlying factor of the Rockets’ success, both now and in the future.
read more