Trail Blazers Comeback Attempt Falls Short in Chicago + Scoot Henderson’s Rookie Struggles

Trail Blazers Comeback Attempt Falls Short in Chicago + Scoot Henderson’s Rookie Struggles

In today’s show the Blazers come all the way back but still lose late to the Bulls talk about what went right what went wrong in the closing seconds plus talk about scoot Henderson the long-term outlook for a struggling youngster welcome to lockdown Blazers let’s get into it you are locked on Trailblazers your

Daily Portland Trailblazers podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day what’s up world it’s your past first point guard and Trailblazers reporter Mike Richmond you’re listening to another episode of Locked on Blazers part of the locked on podcast network available wherever you get podcasts and

Also on YouTube thanks for making the show your first listen coming at you each and every weekday Monday through Friday so make it a part of your daily routine make it your first list and tell your friends to do the same as Lockdown Blazers your team every day in today’s

Show we are going to talk about the Blazers loss to the Bulls a game where they were out of it came roaring back and had a lead in the final 2 and 1/2 minutes and then uh let it slip away at the in in the closing 100 seconds of

This one um talk about that talk about what went into the comeback and maybe some things that went wrong in those in that final minute uh plus some other odds and ends and then I want to talk to close the show about scoot Henderson and

The b word um not the bad one because this is a family show but I have seen on the internet it bandied about there’s a b word for you it bandied about that scoot Henderson is a bust and I want to I want to talk about that I want to put

The Tiger on the table and yell at it that’s what we’re going to do in the third segment first let’s let’s do what we do here fastest recap in the west Blazers lose 110 107 uh Bulls LED 2927 after one they led by 5 5449 at the

Break uh in that second quarter uh or excuse me in the first half matis thel who had been who had missed the game against the Pelicans with a with a right ankle soreness uh was listed as questionable heading into this game plays 5 minutes and leaves does not

Return which stinks uh theyve ruled out with an ankle injury um just you know re-aggravated the same thing stinks uh no uh jery Grant still in this one and but the Blazers went back to an old familiar starting lineup with amrey Simon scoot Anderson along with tone

Kamar Chris Murray and DeAndre Aton but uh so down five at halftime that’s who was in the game down five at halftime I thought the third quarter that was it I thought they were going to have to in the in the the Mortal WS of House of

Pain I thought they were going to have to pack it up pack it in they’re down 14 after three the Blazers were three of 17 from Beyond The Arc uh they had just gone one of seven in the in the third quarter like they’re just shooting

Bricks just Brick City um and the Bulls were 10 of 25 through three quarters from three and they had hit six threes in the third quarter and it’s like yeah they’re going to lose like this that’s it like they’re going to lose this game uh and then the Blazers Rip Off a 30-13

Run to open the fourth quarter amrey Simons hits a three to give the Blazers their first lead of the second half 103 102 with 330 left then uh deand rton gets fouled hits a couple free throws and gives the Blazers a a 105 102 lead with 235 left the Blazers from down as

Many as 16 to up three with 235 to go a 30-13 spurt to open the fourth quarter just a just a dominant showing um they hit five of their first seven threes in the fourth quarter I thought this thing was cooked and then all of a sudden in the opening

N9 and a half minutes of the fourth quarter they hit 5 threes hit three all game coming into that one coming into those moments huge huge huge huge start to the fourth quarter uh but the Bulls responded you know Demar R rozan gets an an one when the Blazers kind of got they

Were they had been hunting uh amre Simon so the Blazers were doing their best to not let anre Simons get in the pick and roll and demard de rosan knew that took advantage gets to the rim gets fouled by Delano Banton because the help isn’t there because the help is worried about

Preventing ant from getting uh getting the switch in that situation switch and double they’ve been doubling a lot in this game and it had been wor out great but um in that specific situation you’re better off I if if you’re scared say you’re scared either switch either

Switch early and not like a um it was like a communication switch by the team certainly not the coach is calling it live um DDR your boy dear gets into the paint gets fouled and one he’s makes his free throw and all of a sudden we’re

Tied uh then the Blazers come down and D banson probably got hacked like he he got hacked pretty bad going coming across the lane and the Bulls get a run outs in um uh and Alex cruso gets a fast break I don’t think Andre Simons fouled him probably

Intentionally I think Jabari Walker was going to chase him down and make it harder I think an didn’t have to foul in that situation but he does Caruso splits the free throws and now all of a sudden the Bulls are back up one with 49 seconds left it was a shortlived lead

For the Blazers you immediately give up an N1 bucket and on on The Possession right after to have it tied and then you don’t score and the Bulls get get a couple free throws so the Blazers now get the ball back with like 50 seconds

Left and they’re going to go for a two for one this is like the correct math to go for here um you want to have two possessions you’re down one no matter what you want to make sure that the that the Bulls that you get going to get the

Ball back so you want to shoot with uh in the old Terry stot St he would flash up 33 uh but so like in that range 35 to 32 seconds you’re going to want to take a shot um the Blazers just kind of let Anthony Simons cook on an island to go

Get this shot everyone in the gym knew he was going to shoot everyone in the gym knew he was going to shoot like at about the 35 second Mark um the Blazers are playing a big lineup with with Delano banson Jabari Walker duop reath and DeAndre Aton on the court and if you

Go back and watch that possession I can’t pull up Clips on the YouTube video it’s the audio platform many of you listening on audio but for YouTube I can’t pull up clips for um I apologize but for copyright purposes but go back and watch that possession if you’re

Capable of it it’s available in the NBA box score there is not there they’re not guarding Jabari Walker in the in the in the weak side corner they are way the hell off of Delano banson at the wing they’re double teaming uh DeAndre in the

Post and IOD dumu is just kind of shaded towards uh in the strong side corner shaded towards duap Reef it’s going to be Ant on his own against against Alex Caruso and then Tory Craig comes with late help and he takes a really hard three-pointer I’ll talk about that more

In the second segment but seemed on seems very challenging um if I could say like hey I bet ant’s going to shoot it I bet Alex Caruso one of the best defenders in the game also had a good sense that hre Simons was going to shoot it I bet Billy Donovan

Over on the bull sideline had a pretty good sense he was going to shoot it I bet a lot of folks in the gym knew what was about to happen and an had to take a tough one he takes a really challenging one but he gets the two for one he

Misses with about 35 seconds left 34.1 it clangs off the rim uh so it’s only a one-point game the Blazers don’t need to foul they just need to get a stop um they were worried again about Demar D rozan hunting Anthony Simons instead DeMar rosen gets another switch that he

Likes this time he brings uh he brings vich up into the pick and roll and gets a switch with with uh with DeAndre Aton he kind of pump fakes and then realizes that da didn’t you know he he’s like I’m not going to take a 17-footer he leans

Under and just kicks it inside to vich who’s got Jabari Walker sealed and Vu just turns buckets Bulls by three um the the Bulls choose to foul at the end of this game uh the blazes are out of timeouts I think intentionally fouling with less than with more than six

Seconds left I don’t love unless the team’s out of timeouts Blazers out of timeouts it’s okay to foul in that situation they do athrey Simons Hits free throws uh the Blazers come back and they foul Demar D rozan it’s back to a three-point game with six seconds left

Uh they they don’t they can’t call timeout so they got a push they actually get a really good run out to begin with they throw the ball ahead to Da he gets it back to ant at about half court so he’s you know gets a little bit of pace

Heading into the front court and he goes up to shoot a three and Alex ruso makes a great play strips him like a that’s a the way they do it in the scorebook but like a strip on the way up um great defense Blazers get it back again no

Time out have to come out of bounds and ant gets himself free to the top of the key with a bunch of defensive attention he got the shot off or at least in the Box Score they’re calling it that the shot was good I thought it was late but

Regardless it rims just out and the Blazers lose 110 107 that’s your fastest recap in the west a classic fastest recap that took eight and a half minutes I’m back baby I’m back fastest recap eight and a half minutes um you know I thought an was pretty darn good in this

Game the stats were better I thought he was better in this game than he was against Pelicans um stats say otherwise he finished with 30 points and nine assists U scoot Henderson 14 in his start to go with five boards he turn the ball over six times we’ll talk about him

Bunch close show 25 and 15 for DeAndre and he’s just he’s in a groove right now and they they figured out how to get him going on offense Chris Murray had 10 Jabari Walker welcome back three points uh Delano banson had 11 Off the Bench and do wath I thought duop was like

Unplayable in the I like I would not have gone back to him I they have to go back to him because they don’t have size and the Bulls always play big but like he was I thought he was so bad in the first three quarters I was like oh no

More doop and then he was great down the stretch he was great he was excellent excellent down the stretch um it’s maybe I’m not an NBA coach maybe I’m just some doofus uh on the other side demard D rozan had 28 he’s just really good when

It matters uh vich 22 and N 23 and 10 points for aumu uh ands you know the Bulls got a little bit from Andre Drummond nine points 11 boards in less than 14 minutes dude is a just a legend in the Box Score uh let’s let’s talk about those closing minutes let’s

Talk about dami Lord who was in attendance let’s talk um let’s talk about the those sort of closing second decisions in the second SE or second segment first let’s talk about close that’s right you know that outfit that makes you feel so darn good because you look so darn good that instant

Confidence boost that’s what you can get with stitch stitch fix you can easily upgrade your wardrobe with a professional stylist that helps you find on Trend favorites that will work for you you just give them your style your size your budget and then you order boxes when you want them how you want

Them there’s no subscription required and then your stylist is going to send you five just for you pieces plus outfit recommendations and styling advice you keep what works and send back the rest they’re going to learn your your preferences the more you use Stitch fix so they’re going to just find what you

Like like and they’re going to send you more and more stuff that you love but if you don’t love it they always make it easy to return it it comes in a box the box has a bag in it you put the clothes back in the bag and you send it back if

You don’t love something shipping returns and exchanges are always free style that makes you feel as good as you look get started today at stitchfix.com lockon that’s stitchfix.com lockon stitchfix.com lockon all right so real quick let’s let’s talk about the closing of this game um I thought the

Blazes were excellent to get back in this game 30 to 13 to open the fourth quarter they were great um when it comes down to crunch time you got to execute in the half court the blazes are bad half court offense factually true been true all year nothing’s changed right um they’re

Playing down the stretch with Delan o banson who was he wasn’t excellent but he’s solid in this game um you know he he he’s uh he’s aggressive he’s he’s going to shoot him but uh he’s but he’s you know I thought he was he had some a

Really nice couple nice finishes in this game and he’s um and and hit both his threes cuz I guess in a Blazers uniform he’s a knockdown shooter but like I think you know you’re playing with him and and Andre Walker and du opef and and

Uh deand rayon it’s not a lot of spacing it’s not a lot of passing it’s not a lot of ball handling like um you’re just you’re you’ve got one above average I mean Zano panson by the numbers in a Blazer uniform is an above average shooter but like they don’t treat him

Like that they don’t guard him like that uh duath is like right around League average from three DeAndre doesn’t shoot threes and Jabar Walker is a straight up bad shooter um it’s so like you’re dealing with in the half court in crunch time and I’m talking about like the

Final two minutes of this game they they’ve come charging back and they’ve got to make plays we’re really talking about basically one and a half possessions but I thought the two for one that I explained it just it shows two things one like the Blazers get the

Ball back with 50 seconds left you the right thing to do is is to shoot about 15 seconds into The Possession you want to get like that that is good solid planning right is to take that shot with with about 15 seconds into the shot clock but everybody knows it um and when

You just give Anthony Simons the ball and say hey go get a shot up he’s going to get a shot up it just might not be a quality shot and with with leaving him on an island with just Alex Caruso just it’s just too it’s too challenging in

That type of moments um you need to you need to I understand they didn’t want to bring a a a screen up for him because they didn’t want to have a double team and then have to get it back to him and then you maybe screw up the two for one

You screw up the timing right like some of it is just like okay 15 seconds you got to get your best offensive player get him the ball he’s the only guy on the court who can like really create a meaningful pull-up jump shot it has to

Be him but I think this is kind of one of the challenges of the Blazers offense under both like Personnel like I mentioned the Personnel first cuz that’s the biggest thing here and then I think like just like General lack of creativity from the Chanty bips offense

Is like they don’t they don’t have like little pet plays they don’t even have little pet actions that it’s like I bet we’ll get a pretty good look out of this one um I think they should have when as soon as they saw dumu guarding duap immediately invite dumo into the dance

Immediately say IO you’re going to guard in this pick and roll one way another bring up do up to set a screen and kick it back to him and let him shoot a jumper and live by it or die by it right there D two of three from three five of

Six I thought he got punked in the first half but he was hooping in the fourth quarter and if he’s going to be on the court he’s your second best shooter I think you need to get into an action early when they didn’t get into an action it was just ant dribbling I

Didn’t love it and then late like the Bulls fouled so it didn’t matter but like everyone in the world knew it was going to amrey Simons they probably would have fouled anyone else and he might not they might not have made the free throw so it’s better to get it in

His hands like I’m not really second guessing that but I think most of this is like who’s available on the team right now like who can who’s who’s available to play they just they’re no no Jeremy Grant no shadon sharp no Malcolm brog in like better offensive options than than who’s

Who’s healthy I don’t think you want to just like run late game offense through Delano Banton it’s hard to run late game offense through uh DeAndre and based on just his skill set like dke can really shoot it but like he needs a little help

He needs a little um he needs to get set up in his spots he’s not a great passer he doesn’t attack off the dribble really like um he’s not going to take like he’s going to jab step and take jumpers he’s not going to like cross cross tween

Stepback 17-footer it’s just like not a skill set right and you got to you got to play with your skill sets and I think sort of it came up here at the end of this game it came up like the the Blazers sort of challenges and also just the the the

General um La the general sort of villaness of the offense under Billups the general lack of creativity on offense under Billups I think the coaching staff is pretty creative on defense they went to some zone defense late in this game that I think helped changed change up the Bulls Rhythm a lot

Um Bulls eventually solved it and the kind of made them go back to man but I think the change of pace worked I just think the offense is the number one challenge in this particular game with offense was Personnel but I think those like one and a halfish possessions one

Real possession kind of um it came up a little bit the the other thing I like the bips did like as long as we’re let’s let’s get both sides of the coin he went big and it worked he went big and it worked I mean the Bulls are one of the

Only teams in the league that plays like two weird double Center lineup with with um W with Drummond and vich and it’s it’s been decent this year like the Bulls don’t get shredded in it that’s why they keep doing it like obviously Minnesota plays really big and Cleveland

Plays really big but Cleveland has gone away from it more in the latter parts of the season after the first like third of the year they’ve they’ve done it a lot less and some of it is necessity because of injuries but but like Carl Anthony town is just like a different he’s a

Different Beast it’s like a different thing like um it’s not playing Drummond and vich together um but certainly that’s essentially two centers to be certain but but the Blazers match that big size and then they stuck with it when it kept working um you know if you’re long long time listener shout out

To my every dayers you know that I’ve I’ve kind of hoped that the Blazers would try weird funky stuff because why not this is the season to try weird funky stuff it worked tonight in a way that has basically never worked in the past uh the Blazers tried it a little

Bit against the Knicks the other night and the first thing they did the Knicks did was give the ball to to oan and Obi and he busted through a four five pick and roll and said neither of y’all are going to guard me off the dribble and got a dunk

Um not only does pull both of your centers away from the rim in those situations it also uh makes them slow have to you know their lateral challenges lateral quickness challenges get exposed on the perimeter it’s tough against some teams but it worked it worked tonight and bip stuck with it I

Thought that was fun and I like I like that it works he also um we saw a lot of that banson Scoot and anrey Simon lineup I talked about it in the yesterday’s show again shout outs my everyday if you listened to that banson gives the Blazers options because you can play

Either with him at two like they did to close the game and that big big big lineup with Jabari Walker at the three um or you can play a little smaller and you don’t give up a ton of size but you still have multiple ball handlers and there the optionality of Delano Banton

Helps and I thought that was nice um I thought the two different looks in the same game you kind of you see the Blazers you know they’re a little light on talent but they’ve got some they gave us some different looks some creativity and some interesting interesting

Personnel groupings um Damen lard was in attendance tonight okay first little context Milwaukee is not very far from from uh from Chicago you can drive there and and under or two hours um roughly I don’t I don’t know how fast Dame drives maybe it takes a little longer maybe he’s maybe

He drives a little slow uh but like he can drive he can drive close uh Demar D rozan is a is a member of the same agency as Dame is a good one he’s a goodwi client the good ones have very few clients they’ve known each other a long time they’re legitimately good

Friends Andrey Simons is Dam one of Dame’s good friends he was there with Phil Beckner who is James trainer who also trains Anthony Simons it was um you know he was just he was sitting Courtside he’s also like um a famous NBA player so he gets really good seats uh

He could have sat in worse seats I guess if he wanted to be slight slightly more Anonymous but if you’re going to go get get good seats um I think it’s kind of nice that he’s shows up for his friends um it has a real visiting your ex at work Vibe

Um it really does seem like showing up to the restaurant that you know your um your ex is a server at and just like hoping you get sat in their section so you like hey I’m doing great without you um but I I like I don’t think it’s like

Malicious I don’t I think it’s barely a story that’s why I kind of buried it in the podcast but uh worth noting that he was he was in the gym um and I I like it’s it’s like it’s a nothing Burger mostly but it is a little weird like

Three quarters you know whatever 80% of the way through um season number one Dam’s checking in on his old Pals even though like he only played with literally the only dude who played in this game who’s played with uh played with them two guys Jabari and and ants

But like ant right he’s coming to see his old friend um let’s I haven’t really mentioned him I mentioned him briefly and when run down the box score um oh I want to say this real quick this is a funny box score thing uh amrey Simons

Had uh had 28 and9 or 28 and8 whatever it was 25 and8 excuse me against the Pelicans on 50% shooting and I thought he didn’t play very well tonight he had 30 and uh 30 and n on 10 of 24 shooting and I thought he played way better it’s

Like a funny box score thing you know some of it is that he missed his last three threes uh the strip that Alex Caruso has late is a Miss three so he takes that late clock to try to get the or that kind of forced tough three to

Try to get the two for one Caruso strips him on the way up that’s a Miss three and he takes that shot of the buzzer so he misses the last three threes he would have been four of 11 which is like a relatively normal shooting night um

Totally fine if if he doesn’t have to take like sort of forced against the clock threes I thought he played I thought he played well on this game and he like factually had a worse statistical night than he than he did a couple nights ago where I thought he

Played poorly um it is a it is a weird part about watching basketball and sometimes I intentionally don’t check the box score when I’m watching because uh I’m going to read it on the show anyways so I like I’ll I’ll I’ll just I go off The Vibes and my vibes were that

A played well played well in this game I thought him and DA’s chemistry was good um just a funny I just wanted to point that box score thing out because I said that I thought ant didn’t play well in the last game and I kind of think he did

Play well in this game and yet okay let’s talk about scoot um I’m I’m not there’s no uncertainty here scoot didn’t play well in this game there’s been some talk whether scoot Henderson is the B- word a bust let’s talk about it let’s talk about it let’s use the word let’s

Talk about what it means join me in the third segment for some realness or at least some truths join me there but first let’s talk about Linked In jobs if you’re hiring you are running a small business you’re going to want to find quality professionals that are right for

You and right for the job and right for the role that’s why you have to check out LinkedIn jobs it’s got the tools to help you find the right Professionals for your team and you can do it faster and for free it’s not just another job board LinkedIn has a vast network of

More than a billion professionals which which makes it the best place to hire it gives you access to professionals that you’re just not going to find anywhere else and Linkedin does all that while making the process easy and intuitive hiring is easy when you got that many quality candidates right there at your

Disposal so easy in fact that 86% of small business businesses get a qualified candidate within 24 hours plus they’re always launching new tools to make the process even easier like a recent one they added that helps you write the job descriptions so you can get your job out out there in front of

More people quicker and with the Precision of the tools that LinkedIn has to make it easy for you so post your job for free at linkedin.com lockon MBA that’s linkedin.com locked on NBA to post your job for free terms and conditions apply all right still a pass first point guard

I’m still Mike Richmond and you are still listening to locked on Blazers I was uh fortunate enough today to host a a stream on the bleacher report app that’s a little Buzz Marketing for I didn’t know I was going to do it I would have mentioned it on

The show but it was offered to me an opportunity was offered to me this morning and I said let’s do it so this afternoon I I spent about 20 30 minutes chatting with blazers fans and other fans I’m going to say I’m going to say

At least one fan of the Miami Heat based on their comments um do you know Joe Cronin didn’t trade Damen low to the heat but um in that in that um in that chat in that stream someone asked whether it was I believe it was listener

Devon shout out to you listener Devon it was um someone asked like whether it was fair to label scoot Henderson a bust and I’ve seen that a little bit in other places on the internet and I’ve heard it Whispers from my friends who are either worried or very aggressively

Not worried about scoot Henderson so I want to I want to kind of just address that notion here to close the show I want to say this I’m glad scoot Henderson was back in the starting lineup I’m glad he played 30 minutes um you know he didn’t play at the end of

The game but like he was they they had a lineup That was working and they were trying to come back and win that’s fine um if he’s playing 22 minutes I might whine about it because I got a microphone where they let me whine about

It but like if he’s going to play 30 minutes and then not at the end of the game because he hasn’t earned it great that’s great that’s that is that is just coaching that’s basketball that’s how team sports work um he finished with 14 points on four of 17 shooting against the

Bulls he missed 13 shots and scored 14 points got to the free throw line that’s that’s good to see but six turnovers and just and just five assists and after a stretch where prior to uh prior to the all-star break where it looked like scoot was kind of figuring it out looked

Like he was piecing it together and it was kind of like it was starting to make more sense for him and starting to the speed of the game and the physicality and where his where he was going to be able to score and how he’s going to be

Able to manipulate defenses it seemed like it was all kind of coming into Focus for him not that he was going to be like go on this dominant run but it was like he was having more good games than bad games and a lot of neutral games right he just wasn’t having

Stinkers like neutral KN like hey that was pretty good or like hey I didn’t notice scoot in a bad way since he’s come back from that injury post Allstar break he struggled he really has and I I think tonight against the Bulls sort of encapsulates some of my concerns about

Scoot Henderson so let’s talk about the B- word first I’m not inclined to label a 20-year-old rookie anything anything I am not inclined to label them anything I’m old enough to remember Tyreek Evans I’m old enough to remember Michael Carter Williams I’m old enough to remember dearen Fox Daren Fox looked terrible as

A rookie he’s now like an all-nba level town he’s not going to make all NBA this year or even get really sniffed but like you know he’s an all NBA he’s he’s like you know flirting with all-star teams and things like that but he’s terrible Tyreek Evans is in the opposite way he’s

Freak balling as a rookie Michael Carter Williams the best game of his career was night one labeling any rookie early in their career is just is a Fool’s errand I’m not inclined to label I don’t feel that compulsion and perhaps you do I’m not telling you you to do it I’m saying this

Is Mike Richmond’s personal preferences here I’m not inclined to label but I do think sco’s been bad this season I think you can say that I’m I’m very comfortable using that b word he hasn’t been good he’s been bad he’s been bad has he improved like I there a funny

Part about the internet is you can find every take I am sure you can find the take that scoot was better to begin the season than he is now I’m in fact like shoot I post this thing on YouTube I bet you can find it in the YouTube comments

For the video but like there every take is available so I’m not saying like this no one thinks this but like anyone with um anyone acting in good faith can admit that scoot Henderson has improved from early in the season to now but also he

Hasn’t been good recently I like I can I I am not compelled to label but I am not afraid of the truth the Bulls game looks like some of the things that worry me about scoot in this game scoot shot two of 11 in the paint including two of nine in

The restricted area missed a couple like pull-ups where where his feet were in the paint but in the restricted area so like below that little the charge Circle below the the semicircle and the little hashes in the paints two of nine couple of them just like hard off

The glass right-handed layups gets to his preferred hand like he doesn’t use his left hand there’s plenty of players in the NBA that are strong hand dominant um you notice it more with lefties like you notice it more like Dad sabonis and you notice it more with with Zack Randol

Back in the day where it’s like that dude’s never used his right hand in his life like he’ll never use in his life but like there’s plenty of guys who are who are favor their their dominant hand pretty aggressively I think scoot not using his left hand is like noticeable

And funny but it’s not that big of a deal the big deal is when he gets to a strong hand and smokes one and he had a couple this game against the Bulls where it’s like gets all the way in gets to his right hand gets to the glass gets to

His spot and just it just crushes off the glass it comes in like he he’s like you’re taking an eight-footer from in like like come on that’s like the Just Just a Touch just totally totally with no calibration right like hard off the glass from right at The Rim two of nine

In the restricted area two of 11 in the paint on the year scoot Henderson scoot Henderson is shooting 43% inside the restricted area so that’s again that’s like below the charge Circle when you look at the paint there’s that little semicircle that’s like you got to be outside of that I’m

Talking inside the charge Circle 43% League average is 59.9% but that includes guys who dunk right that includes the DeAndre I guess maybe not a great example of guys who dunk that includes the uh the Daniel gaffords right Derrik livel guys who only take

Shots right at The Rim uh but like so I went to clean the glass and like okay what’s 43% maybe like what’s that among point guards because they they the good Folks at benal could clean the glass does it by position according to clean the glass scoot is in the seventh

Percentile when it comes to finishing at The Rim among point guard s bad he’s also 79th in frequency 79th perc in frequency like he’s an above average at getting to that spot and he’s awful at finishing when he gets there I feel two ways about this one I

Think it is in some ways good news that he gets to his spots I think it is in some ways good news that he continues to have an above average foul rates he’s both above average in drawing shooting fouls and non- shooting fouls for point guards and that’s not rookies that’s the

Whole position group right he’s good at drawing fouls he’s pretty good at getting to a spots right 79th percentile in Rim frequency among point guards that’s good that’s good these are these are things that make you feel a little bit better about his game but the missing shots there is the problem and

The decisionmaking sometimes he’s just going into the going into the trees with no plan um it’s not that he’s playing out of control it’s that he’s he’s predetermining some reads and and in the past maybe where he could just overpower folks he hasn’t figured out counters or hasn’t figured out like I can’t

Overpower folks here’s another move or maybe I’ll keep the dribble alive and make some passes that that that you know and and try to make some reads I thought he turned the ball over with some just poor decision- making in this game the layups and the decision- making worry me

Much more than the jump shot obviously the jump shot plays into it because guys go under on screens and when you go under on screens he’s attacking with a guy who’s already you know four gapping him four five feet off him and saying come on and like so then you’re driving

Into someone’s chest who’s waiting for you uh and then the is also waiting and like you’re just driving into a big more of a crowd the jump shooting would change some of this but the ability to get to the rim suggests that it’s not the jumper isn’t holding him back from chances like

To attack it’s it’s a skill thing I think players can can improve in finishing right like Damen Lord it took him almost five seasons in the league to like really become a good finisher and then he was excellent at it Dam’s also like a Hall of Famer I think that might

Be a little high of a bar to say like well Dame did it um but players improve they’re finishing right players improve I think one of the big things is like Darren Fox while he was bad his rookie year he um he has become an elite elite

Elite finisher and even as a rookie he was better at The Rim than scoot uh noticeably better at The Rim than scoot so here’s how I feel I think scoot’s been bad this year and I think if you are it doesn’t change his overall ceiling right like there is

Nothing about the way scoot played that stops his chance of becoming an all star or an all-nba point guard it just makes it a lot less likely right your ceiling is always an unlikely outcome like say that’s like a 95% outcome that’s like the the top 5% now that seems like a 98%

Outcome 98 and a half% outcome right it seems like the the chance to reach that ceiling to maximize your potential seems further away than it did I don’t think it changes the ultimate ceiling it just changes the likelihood of getting to that ultimate ceiling that’s how I feel

About his rookie year I don’t feel compelled to use the term bust because I know players improve and I know the some of the that he struggles at are things he can improve with and I know he has some indicators that suggest he’ll be okay but I think two things can be true

You can be worried about scoot in the present and hopeful about scoot in the future you can hold those two truths in your mind at the same time I mean maybe you can’t but I encourage you to give it a try because I think in reality what you’re watching is a guy struggle

And the the sort of even the positive indicators I’m I’m giving you it’s like I mean you saw him get to the rim against the Bulls and just smoke layups like it doesn’t really matter if you never make them right um so I I think

Where I am heading into the final 15 or so games of scoot’s career uh is 14 by my math over here on the other screen uh the Final 14 games of his career assuming he plays all of them is that like year one has been a disappointment year one doesn’t Define

You year one is not the end all Beall but year one unequivocally for scoot has been he has been a lot worse than I thought he would be and probably than you thought he would be too the chances that he ends up being okay certainly still there for you he certainly does

Some things that you can see like oh yeah if he tightens this up and does x and x and x he can get there but there are the progress you were maybe really hoping for the back half of the season has not come post All-Star break and you

Know maybe he’s still dealing with with some with some health stuff or whatever but he’s going to play 30 minutes I don’t think we can make excuses about his health if you play you need to play a little bit better that’s that’s going to be the rule for scoop for the rest of

His career because it’s the rule for everyone to play plays in the league no labels for me only honest honest appraisals which is I think he’s been bad and you wish he was better and knowing that I think you can say there are reasons why I think he might get

There but if you are feeling a little shaky I think he’s given you reasons to feel a little bit shaky both things can be true at the same time tomorrow show we keep it rolling uh I was I was trying to get a uh interview fell through so it’s

Probably going to be a mailbag episode um I have good mailbag questions doesn’t mean you shouldn’t send me more um locked on Blazers pod gmail.com if you’re listening this late into the program locked on Blazers pod gmail.com is a place to send me a mailbag question

Do it come back 5 days a week wherever you get podcasts also on YouTube I appreciate you listening I’ll talk to you Soon

A spirited rally came up just short in Chicago. Damian Lillard was there, which is fine, but maybe weird but also maybe its sweet. It’s certainly not important. What’s important is late game offense and Chauncey Billups going BIG down the stretch. Plus, we have some honest talk about Scoot Henderson and a rough rookie season.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOBlazers?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

Watch the show and subscribe on YouTube
📺 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeE7WdPaNWwA-IZGfHek90Q?sub_confirmation=1

Music for Locked On Blazers by Drae Slapz. Find more of Drae’s work here: https://ffm.bio/thedraeslapz

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Nissan
Our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.

eBay Motors
For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

BetterHelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.

PrizePicks
Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuel
Get buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
#TrailBlazers #NBA