I think one thing that isn't getting considered here is Sharpe being in the ballpark with Ant defensively isn't a good thing, because Sharpe has shown he can be a plus-defender. He possesses natural gifts that should work on the defensive end that Simons doesn't have. And Simons is a far better offensive player right now. I mentioned this one other time, too -- we don't know specifically what Chauncey's issues with Shaedon's defense are. If he's dogging it or not knowing the scouting report or being unreceptive to coaching, in my book, those are very reasonable reasons to sit him. If his defensive issues are a matter of being impertinent rather than just not being able to figure it out, that makes a lot of difference in how I view what Chauncey's doing with Sharpe.
He might just think that Shape is still salvageable. We used to all talk about how Stotts wouldn't hold Dame or CJ accountable. Billups is holding Shaedon accountable. He might just think that Simons is too far gone.
My sense is that's exactly what's going on with Chauncey and Sharpe. As a coach, you have to allocate. Putting time into Taze Moore just doesn't have a high likelihood of a return. You put time into players who have a chance to get it. If Chauncey didn't think Sharpe was worth coaching, he wouldn't coach him. He'd sit him. Sit him entirely. I think Scoot talked in an interview about a similar thing. He accepted the coaching and things clicked and he took off. I'm not there, so I don't know, but I get the vibe this is largely about how much Shaedon wants to be great.
I didn't know where else to put this. @THE HCP are these Shaedon's best dunks or all of his dunks. Extremely entertaining either way.
Simons can look better on D than he used to and is against starters, but he needs trading. His gravity on O and shooting from 2-3 levels are also good things. The basketball gods would surely smile upon the Blazers if Ant (like CJ before him) was traded this summer. Sharpe’s D will come around — because the examples of Clingan, Camara, and Avdija are that positive influence more than Billups. Billups was handed a different bag than he expected and has worked at it as a new coach. The locker room sounds like it is still there with him. He needs to go elsewhere this summer. While David Adelman is known for his offensive chops — ball and player movement — this is what the young guys need and are ready for at this point. Hiring a not old, strong, defensive lead assistant would be next.
But what has happened to Scoot Henderson? According one person above, "He accepted the coaching and things clicked and he took off." Yet Scoot Henderson's playing time lately has GONE DOWN. His average for the last 6 games (24.5) is below his season average (26.5) by 2 minutes. Also, Scoot's season average for 2024-25 (26.5) is LOWER than his season average for 2023-24 (28.5) by 2 minutes. Scoot started 32 games last season, but only 9 games this season. What is going on here? You're the #3 pick, and if you accept the coaching and take off, you get fewer minutes and starts?
Sharpe is a bust, let’s face it. He’s had enough time to get up to speed in his third year in the NBA, and yet in a game against the Lakers when he was really needed he could only come up with 11 points? What a joke. He’s a lazy player with no killer instinct who probably isn’t smart enough or motivated enough to be a star.
11 points in 21 minutes? That's not bad... *Edit* It's not phenomenal, but it's not terrible. He would probably had 17 or 18 points if he played 30 minutes.
totally agree, Chauncy coaching choices are often horseshit as well, bench Shae for bad defense and let Simons romp for 4 years while one of the worst defenders in the league? What kind of message does that send?
JFC here we go again.... I get being critical of players but god damn it feels like portland fans always go in on our own players for the littlest things, the kid is 21 and while i highly doubt he or anyone on the teams reads any of this shit but god damn its depressing to read the constant dogging of players regardless of who they are.
