JMAC3 wrote:Liver_Pooty wrote:JMAC3 wrote:
Yeah the fact he is only averaging 12 ppg while shooting 54% from three is a red flag for me. If I was shooting 54% from three I would be shooting 10 a game, he can't get his shot off. Once his shooting comes down to earth in the low 40s he will be under 10 ppg. Hard pass.
He is shooting the ball 4 times a game in SEC play thus far (3 games). I am more confident he stays in college for another year than he is a 10 pick.
Didn't they say the same about Devin Booker in college?
Genuine question. I can't recall.
Devin Booker is 6-6 not 6-2/3. Booker was 2nd in fga per game for Kentucky. More than Towns, WCS, Lyles etc... Sheppard is 6th in FGA. I really think the more time goes on vs actual good opponents the Reed Shepard noise will take care of itself. Against real competition he looks scared to shoot inside the 3 pt line.
You are also comparing a full season of Booker against the first half of Sheppard's season. I'm sure his usage and attempts will increase significantly in the second half now that he has played so well. On that basis I don't think comparing FG attempts and usage, particularly for freshmen is fair until the end of the year plays out. Then we will see whether his usage and efficiency will talk for itself - or not.
Sheppard averages a TON more rebounds (too small), assists, steals, blocks (too small) and than Booker did in comparable minutes. Booker 1.1AST/1.0 TO. Sheppard 4.1 AST to 1.5TO. The guy just knows how to play. He obviously has super anticipation, timing and feel to be able to way outpoint a 6"6 SG in a few of those categories, namely rebounds and blocks.
He literally is averaging 5.08 times more steals per game than Booker and 6.5 times more blocks more per game (while conceding slightly fewer fouls) adjusted for the slight minutes discrepancy. Admittedly this is only over 15 games so that small sample could change significantly but we'll see. Obviously blocks per game isn't the most important consideration given that we are comparing guards but it again shows he obviously knows how to time his contests and position himself amazingly well to disrupt the shot considering he isn't the biggest guy.
If Sheppard can play the 1 it really doesn't matter if he is 6'2 or 6'3. Even then height and sexy measurables and are the most common denominators when teams select busts. I'm at the point where I'm way more interested in if a guy has playmaking chops, feel for the game, can shoot and proven production than whether he is 6"9 with a 7"4 wingspan with massive hands.
I am not at all trying to say he's going to be better than Booker or even close to Booker neccesarily as an NBA player. But you can't deny his play so far justifies mid-late lottery consideration or better if it continues.
