Shaedon Sharpe (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
Last week, in a shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers road win on the second night of a back-to-back, Shaedon Sharpe became the youngest player in franchise history to surpass the 3,000-point mark when he dropped 20 on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena.
There was variety in those buckets, whether it was cutting off the ball for layups, hitting self-created turnaround and step-back mid-rangers, or knocking down threes from the left wing. It’s nothing different from what he’s been doing all season, as Sharpe is currently a top-30 scorer in the NBA at 21.1 points per game.
With the league’s ninth-highest usage percentage (31.8%), the size-heavy Blazers have shifted him away from the frontcourt the last couple of years to utilize him more as a combo guard. That hasn’t changed his play style.
Sharpe is fearless, relentless, and anything but shy; just look at his shot chart. He’s averaging 17.5 attempts over his first 20 contests, an amount that puts the 22-year-old in the company of All-Star veterans and reputable players.
In a day and age where efficiency is constantly preached as the end-all, be-all, Sharpe is an attack-oriented throwback who will go directly at you and take as many shots as it takes to get the job done. Though a career-low 26.4% three-point percentage may paint an off-putting picture, his success from inside the arc and frequency of those looks provide a balance.
“I practice. I’m in the gym a lot, so whatever shot I shoot, I’ve seen it before in workouts or in runs,” Sharpe told RG pregame in Cleveland last week.
“So you’ve just got to stay confident in those shots, and they’ll start dropping. So just keep shooting.”
For what Portland needs, Sharpe’s mindset is welcomed.
“I never look at field goals. That’s too vague,” Blazers acting head coach Tiago Splitter said to RG in his pregame press conference. “You’ve got to see what happens in the game. What was a bad shot? What was a good shot?
“Sometimes, if you take 30 shots in a game and they were good shots, that’s fine. Sometimes, you make four shots, and they’re all bad shots; that’s not good. So, it doesn’t say everything, the number of field goals. So you’ve got to be careful with that [when judging].”
Splitter wants Sharpe to ambush the opposition, and the same applies to Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant.
“Those guys have talent; we need them to be aggressive,” Splitter said. “So, I don’t see just a number. I see the game, I see what they’re doing, and if it’s the right shot for that particular play.”
Making a Living Downhill
A rim rattler and one of the most ferocious downhill threats in the NBA, the brunt of Sharpe’s damage comes close to the basket. Combining the restricted area and the paint outside of it, the fourth-year guard has made 59.3% of his 172 tries.
Sharpe has driven the ball over 10 times per game with a 73.8% points percentage. He’s increased his free-throw rate to .301, too. Asked how things are different from when he was a rookie, Sharpe believes he’s become better with pace.
“I’m starting to understand how teams are starting to play me,” Sharpe said.
“Just trying to take advantage with film. I always watch film and see where I can get better. It depends on different teams. They know I like to get to the rim, so they crowd the paint, so just watching film and seeing where I can kick out and help my teammates in that way.”
Athleticism is the standout physical trait that Sharpe possesses. Although he doesn’t have a favorite in-game dunk or moment that comes to mind, he does feel like he’s “up there” with the top high-flyers in the NBA.
“I think that’s for y’all to decide,” Sharpe stated.
Splitter is impressed by “his natural ability” to get to the cup, accompanied by his pull-up mid-range game.
“His threes, of course, can get better,” Splitter said. “Especially not giving up on open catch-and-shoot threes. That’s something that we’ve been talking to him [about]. Just being confident with his shot and getting better.”
Individual defense, however, is the key area Sharpe wants to continue improving, particularly on the perimeter. Portland opponents have a higher effective field goal percentage (56.5%) when Sharpe is on the bench, per Cleaning The Glass, indicating significant progress this season.
“I feel like we’re a defensive-focused team, so really whatever I can do to help the team,” Sharpe said. “I feel like it came along pretty good. I’ve just got to get better at really guarding and being more focused, I guess. Film always helps with that, so just watching film and really studying what other guys like to do.”
Room for Improvement
As a whole, the Blazers have allowed the fifth-most points per game (120.5) in the league. And while their defensive rating is slightly better than the standard measurement, it’s obvious they have to figure out how to keep opponents off the free-throw line and limit second-chance opportunities.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Splitter added. “Everyone on the team knows that. We want to be a better defensive team. We’ve got to be able to create chaos, disrupt, but also be able to stay in front of people. So yes, we’re asking a lot, but that’s what it takes to win basketball games.”
Portland’s offense must also do away with self-inflicted wounds, which give teams free runways and odd-man advantages in transition.
The Blazers have lost several close games this year, so their 9-15 record is somewhat deceiving. Adding their injuries to crucial players like Jrue Holiday, Blake Wesley, Scoot Henderson, and Matisse Thybulle (plus, recently, Donovan Clingan) has made it challenging to overcome.
But Rip City is sticking together, even through a tough four-game road trip that didn’t go as planned. Sharpe calls the guys in that locker room his brothers.
“If we just all come together and play as one, we’ll be unstoppable,” Sharpe voiced.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard has been growing alongside his Portland teammates for years now; that goes for Grant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara, Kris Murray, and Henderson. That familiarity goes a long way for a Blazers bunch that has eyes on big goals.
Sharpe won’t get caught looking ahead at the possibilities, though.
“I’m just gonna take it one game at a time, and we’ll see when the time comes.”
Score extra with Bet99 Sportsbook this week — First Bucket Friday Insurance for Dec. 12, 30% SGP Boost NBA Cup Games for Dec. 13, 30% SGP boost for NBA Cup Final on Dec. 16.