As the Houston Rockets entered their season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, many were surprised to find that they would be debuting the double-big lineup so early in the season, meaning that Amen Thompson and Kevin Durant would make up the backcourt and second-year guard Reed Sheppard would be pushed to the bench.
Yet, when Sheppard ultimately did get his minutes on Tuesday night, head coach Ime Udoka's worst fears were instantly confirmed, with Sheppard struggling to stay in front of his man and looking like a target for the opposing offense.
Moreover, his offensive impact does not look to be capable of outweighing his defensive liabilities at the moment, and it will be exceedingly difficult for the team to trust Sheppard to take on a starting role in any form this season.