Reed Sheppard stats tonight: How did the Rockets rookie fare against Pelicans? (Dec. 19)

It was another quiet night for Reed Sheppard as the Houston Rockets rookie had just two points as the side notched up a dominant 133-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Toyota Center on Thursday.

Heading into the half, Sheppard had played 7:53 minutes and had just two points on 1-2 shooting from the field. He was yet to nail a 3-pointer. He also recorded three rebounds, one steal, and one block in the Rockets' dominant run throughout the game. By the end of it, he had taken two more shots from the field and one from beyond the arc. However, he failed to score any more points.

Stats	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	FG	3PT
Reed Sheppard	2	3	0	1	1	1-4	0-1

Sheppard came into the contest averaging 3.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 35.7% shooting from the field and 30.4% from the deep.

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Ime Udoka wants Reed Sheppard to be more aggressive

Earlier in the season, Ime Udoka shared his thoughts on Reed Sheppard after his season-opener contest in the NBA. The promising guard ended with just four points on 2-of-5 shooting in his debut. The HC said of his feedback:

“He passed off some other ones where he has to be able to get that (shot) off quicker We also didn’t do the best job of freeing him up. Teams know who he is coming in, and they were extra aggressive with their ball pressure on him. So his setup and our screens are gonna have to be much better to get him the space that he needs to get those off.”

It has not been the greatest of runs for Reed Sheppard. The No. 3 overall Draft pick has been receiving scanty minutes this season — a legitimate factor behind his subpar numbers. Sheppard shot 52.1 percent from the deep last season at Kentucky, but his numbers in the NBA have dwindled with lack of time on the floor.

After his draft, Udoka had lavished praise on their latest acquisition:

"He just has a really good feel. He keeps it simple. He doesn’t over dribble or get himself in trouble. He takes the shot when it’s there, makes the pass when it’s there. He’s not worried about his result, it’s about what's best for the team."

At 6-foot-2, the rookie came into the league as a promising catch-and-shoot player with the capability of creating his shot at times. His passing abilities and defensive skillset make him a well-rounded prospect for the Rockets, but with the depth they have in their fold, it's also understandable about the fewer minutes per game. It remains to be seen if Reed Sheppard can do more in less in the days to come.