Tanhua becomes a "parallel"? Shepard s rookie Ji Lacun, do the Rockets regret choosing him?

Talk about Reed Shepard, the Rockets' Tanhua Show this year, fans are probably feeling like riding a roller coaster - I hoped that he was "white Curry" in the draft, but he became a "data black hole" in the rookie season. What's going on with this kid? Let's break it up and chat today.

Turn back to the university first - Shepard is so glorious in Kentucky. Both parents are legendary in school history. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals per game, and his real shooting percentage was 69.9%. This data is ranked first among NCAA guards, the strongest among freshmen since 2008. Especially for three-pointers, 52.1% shooting percentage, the shooting percentage on the catch reached 58%, and the steal rate on the defensive end was 4.5%, approaching the peak Paul.

just made this performance, the draft website ranked him in the top ten, and the Rockets even won directly with the Titan Lottery, fantasizing that he is the "projection enhanced version of Derek White", the core of the future backcourt. He also strives for the summer league: he averaged 20 points, 5.3 assists, 2.8 steals per game, 4 of 6 three-pointers in the first game, and scored 22 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and passed vision and fast break long passes. The fans were so happy - "This wave of profits!"

, but entered the NBA regular season, and the plot took a sharp turn.

Average 3.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists per game in the regular season, 31.1% of shooting, 27.5% of three-pointers; 0 points in two consecutive games in the All-Star Rookie, becoming the only player without score; playing the Warriors in the playoffs, with 6 minutes of net loss and 15 points... Which is this? Really "Rookie Disaster Scene". What is the problem with

?

First, static talent is a flaw. 187 cm tall (maybe "fair"), 191 cm wingspan, is considered "mini body size" among NBA guards. The defensive end was used as an "ATM" - the All-Star rookie was crushed from the three-point line to the dunk at the basket by teammate Amen. The scene was so awkward. When I was in college, I relied on gambling steals, but I couldn’t play in the NBA at all. I often lost my position because of the pounce steals, and the defensive loopholes were bigger than those of the sieve.

Second, three-pointers changed from "Sharp Shot" to "Blacksmith". How scary is the college’s 52.1% three-point shooting percentage? But the NBA's three-point line is farther and the defensive rotation is faster. He can't keep up with the shooting speed, making 1 of 14 three-pointers in the last three games of the summer league, 27.5% of the regular season. What is even more heartbreaking is psychological fluctuations - I missed the first shot and was "confused". In November, I didn't dare to shoot three-pointers at the open position, and finally got 2 points with free throws.

Third, offensive end "too honest". In the Rockets' current system, everyone plays singles, but he is better. He only takes 2.5 shots per game. He always wants to pass the ball, but he dares not attack the key ball by himself. The breakthrough has no explosive power, the basket shooting percentage is 43%, and the landing and mid-range have not been developed. When encountering strong delays in defense, such as pick-and-roll against the Spurs, center delays + front line interference, he directly stopped the ball and made a mistake, exposing the shortcomings of "no personal ability to solve the problem".

But then again, is this kid really not very bright?

When he made 10 of 17 shots against the Thunder, he scored 25 points, 5 assists and 2 steals, and scored a few points in the fourth quarter to drag the game back to suspense. Look at those rounds - Spain's pick-and-roll free-to-receive, jump layup, difficult three-pointer, emergency stop three-pointer, pass-through technique is like Bird, and the finishing movement is standard enough to be faulty. How is this a "parallel product"? It is clearly "potential stocks suppressed by the environment."

The problem is that the NBA is too cruel. He is not like Killian Hayes, no matter how bad he plays, he has the right to play; he is not like Wenban Yama, who is talented and able to stand against each other. He needs team cooperation to make up for his talent, but in this Rockets' current system, how can he have the patience to "slowly run in" him?

There is a heart-wrenching comparison: his current performance is not even as short as the Suns' No. 1 Gillespie. If he couldn't adapt to the NBA for three-pointers, he might just be a substitute at the "T.J. McConnell" level (organized but not three-pointers, defense depends on gambling), but McConnell has a mid-range distance at least.

However, there are many examples of late success in history - Nash was only 25 years old, and Thomas Jr. averaged 11 points per game in the rookie season, and later won the "strongest 175 on the surface". Rockets reporter Feigan said: "He is not a parallel product, he just needs to be redefined successfully."

This summer, Shepard will either build muscle and improve the confrontation, or change to a more suitable team (such as those who need to control the field shooter), otherwise his NBA story may be stuck in the label of "Tanhua Show". The struggle of the rookie season has never been the end of the player, but the starting point of the NBA's survival battle. Shepard's problem is essentially a collision between the "perfect college puzzle" and the "cruel NBA environment" - what he needs is not a negation, but a time, ball rights and a more adaptable system. The pressure on the Tanhua lottery is indeed great, but history tells us: true strong people can always find a way to counterattack in the trough. Rockets fans might as well wait and see - Maybe the next story of "late-up" starts with Shepard.