Rockets make their bold stance on Reed Sheppard crystal clear

As the Houston Rockets enter the season, beginning with their season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, their greatest strength lies in their rotational versatility: a fact they will be putting on full display as the double-big lineup makes its regular season debut.

Yet, the starting lineup against the Thunder does not include second-year guard Reed Sheppard, and, apart from the excitement that the double-big lineup brings, head coach Ime Udoka's choice could also reflect significantly upon what Sheppard's role will be this season.

While the Rockets are in desperate need of viable point guard play in the absence of Fred VanVleet, it appears as though Sheppard will still need to earn the trust of the coaching staff in order to take on more significant minutes.

Reed Sheppard won't start against the Oklahoma City Thunder

Prior to Tuesday night's match up, it has been confirmed by Udoka that the team's starting lineup will consist of Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams.

On the one hand, it was rather clear from the team's singular postseason game in which the double-big lineup was featured, where they defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 130-128, that this combination was something they were going to lean heavily upon heading into the season.

In that game, Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant were able to feast on the perimeter of their zone offense, and, if this lineup can continue to carry offensive viability, it could be a frequent weapon that Houston uses throughout the course of the season.

Moreover, Oklahoma City, with a frontcourt that includes both Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, serves as an ideal crucible with which to test this monstrous lineup.

Yet, at the same time, Udoka's decision to go to this lineup, especially on opening night, could be, in part, a result of the lack of trust he has in Sheppard.

Although Sheppard played well in the preseason, even putting up a 29-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks in their last game, he still showed some of his warts. He is liable to get sped up with the ball in his hands, and, unless his perimeter shot becomes elite this season, his defensive liabilities could make it difficult for him to take on a major workload.

Therefore, as much as the Rockets turning to the double-big lineup in their first game is a matchup-dependent decision, it is also a glaring sign that Sheppard could be slotted to take on a bench role early in the season for the team.