Reed Sheppard must use Steven Adams' screening to take another leap

The Rockets need to see even more improvement from Reed Sheppard, especially when it comes to playmaking and scoring inside the arc. Fortunately, he might have the perfect partner to make that dream a reality if he's able to play more minutes alongside Steven Adams. Adams is known for his bone-crushing screens that can get Sheppard more space to operate and should translate to a better pick-and-roll game overall.

Sheppard's next step should be obvious

After just two seasons in the NBA, Sheppard has already established himself as a formidable outside shooter. However, that skill accounts for nearly all of his value on the court right now. Last season, Sheppard took 7 of 11.5 field goal attempts per game from beyond the three-point line. That's a staggering proportion and points to his limitations inside the arc as much as his strengths beyond it.

If Sheppard wants to become nothing more than an outside shooting specialist, those shooting splits would be ok. However, the Rockets definitely want to see more versatility out of their former No. 3 overall pick. He's got a lot of room to expand his overall scoring skillset and develop as an all-around threat.

Sheppard's lack of aggression attacking the rim is a major weakness. In comparison, the Rockets regard Amen Thompson so highly not only because of his excellent defense but also his rim pressure and finishing. Both players have clear gaps in their scoring abilities, but Sheppard's rim weaknesses are holding him back more since he can't fall back on his defense and athleticism like Thompson.

Steven Adams is just what the doctor ordered

For a young guard like Sheppard, Adams is one of the most comforting teammates possible. Not only is Adams a great leader and supporting presence, but he also guarantees more openings through his signature screening and offensive rebounding. He's a big reason why the Rockets feel comfortable with their current center rotation rather than looking for upgrades.

Unfortunately for Sheppard and the other Rockets, Adams went down with a season-ending injury last January. Without him, Houston was forced to rely on either Clint Capela - far removed from his glory days with the Rockets - or undersized options at the backup center spot. No one else on the team, even starting center Alperen Sengun, can create openings with screens the same way Adams can. In fact, there are few centers across the entire NBA that can match him there.

Sheppard might have been the one most affected by Adams' loss. He had a harder time finding opening from 2-point range as a result and often resorted to 3-point chucking instead. On top of the impact to Sheppard's own scoring, his playmaking growth was also stunted. He only averaged 3.4 assists per game last season, a woeful number for an undersized guard. Adams could help there too by being a pressure release valve and adding his own connective passing.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow