After having a series of poor performances since his return from injury, Scoot Henderson took a step in the right direction last night, delivering a consistent performance. Against the Clippers, still coming off the bench, the rookie point guard accumulated 19 points on 8/16 shooting including 3/4 3-pointers, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in 30 minutes.
Enough to regain a little confidence in his game while Portland is already adrift, in penultimate place in the Western Conference. We will now have to continue to make the right readings of the game to gradually achieve better performances. In this sense, Scoot Henderson undoubtedly showed his best face this night, since he took the time to let the game come to him, without rushing.
Who goes piano, goes sano
“I think it’s something I’m developing, taking my time. The opponents will give me time to shoot. They're going to go under screens, they're not going to try to contest 3-point shots, obviously, just based on the numbers. I understand all that, so I take my time when I have an open shot”, he notably declared.
As long as he is not consistent from afar, opposing defenses will continue to overlook him. Which doesn't bother him because it allows him to progress.
” I love that “he added. “It's not like Anthony Edwards, where defenses are going up on him every time he comes off the screen, and he has to take contested shots, which he's going to take anyway. So I have a little more freedom to take my time, hold my gesture and all that.”
A role to assume behind the Simons-Sharpe tandem
Alongside Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe, respectively at 38 and 27 points, Scoot Henderson allowed Portland to hold off the Clippers until the end of the game last night. Even if there was another defeat at the finish (132-127), it is this role of lieutenant that the leader must now play more regularly to help the Blazers be more competitive.
“I think Scoot was amazing today”underlined his coach, Chauncey Billups. “His minutes were excellent. He gave us rhythm, he pushed us, he went to the basket, he created for us and he was also aggressive in scoring. This is one of his best matches overall. Defensively, he will always be tough and combative. Scoot was very important for us throughout the match.”
The Scoot Henderson project is slowly coming together and may take longer than expected. But the main person concerned remains determined in any case.
“Right now, I’m experiencing my first season, my first matches. I am progressing every day. It’s going to happen eventually, I can’t overreact,” he continued. “I’m working on it, so it’ll pay off eventually.” I keep faith in God and in my work. A lot of people say that, but that's really what I do. Coming in, and having confidence in what I worked on the day before, watching video, trying to get better every day.”
| Scoot Henderson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | POR | 12 | 26 | 33.6 | 18.0 | 66.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 9.3 |
| Total | 12 | 26 | 33.6 | 18.0 | 66.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 9.3 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
