Where Shaedon Sharpe has Improved the Most in Year 3 with the Trail Blazers

Shaedon Sharpe is better at some stuff in his third season. Let's talk about it.
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[@mattalley4330]

The thing that troubles me about Sharpe is that I’m just not seeing that Mamba mentality that a potential team leader/franchise centerpiece needs to have to some extent. True, it’s early in the season, but as a third year guy we really need to start seeing it soon. Dame had it first year and Clyde had it within the first two. Not saying it can’t happen, but I’m beginning to think he is not team cornerstone material. Doesn’t mean he can’t have a good and productive career, and you can’t always expect a guy to live up to the hype but still…

[@waynelamb2214]

Agree. I’m worried that Billups is telling us he’s telling Shae to shoot but really not behind closed doors. He should be force fed and told “go downhill with 5 attempts at the rim this quarter” or “you shoot the next 3 shoots for this team and all at the rim.” If he is actually coaching Shae to shoot more nd he isn’t, someone should replace Billups because coaching is his only job.

[@xLeeroycranex]

His mid-range game is incredible....when he goes for it. Don't know why he simply isn't just living from mid-range considering it's easy to get there with his limited ball handling and then, he can also just up high while having tremendous length. Honestly, this might put him more on a T-Mac or Harden trajectory. Obviously, those guys are/were epic scoring superstars but there were limits to their game and leadership preventing them from being Kobe/MJ level. Hopefully this is just the result of the vets being on the team and he'll take the ball more.

[@CheeseWiz84]

I'd like to see Sharpe work on his iso game and handles with Jamal Crawford in the next off season.

[@iroh3203]

Banton remains the usage leader on this team

[@jonathanevers8019]

I was thinking about Shae’s progression the other day (without digging into the stats) and I’m curious what you think of this theory. Given his lack of experience with high level competitive basketball, before the NBA, I wonder if he’s just more comfortable at this stage in more well-defined roles. He played well his rookie year when he was only asked to do a few main things - mainly C&S, run around off ball to catch lobs, and crash offensive boards for put-backs. Then at tanking time he was given free rein to do whatever he wanted to do, and he looked good in that role, particularly before teams had enough tape to game plan for him. Now he’s kind of in this in-between role of deciding when it’s appropriate to make things happen himself or defer to guys like Ant, Jerami, and Deni. Do you think there’s a chance he’s just in a situation where he’s overthinking his role/expectations and it’s impacting his ability to capitalize on his strengths?

[@LockedOnBlazers]

I think I've said exactly this on the show! "The challenge for him is to be good off script." I think this is a fair analysis/explanation for some of his struggles and challenges but also if he's going to be One Of The Really Good Players he has to move beyond only executing a narrow ask and understanding the Burden Of Talent. Perhaps the roster could be culled a little to make is easier for him but also he hasn't progressed enough to make that a necessity as much as he's struggled such that that would be a useful attempt at a remedy.

[@jonathanevers8019]

@ now I have myself questioning whether this was an original thought or if I just stole it from you subconsciously. In any case, I agree. I think this has me a little more optimistic, both because he’s still young and has time to develop into someone who has a better feel, and also because it means the struggles wouldn’t be necessarily indicative of him not having star upside. But I agree, there’s only so much longer that something like this could be used as an excuse

[@chadmerrill2636]

Most players who are great will have that killer instinct to take over games. I just think that Sharpe is a better than average NBA player who has above average athleticism. He might prove me wrong but that’s how I see it.

[@jonathanevers8019]

@ how do we know he doesn’t have that killer instinct though?

[@MojoMan007]

Do pros practice their handles? Do they still set up traffic cones on the court to dribble around? Seems most of the team could use this kind of practice, except, of course, TURBO!

[@MojoMan007]

All-Star Game Solution: Have a shorter All-Star game, say two 15-minute halves. °•°• Motivation? Each member of the losing team (the E or W Conference) would be "fined" $100,000 to be donated to the charity chosen by the winning team. Defense might even show up...

[@astrynaxunruh8009]

Meh. Chill on the centers. How many games have they all been healthy? It's not a conspiracy, it's just that Portland needs AT LEAST 3 centers to feel comfortable about being able to play a center for 48 minutes a game over an 82 game season. Last year our 4th and 5th centers got mass minutes.

[@rjejames28]

They need to get rid of it if this doesnt work, thats my take anyway. Its a joke.

[@kirkroyse4705]

Not being negative but nothing really changes until Chauncey billups is gone 🎉 all the young guys need a development coach

[@MikeJones-js5bt]

Nothing lol well atleast you can’t see it when he’s standing in the corner watching ant do his bs