As the Houston Rockets attempt to cope with the loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, youngsters Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson will largely be given keys to the offense: a risky, but necessary, proposition that the team's title hopes hinge upon.
Yet, through three preseason games, Sheppard has shown flashes of both excellent perimeter shooting and a propensity to get sped up with the ball in his hands, leaving room for both hope for his offensive viability and doubt as to whether he can be the facilitator that the Rockets need.
Sheppard, 22, will need to take on significant minutes no matter what this season for Houston, and, if these minutes cannot become viable, the team could be in serious trouble.