Reed Sheppard gives the Rockets a weapon they desperately need

As many questions as people had about Reed Sheppard heading into the season regarding his ability to become a serious contributor for the Houston Rockets, he has answered just about all of them through the team's first 18 games, becoming more aggressive with his shot-taking and more reliable in his ball-handling abilities at a rapid pace.

Yet, in many ways, the best could be yet to come for Sheppard. According to Sam Vecenie, on a recent episode of the Game Theory Podcast, Sheppard has one special skill, his ability to shoot off of screens, that will make him an absolute weapon in the context of the Rockets' offense.

"[Sheppard is] a serious weapon in terms of being able to relocate for 3-pointers, in order to be able to run around screens and knock down threes. That has been the place where I think he has been the most utterly threatening."

Sam Vecenie

Sheppard is providing the Rockets with the shot-making abilities that they have desperately needed

So far this season, Sheppard has been more than impressive, taking on a larger role on almost a game-to-game basis and averaging 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 45% from beyond the arc.

Yet, in order for them to be at their best this season, the Rockets will need Sheppard to slowly take on more primary ball-handling duties than he has to this point, freeing Amen Thompson up to roam the court and take advantage of his athleticism from the dunker spot.

Sheppard, so far this season, has posted a 53.7 efficient field goal percentage when operating as the pick-and-roll ball-handler, and his ability to operate and get to his shot off of screens appears to be improving rapidly.

The Rockets have two formidable screen-setters in Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun, and, as Sheppard becomes more comfortable in the flow of the offense, this could be the weapon that truly unlocks his game, giving the Rockets another wrinkle to their offensive attack.

While Houston is second in the league in 3-point percentage, they are second-to-last in the league in 3-point attempts. As the season wears on, they will need to lean more consistently into this part of their game in order to keep defenses honest and open up driving lines for players like Thompson and Kevin Durant.

Although the team has a number of semi-reliable perimeter shooters, they have no one who is truly willing to pull up from any area of the court.

As it appears Sheppard is set to enter the starting lineup for the foreseeable future, he could be the key to opening up this aspect of the Rockets' offense, and, insofar as he represents that, he could become one of the team's most important offensive weapons moving forward.