Even though he is self-proclaimed best player in the Draft and future Rookie Of The Year, Scoot Henderson advances in the shadow of Victor Wembanyama and even Chet Holmgren. The Damian Lillard soap opera is also to blame for ruining the Blazers’ offseason. But the former leader of Team Ignite remains one of the favorites for the trophy since more than one in four GMs voted for him during the traditional annual poll. Some even placed him in the “steals” of the Draft when he was selected in 3rd position.
Last night, the Portland point guard was tested against the Phoenix stars, and everything went well with 22 points on 8 of 14 shots, but also 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Only criticism: the six lost balls, but he is both very young, and he is discovering his teammates. Not to mention that there is a world of difference between the G-League and the NBA.
Learn to play without a ball
“He’s playing for the first time against good players,” recalled Chauncey Billups at Rose Garden Report. “It’s probably the first time he’s playing against players who are better than him almost every night, or who are bigger, stronger or as fast. »
But Henderson did well, and we could see that his speed is really impressive, and technically, he’s strong. He is not a managerial leader, but he is in the tradition of Lillard, Westbrook or even Irving, and in Portland, we are looking to make him a “combo guard”. Billups thus associated him with Malcolm Brogdon so that he plays at position 2, and plays more without the ball.
“It’s something we’ve been working on in training,” confirmed Henderson after the match. “I think it’s going pretty well. I sprint to the corners, and that’s what the coaches want. »
Malcolm Brogdon as guide
Even if outside shooting is not his rookie’s strong point, Billups wants him to get into the habit of doing catch-and-shoot and gain confidence in his shooting. “ It’s probably new for him, playing without a ball. But it’s like that “ replies the Portland coach. “We have Anfernee, we have Malcolm… We have other players capable of playing with the ball. He has to get used to it, and it will be an adjustment for him. »
To help him in this evolution, he can count on Brogdon. Arriving from Boston, the best sixth man of the year warned that this role of mentor was close to his heart. “He’s a guy who dominates with the ball in his hands,” notes Brogdon. “But when you get to the NBA, there will be other good players on the team. The more you can play with and without the ball, the more versatile you become. I think he will flourish in this area. That’s going to help his game, playing off the ball and allowing guys like me and other backs to put him in position to score. »
