Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham - 2024 NBA Draft

[sisibilio]

Late to the party.
Shepperd is definitely legit.

[sisibilio]

BTW. I just saw a clip from the game vs Miss State where he blocked a 3 pt shot with a jump that's got to be somewhere around 38" - 39" . His first step is pretty decent, he's got good agility and exceptional body control. He might not be a superquick or uberexplosive athlete like a Ja Morant or Fox but the statement about him being unathletic is 100% racial bias. There are many guards in the NBA with similar or lesser athletic abilities.
He's a bit short for the SG position, and doesn't seem to have the freakish wingspan guys like Donovan Mitchell or Eric Bledsoe have to make up for it but the potential to be a solid NBA player at least is there.

[The-Power]

Great shooting display from Sheppard yesterday. Aggressive Sheppard is such an exciting prospect and I hope he has a Haliburton-esque trajectory where he's still an unselfish pass-first player but also someone who's happy to put up a ton of shots if needed or more efficient. When he's willing to pull up from 3 or in the midrange, and looks to drive when there's an opportunity, he's a different player and he has shown that he has the tools to do that.

His screen navigation and POA defense was really bad last night and has been on various occasions throughout the season. It's something he'll have to work on in the NBA but that seems coachable for the most part, not least because he has individual possessions and games where he has shown ability in that regard. He has good instincts, great hands and the ability to contest shots well for his size, so that'll help him.

I don't expect him to ever be a plus defender in the NBA but that's not necessary if his offense translates and he's not a bottom-tier defender, which is a solid bet. One thing is without a doubt, though: the games versus Mississippi State and Tennessee will have been closely monitored by NBA teams and raised his draft stock.

[Johnny Firpo]

We are getting closer and closer to Sheppard being the Nr. 1 pick. It's definitely more realistic by the day.

Depends on whose team picks at #1 IMO.
I don't see Detroit or Charlotte picking him, but I definitely think Spurs take him if they win the lottery again.
Wizards probably take Sarr, Portland is ?????
Any GM who takes Topic over Sheppard should be fired on the spot; I'd take Sheppard over Dillingham as well but at least that's still somewhat arguable.

I agree, would take Sheppard, just because the 3 ball is so huge these days. Topic has a nice mechanic, but for some reason his shots tend to not fall. It's weird, I don't see any particular wrong with the motion, but then again, I'm not an expert.

[2weekswithpay]

Thank you for bringing up Hauser. He strengthens my argument because he's another great college player that can't translate to the NBA dude to his physical profile. While he has good size he has slow feet and below average athleticism. He can barely get on an NBA floor because he's such a defensive liability. While in college, like Sheppard, he started and produced at a high level because he wasn't facing NBA talent every game.

This is my issue with Sheppard. Great college player. Really fun to watch. But he has a very low chance of ever being a starter at the NBA level unless it's a tanking team or multiple injuries thrust him into the role for a bit. He has trouble defending on-ball now, imagine how bad it'll get in the NBA. And that will only get worse if his handle forces him into a strictly off-ball role because then he'd have to defend shooting guards.

I'd love to be wrong. But I see a very limited role for him as a bench point guard getting 15-20 mpg on a good team. TJ McConnell and Payton Pritchard type careers. I'd much rather take a chance on someone that has a realistic chance of starting on a good team in the lottery. Playoff teams needing depth would be a great landing spot and those teams pick in the 20s which is where he should go. But don't underestimate how dumb NBA front offices are so he could go in the lottery

???. Sam Hauser consistently plays for the best team in the NBA. What do you mean he can barely get on the floor? Buddy Hield has started 400 NBA games so far in his career and he also has slow feet and below-average athleticism.

Most guards aren't great on-ball defenders and almost all of them require help defending. The exceptions are the top tier guards in the NBA like Holiday or Caruso. Unless Sheppard's defense is bottom-tier then I don't see the issue. Guard defense isn't that important, being able to help, communicate, and make smart decisions is more than enough for most teams. Very few teams need strong defensive guards to be successful.

His spot starts skew his minutes. As does the fact that they're actively trying to keep their rotation guys healthy and better rested for the playoffs. He's basically a 15-18 mpg off the bench guy. It's the same reason Pritchard's minutes are similarly up to 20 mpg. Come playoff time that will shrink to almost non-existent.

Buddy Hield and his ilk shouldn't start. That's my point. He actively hurts every team he's ever been on with his defense and lack of secondary playmaking. I'd say go look up his playoff numbers but he's never played in them and he's a major reason for that. Just because a player CAN start and can put up numbers based on whatever situation he's in does not mean he'll deserve to or amount to a winning player.

Sheppard's on-ball defense could very well be bottom tier in the NBA. He can't guard in college. What do you think will happen in the pros? Pritchard is an excellent point guard who can actually defend (despite the narrative) and he can't even start. I'll get a better sense of it once I see him at the combine. That will speak volumes.

What are you talking about? Hauser has started 6 games this season. Off the bench, he still plays 19.4 minutes a night his minutes are not skewed by anything. We'll see what happens in the playoffs, but last year Brogdon was a disaster on defense and he didn't get taken out of the rotation until the very end.

Oh, I agree but Sheppard isn't Buddy Hield, Hauser, or Pritchard. Sheppard is a significantly better playmaker than either Hield or Hauser and Sheppard is better on defense than all 3 were in college as a freshman. There are plenty of examples of bad defenders starting for good teams. The Lakers were starting Dlo and Reaves in the playoffs last season when they made the conference finals, both are negative defenders. CJ McCollum has started for multiple playoff teams it looks like he'll start for another one. It looks like OKC will be starting Giddey in the playoffs. The Warriors won a ring with Klay's corpse starting.

Why do you keep saying this? Sheppard's defense isn't perfect but he's not awful defensively in college. The only truly awful defender on that team is Dillingham. Jevon Carter, Jose Alvarado, and TJ McConnell are all small guards and none of them are cones. Conley is small and has been a solid defender for over a decade. There are examples of small guards being solid defensively in the NBA but you've already decided that Sheppard is destined to be bottom-tier.

[Colbinii]

This is the player who is the most like Curry we have seen in the NCAA since Curry has come out.

One thing that is very Curry like is his finishing around the rim. He’s really crafty with great touch.

He also has a quick trigger and uses his shooting to set-up his drive and floater game. He was very decisive in the Tennessee game, making his decisions as quick as we have ever seen him make. And it makes sense--a 19 year old improving throughout the season is what you want to see from a high-end prospect.

[Colbinii]

Late to the party.
Shepperd is definitely legit.

Welcome. We walked so you could run.

[Colbinii]

For anyone who didn't have Sheppard as a Top Tier candidate of this draft prior to yesterday, I don't think 1 game should away you into vaulting him up. He has had excellent games this season and he has had some games where he shows the need to work on much of his skill-set to be a consistent, impact player aside from shooting--which has been A+ tier all year.

Yesterday's game was more of a "He has shown all these traits which can translate to the NBA and put them all together in one game". That's awfully impressive for a freshman PG.

[EvanZ]

Honestly go watch these clips against Bronny James last year. It's pretty clear the only one holding Reed back has been Calipari (who could have known??? ).

Watch on YouTube

;t=607s

[CptCrunch]

Reed isn't Curry as he is way better than Curry as a freshman. Reed is really an first team all defense guard with an elite shot.

His archtype is basically non-existant. He is a completely unique player. His best player comp from a couple of days ago is Evan Mobley at PG with an elite shot.

lol, we talking about the same Steph Curry that averaged 22/5/3 his freshmen season at Davidson, compared to the 12/4/4 Reed's averaging today at Kentucky?

You are thinking about NBA curry, not 3 years until pick 7 Curry. Pick 7 wasn't even that low for him. Maybe you should have taken him over Flynn, but Rubio and the top 4 were clearly above him back then.

[clyde21]

Reed isn't Curry as he is way better than Curry as a freshman. Reed is really an first team all defense guard with an elite shot.

His archtype is basically non-existant. He is a completely unique player. His best player comp from a couple of days ago is Evan Mobley at PG with an elite shot.

lol, we talking about the same Steph Curry that averaged 22/5/3 his freshmen season at Davidson, compared to the 12/4/4 Reed's averaging today at Kentucky?

You are thinking about NBA curry, not 3 years until pick 7 Curry. Pick 7 wasn't even that low for him. Maybe you should have taken him over Flynn, but Rubio and the top 4 were clearly above him back then.

no, I'm thinking of freshmen Curry.

in what world is Reed "much better than Curry" as a freshmen?

[CptCrunch]

lol, we talking about the same Steph Curry that averaged 22/5/3 his freshmen season at Davidson, compared to the 12/4/4 Reed's averaging today at Kentucky?

You are thinking about NBA curry, not 3 years until pick 7 Curry. Pick 7 wasn't even that low for him. Maybe you should have taken him over Flynn, but Rubio and the top 4 were clearly above him back then.

no, I'm thinking of freshmen Curry.

in what world is Reed "much better than Curry" as a freshmen?

Well Reed defends for one. Curry had the physique of a strong high school girl.

[clyde21]

You are thinking about NBA curry, not 3 years until pick 7 Curry. Pick 7 wasn't even that low for him. Maybe you should have taken him over Flynn, but Rubio and the top 4 were clearly above him back then.

no, I'm thinking of freshmen Curry.

in what world is Reed "much better than Curry" as a freshmen?

Well Reed defends for one. Curry had the physique of a strong high school girl.

Steph Curry, in his freshmen season at Davidson, averaged 22/5/3 while shooting 46/41/86 on absurd volume (esp for that time), who single handedly led Davidson to a 29-5 record?

but you think Reed, who barely takes 8 shots a game, who averages 12/4/4 on a stacked roster that already lost 3 more games than Curry's team did that year, is "much better as a freshmen" because he has 1 more steal per 40?

i gave you a chance to rescind this ridiculous take but you decided to double down instead.

[CptCrunch]

no, I'm thinking of freshmen Curry.

in what world is Reed "much better than Curry" as a freshmen?

Well Reed defends for one. Curry had the physique of a strong high school girl.

Steph Curry, in his freshmen season at Davidson, averaged 22/5/3 while shooting 46/41/86 on absurd volume (esp for that time), who single handedly led Davidson to a 29-5 record?

but you think Reed, who barely takes 8 shots a game, who averages 12/4/4 on a stacked roster that already lost 3 more games than Curry's team did that year, is "much better as a freshmen" because he has 1 more steal per 40?

i gave you a chance to rescind this ridiculous take but you decided to double down instead.

Curry wasn't a great prospect. Tripled down here. You are being influenced by post-draft NBA development.

[clyde21]

Well Reed defends for one. Curry had the physique of a strong high school girl.

Steph Curry, in his freshmen season at Davidson, averaged 22/5/3 while shooting 46/41/86 on absurd volume (esp for that time), who single handedly led Davidson to a 29-5 record?

but you think Reed, who barely takes 8 shots a game, who averages 12/4/4 on a stacked roster that already lost 3 more games than Curry's team did that year, is "much better as a freshmen" because he has 1 more steal per 40?

i gave you a chance to rescind this ridiculous take but you decided to double down instead.

Curry wasn't a great prospect. Tripled down here. You are being influenced by post-draft NBA development.

I'm being influenced by the fact that Steph was one of the greatest college players we've ever seen and had a demon freshmen season

you said, and I quote, "Reed is much better as a freshmen than Curry"...based on what? do you actually have anything here other than "DeFenSE BrO"?

[CptCrunch]

Steph Curry, in his freshmen season at Davidson, averaged 22/5/3 while shooting 46/41/86 on absurd volume (esp for that time), who single handedly led Davidson to a 29-5 record?

but you think Reed, who barely takes 8 shots a game, who averages 12/4/4 on a stacked roster that already lost 3 more games than Curry's team did that year, is "much better as a freshmen" because he has 1 more steal per 40?

i gave you a chance to rescind this ridiculous take but you decided to double down instead.

Curry wasn't a great prospect. Tripled down here. You are being influenced by post-draft NBA development.

I'm being influenced by the fact that Steph was one of the greatest college players we've ever seen and had a demon freshmen season

you said, and I quote, "Reed is much better as a freshmen than Curry"...based on what? do you actually have anything here other than "DeFenSE BrO"?

By the virtue of the fact that Curry wasn't considered a real NBA prospect after a freshman year playing for a low tier, Div 1 team.

You are aruging against historic draft concensus here.

[clyde21]

Curry wasn't a great prospect. Tripled down here. You are being influenced by post-draft NBA development.

I'm being influenced by the fact that Steph was one of the greatest college players we've ever seen and had a demon freshmen season

you said, and I quote, "Reed is much better as a freshmen than Curry"...based on what? do you actually have anything here other than "DeFenSE BrO"?

By the virtue of the fact that Curry wasn't considered a real NBA prospect after a freshman year playing for a low tier, Div 1 team.

You are aruging against historic draft concensus here.

How is Reed Sheppard "much better" than what Steph Curry was their freshmen season.

It's a simple question about a claim you made - answer it.

You coulda just admitted you were being hyperbolic or you forgot just how good Steph was his FS season but instead you'd rather triple and quadruple down in nonsense i guess?

[clyde21]

freshmen seasons per 40-


Steph: 28ppg / 6rpg / 4apg / 2.5spg on 46/41/86

Reed: 18ppg / 6rpg / 6apg / 3.5spg on 54/53/84


biggest difference should be obvious, Steph was the driving force, double the shooting volume and usage rate, he single handedly led Davidson to 29 wins.

in what world is Reed better than Steph as a freshmen? i'd like even one legitimate argument to be honest. just one.

[clyde21]

honestly I think Dilly comps to Steph a lot more than Reed but really Steph is such an anomaly that his name should never be brought up in any comp convo

[FarBeyondDriven]

BTW. I just saw a clip from the game vs Miss State where he blocked a 3 pt shot with a jump that's got to be somewhere around 38" - 39" . His first step is pretty decent, he's got good agility and exceptional body control. He might not be a superquick or uberexplosive athlete like a Ja Morant or Fox but the statement about him being unathletic is 100% racial bias. There are many guards in the NBA with similar or lesser athletic abilities.
He's a bit short for the SG position, and doesn't seem to have the freakish wingspan guys like Donovan Mitchell or Eric Bledsoe have to make up for it but the potential to be a solid NBA player at least is there.

38-39" vertical? :lol