The Rockets averaged 131.3 points per game in the preseason, and Shepard played a major role in it. He officially expressed his position after the game.

After defeating the Hawks by 18 points with their remaining lineup, the Houston Rockets' four-game preseason tour came to a successful end. The Aerospace City won all four games and was in good shape, not affected by VanVleet's injury at all. What’s even more surprising is that the Rockets averaged 131.3 points in 4 games. They are extremely impressive on the offensive end. You know, under the leadership of Uduka last season, this young army ranked second in the regular season, but they relied more on The airtight defense, on the offensive end, especially in terms of long-range shooting, is actually considered poor among strong teams; now it seems that the Aerospace City in the new season has superimposed a more efficient offense on the rock-solid defense, and has the potential to soar into the sky in the new season.

The Rockets can hand over such a satisfactory answer, last year's No. 3 overall pick Reed Shepard was indispensable. After all, in the final game of the preseason, the Rockets were missing Shen Jing, Durant, Amen Thompson, and Smith Jr., and they only faced the Hawks' main players from the second and third teams. However, they still played a mercury-like offense and continued their previous momentum. As the starting No. 1 position, Sheppard lived up to the trust of coach Uduka. In this campaign, he contributed 29 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks. He made 12 of 22 shots from the field, including 5 of 12 three-pointers.

Xiao Xie, who has been ridiculed as a "summer game star", finally felt proud and showed off all his 18 martial arts skills when he played for Kentucky. The super rookie with sophisticated playing style and accurate shooting is finally back. What's even more surprising is that Shepard, who has been criticized for not being able to match NBA-level physical strength, also performed well on the defensive end. He had 4 steals and 3 blocks, which also reflected his enthusiasm on the defensive end. The court commander who integrates offense and defense confirms what was said before: For the young Rockets, it may not be a bad thing for Jordan to be injured at this juncture.

Shepard was not blindly proud of his performance. When asked in the post-game interview, "How will his role change due to VanVleet's injury?", Xiao Xie said calmly: "I feel sad for him (referring to VanVleet). He has always been very good to me. I have no doubt that he will return soon and become stronger." Later, Sheppard stated: "I am excited about the new season. I have been given the opportunity to take on a larger role. I have to stay confident, stick to my style of play, enjoy the game, and try to replicate tonight's performance." Perhaps, Uduka also has an answer in his heart. As long as Shepard is given enough ball rights and trust, he can give a satisfactory answer - doesn't Durant hope to retire in Space City and hit the championship at the last moment? Shepard is indispensable.