Rockets’ point guard issue exposes Sheppard-Thompson debate

Going into the offseason, the Houston Rockets have some major issues to address. Their inability to consistently hit three-point shots got the most attention among NBA media, but their biggest flaw may be the team’s lack of reliable offensive creation.

When Fred VanVleet went down with a torn ACL, many fans and media members alike predicted the potential offensive woes Houston would face without a rotation-level point guard on the roster. Houston was considered one of the teams most likely to be active on the trade market in search of a VanVleet replacement.

The Rockets never made that trade. Instead, they chose to put their trust in two young players to develop their point guard abilities: Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.

Neither of these players was considered a true point guard, but both had the ability to handle the ball and possessed an elite skill. Thompson is a world-class athlete, and Sheppard is one of the best shooters in the league.

VanVleet will return next season, but it is worth asking the question: can one of these young guards handle some point guard duties for the Rockets next season?

Can Amen Thompson’s raw athleticism lead an offense?

Thompson was listed as the team’s starting point guard for the majority of the season. He had the best season of his career, averaging a career-high 18.3 points and finishing eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. However, watching a Houston Rockets game, it was clear Thompson was not truly initiating the offense.

The truth was that the starting lineup often operated without a traditional point guard, relying on Şengün and Durant to initiate most of the offense.

That is backed up by Thompson averaging 5.3 assists against 2.4 turnovers. That is a below-average amount of assists for a starting point guard and a far from ideal assist-to-turnover ratio.

Thompson’s style of creation is almost entirely dependent on overpowering his defender to get into the paint. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it also does not sound like a player ready to run a high-level offense. It sounds more like a complementary offensive player who would greatly benefit from playing next to a talented playmaker.

Can Reed Sheppard’s elite shooting help him run an offense?

In my mind, Sheppard’s case as a future point guard is far more interesting. His ability to get into the paint and collapse defenses does not come close to matching Thompson’s, but he is clearly a more well-rounded and polished offensive player.

Shooting is extremely important for an offensive initiator who will be handling the ball frequently. Sheppard already looks comfortable handling the ball, making quick reads, and keeping the offense moving. Without elite athleticism, Sheppard has to rely on making smart decisions. That is a requirement for any lead guard.

Sheppard’s shooting and decision-making would translate well to a lead guard role. It is difficult to predict how any player would handle going from complementary piece to initiating a team’s offense, but if Houston needs a player to periodically fill in for the 32-year-old VanVleet next season, Sheppard has flashed enough potential to take on that responsibility.

If the Rockets are forced to rely on Thompson as VanVleet’s primary backup, then they should look to the trade market for another point guard option.

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