Houston Rockets Find Clutch Spark in Reed Sheppard

0:00It's March 1st. Here's your NBA news in two minutes. Subscribe to stay locked in all season. The Houston Rockets are struggling to find reliable ball handlers in clutch moments when half-court offense matters most. Their top options, like Kevin Durant, Amin Thompson and Alperin Sen-Gun, all have handling limitations that slow down the attack. These issues ripple across the team. Thompson's shaky shooting lets defenses crowd the pain, limiting Sen-Gun's post-ups near the rim. Durant shoulders a heavy load, but lacks the elite dribble control of top NBA guards, leading to more turnovers under pressure. Rookie Reed Shepard has stepped up lately to ease these problems. His smooth handling around screens and against tough defenses has sparked better flow in critical spots. Shepard's recent pairings, especially with Clint Capela, have created open looks for himself and teammates like Tari Eson and Jabari Smith Jr. His sharp three-point shooting pulls defenders out, opening space even alongside non-shooting shooters.

1:00Coach Amy Yuroka notes Shepard's defensive gaps, but praises his offensive punch in the clutch. More minutes could help now, though Fred Van Velietz returned next season might solidify the back court. Appreciation to our sponsor for backing this episode. Your favorite podcasts, music or sleep sounds coming from your pillow. No earbuds, no distractions, just listen and relax. S-O-L-I-SOLY-PILLOW.com.