Averaged 10+4+5 per game! Become the Rockets version of Rondo first, Meiji asked Sheppard, and Uduka also gave the order

The Rockets defeated the Utah Jazz 140-127 in the preseason, winning two consecutive games and laying a good start for the upcoming regular season. This game not only showed the Rockets' excellent pre-season run-in, but also made fans full of expectations for the new season. In particular, the joining of superstar Durant has injected reassurance into the team. His debut performance was eye-catching, he perfectly integrated into the team system and showed his adaptability as a top player. Durant can not only finish efficiently on the offensive end, but also create opportunities for his teammates by organizing with the ball. His style of play is flexible and changeable, making him a perfect puzzle piece for any team.

Although the Rockets suffered a major blow at the point guard position - main point guard VanVleet was injured for the season, the team has not been in trouble. Young center Shen Jing stepped forward, took on more organizational responsibilities, and showed excellent court vision and passing ability. He is the new cornerstone of the Rockets. At the same time, the Rockets' young players Amen Thompson and Sheppard also provided support and filled the vacancy at the point guard position. Shen Jing's growth and Durant's pick-and-roll offense have become indispensable killers. They have made the Rockets' offensive system more diverse. They can not only play smooth run-and-gun tactics through quick counterattacks, but also rely on the pick-and-roll cooperation between Durant and Shen Jing to create threats in positional battles.

It can be said that Durant showed a high degree of adaptability in his debut with the Rockets. Not only can he speed up with young players and integrate into the Rockets' fast-paced style, he can also help the team stabilize the situation through precise shooting and tactical execution in the half-court offense. His arrival makes the Rockets' championship prospects brighter, but to achieve this goal, Durant and Shen Jing alone are obviously not enough. The growth of young players is crucial, especially Amen and Shepard. The former has won the trust of fans with his excellent physical fitness and comprehensive performance, while Shepard, as last year's third overall pick, shoulders higher expectations. Rockets fans hope that this potential new star can complete his transformation in the new season and become an indispensable member of the team.

In the game against the Jazz, Shepard continued to get the starting opportunity and contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Although his presence is slightly lacking when he is on the same court with core players such as Durant and Shen Jing, when leading the bench lineup, Sheppard showed a confident side, especially his ability to attack with the ball is impressive. The Rockets do not expect Sheppard to fulfill a top talent like "White Curry" in the short term, but hope that he can gradually fill the vacancy left by VanVleet and even make greater contributions on the organizational and defensive ends. At present, the team's requirements for Sheppard are not demanding. As long as he can stabilize his starting position and show performance that matches his potential, it will be enough to satisfy the fans.

Meiji Amin Elhassan gave Shepard advice in a recent podcast. He believes that Shepard does not need to target superstars like Curry or Nash for the time being, but should use Rajon Rondo as a template and grow down to earth. Elhassan pointed out that Shepard has similarities with the young Rondo - both faced the dilemma of limited opportunities at the beginning of their careers, but Rondo seized the opportunity in the second season and quickly grew into an indispensable member of the Celtics. He averaged 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game, making him an all-around point guard. And Sheppard also has strong teammates like Durant, Shen Jing and Amen Thompson around him, similar to the Celtics' Big Three back then.

If Shepard can approach Rondo's performance, or even completely replace VanVleet (averaging 14 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game last season), the Rockets' championship hopes will be greatly improved. Rockets head coach Uduka also put forward higher requirements for Shepard after the game. He made it clear that Shepard should not be content with just being a spot-up shooter, but needed to show more aggression on the offensive end and take on the heavy responsibility of organizing and attacking the basket.

Uduka said: "In my opinion, Sheppard has the ability to do more. He needs to be more confident, dare to attack the basket and create opportunities for his teammates. We believe he has this potential, we just need him to show more aggressiveness in the game "

Uduka's words are not only an inspiration to Sheppard, but also reflect the team's expectations of him - to become a more comprehensive player and to be the protagonist, rather than a supporting role that only relies on three-point shooting. Durant also talked about Shepard after the game, encouraging him to be more aggressive. Durant believes that Shepard's talent is undoubted, especially his three-point shooting ability is at a historical level, which far exceeds that of Rondo. In addition, as last year's third overall pick, Shepard has excellent physical condition and basketball IQ. Compared with last season, he showed obvious improvement in the preseason of the new season, especially on the defensive end. Last season, Sheppard's defense was questioned due to lack of confrontation, but through offseason weight gain training, his confrontation ability has been significantly improved.

More importantly, Shepard's awareness on the defensive end is always online. He rarely appears out of position. With his quick reactions and accurate predictions, his stealing and blocking abilities are also eye-catching. Durant even said that as long as Sheppard can continue to solve the confrontation problem, he has the potential to become a reliable player on the defensive end rather than a weakness of the team. The Rockets' preseason performance showed the team's potential and chemistry. The addition of Durant makes the Rockets' offensive firepower even more terrifying, while Shen Jing's organizational skills and the growth of young players provide the team with more possibilities. If Shepard can produce numbers close to Rondo's in the new season, the Rockets will be in the first echelon of championship contenders.