Sheppard emerges as the top favorite for Sixth Man of the Year! Five key takeaways from the season opener: internal competition may drive progress

On October 7th Beijing time, the updated odds for Sixth Man of the Year place Rockets guard Sheppard at number one. With VanVleet sidelined for the season due to injury, this Rockets lottery pick could assume significant backcourt responsibilities this season. In the Rockets’ preseason debut, he logged 19 minutes, shooting 2-for-6 overall, 1-for-4 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 2-for-2 from the line, tallying 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Space City Scoop from Houston media outlined five major observations from Sheppard’s first game—

1. He possesses the ability to drive to the basket with the ball

Last season, because Sheppard struggled to break into the regular rotation, many fans from various teams saw his potential mainly as an outside shooter who could stretch the floor during bench minutes.

However, if he aims to become a key playmaker for the Rockets, he must improve his ball handling and driving skills to create passing lanes and effectively distribute to teammates.

Early in the first quarter, Sheppard demonstrated this intent: he drove to the basket for a layup and repeatedly penetrated the paint before kicking the ball out to the perimeter—an encouraging sign of his development toward a more playmaking role this season.

2. Still prone to losing composure while handling the ball

On the other hand, Sheppard’s main weakness as a playmaker currently lies in his tendency to become flustered or rush his pace when controlling the ball.

This was evident several times in the game against the Hawks: for example, an early pick-and-roll with Adams and a turnover on a sideline pass early in the second half—both mistakes led to lost possessions.

Whether Sheppard can become a dependable facilitator for the Rockets depends on his ability to reduce these types of errors during the season.

3. He is a legitimate catch-and-shoot threat

There’s no need to overstate Sheppard’s potential as an outside shooter. During his single season at Kentucky, his catch-and-shoot three-point percentage was an impressive 51.4%. This skill will be crucial for the Rockets this season. In the preseason opener, he nailed a beautiful catch-and-shoot off a dribble move.

4. He is willing to take risks going for steals

One valid concern about Sheppard’s playing style is his overall defensive ability. Being somewhat undersized and lacking lateral quickness, he can easily become a target on defense, which could limit his rotation role and minutes.

However, in the 2023-24 college season, he led the NCAA with an average of 2.5 steals per game. If he can carry over this “steal-making” trait to the NBA and become a defensive disruptor, it would greatly increase his chances of earning a starting spot or a key role in the Rockets’ defense-oriented team.

Although in the first quarter he was called for a foul when attempting to steal the ball from Porziņģis from behind, this aggressive effort is exactly what fans want to see from Sheppard.

5. Other backcourt players will also get chances to prove themselves

While Sheppard and Thompson are expected to shoulder the offensive responsibilities left by VanVleet, coach Udoka has made it clear that the team will adopt a “multi-player rotation” approach to fill this gap.

Despite the Rockets’ generally shallow backcourt depth, all guards saw playing time in this game: Amen Thompson played 17 minutes, Aaron Holiday 20 minutes, and JD Davidson 22 minutes. Especially notable was two-way contract player Davidson, who performed excellently by hitting 5 of 7 threes and scoring 17 points.

If Sheppard ultimately does not meet the team’s expected progress this season, other players are ready to step into his role at any time. Perhaps this competitive pressure and the fight for meaningful minutes will push Sheppard to make further breakthroughs.