Reed Sheppard inching closer to answering question that will define his future

Portland Trail Blazers v Houston Rockets | Alex Slitz/GettyImagesThis season, almost no storyline has been more surprisingly pleasing for the Houston Rockets than the emergence of second-year guard Reed Sheppard as a genuine scoring threat, and the boost that he has seen in both his confidence and in his performance have the potential to define the team's season.

Yet, given the inconsistencies in his shot that he experienced last year, the next 20 or so games will determine whether the breakout shooting mark that he has seen this season will be sustainable. If it is, the Rockets have a truly special player on their hands.

So far this season, Sheppard has shot 45.5% from beyond the arc,…