Rockets' Sheppard: Playoff Spark for Houston

0:00The Houston Rockets are gearing up for a first round playoff clash with the fourth-seated Los Angeles Lakers, and folks are picking Houston to push. Past his round for the first time since 2020. The Lakers are banged up bad with fresh injuries to Luca Doncic and Austin Reeves, but the Rockets have been grinding short-handed all season long. Rockets lost Fred Van Ville to an off-season ACL tear, and Steven Adams to season-ending ankle surgery back in January, leaving gaps in play-making and. Rebounding, the coaching staff stepped up by leaning on Joshua Kogi at guard, going big with Clint Capela, riding Tari Esen's hot streak, and crucially giving. Second-year guard Reed Shepard Big Minutes. Shepard's lead forward this year, jumping from 4.4 points per game as a rookie, to 13.5 now, with better boards, dimes, and twice as many steals. He's shooting 43% from the field, and nailing 39% of his 7.3s attempted per game, turning heads, league-wide.

1:01That said, crunch times have been hit or miss for the 6.2 shooter. He's only started 21 games, mostly late season, and his size makes him. A target defensively. He ain't a full-long lead guard replacing Van Ville's handles yet, but alongside Kevin Durant and Alper and Sen-Gun drawing doubles, his shooting stretches. The floor like nobody else. This series could hinge on those close games, and leaning into Shepard's upside might just spark Houston's run, giving the young core that playoff. Fire they need to build on. Local news, powered by AI. This is California News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.