Congratulations to the Rockets! The new point guard has improved 5 statistics and turned into a passing and shooting master. Can he replace Van Jordan?

I believe the biggest headache for Rockets coach Udoka this season is their core point guard VanVleet - he was injured and was reimbursed for the season before the season even started. During the training camp in the Bahamas, the Rockets' VanVleet was accidentally injured and tore the cruciate ligament in his knee. Although he has completed the operation and it was very successful, if he wants to return to the team, he must be out for at least 9 to 12 months, and he also needs a series of adaptive training before he can play for the Rockets. In other words, it is no longer possible for VanVleet to play even one game for the Rockets this season. Even if the Rockets reach the finals next June, he will not be able to appear.

In fact, this is also an incentive and spur for the Rockets. Without the main point guard, Uduka can safely and boldly use and train new players. The Rockets' Shepard and Amen Thompson are now performing quite well at the point guard position. Even the two capable backup point guards Davidson and Holiday have difficulty entering the rotation. Amen Thompson's performance this season has improved on both offense and defense, and the one who has improved the most is naturally the Rockets' 21-year-old new point guard Reed Shepard.

The 21-year-old Shepard performed poorly last season and was directly abandoned by Uduka, and has been sitting on the bench. After VanVleet was injured this season, Sheppard received a lot of opportunities. Although his performance in some games was not very good, his performance in the last five games has basically been at an All-Star level. The Rockets have achieved a record of 9 wins and 1 loss in the last 10 games. Shepard has now firmly locked in the position of a backup point guard for the Rockets. Even after Ethan was injured, he became the only core of the Rockets' second team.

We can look at a set of data: Last season, Sheppard averaged only 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.7 steals per game; this season, his averages have reached 12.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals, and his playing time has also increased significantly. In terms of the most important offensive skill - three-point shooting percentage, last season Shepard's three-point shooting percentage was only 33.8%, and now it is as high as 47.8%, which is like a super shooter in the league. The improvement in these five key statistics fully proves Sheppard's growth and performance this season.

Now in terms of passing and shooting, Shepard has truly become a substitute master for the Rockets. He is also a rare dual-purpose defender for the team. Although VanVleet is no longer here, with Sheppard serving as the core defender in the second team, Uduka no longer has any worries.

Even if VanVleet returns next season, he may still need to compete with Shepard, and he may not even be able to beat this young player who is on the rise and is getting better and better. Therefore, Sheppard can completely fill Van Fleet's vacancy this season, and he will also be one of "Van Jordan's" biggest competitors next season.