; . Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson returned to the court Nov. 22 after missing nine games with a sprained right ankle and has already demonstrated improvement.
The time off gave Henderson a mental breather after a very slow start to his NBA career and allowed him to learn while watching veteran Malcolm Brogdon run the team. Upon Henderson’s return, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups placed the rookie on a minutes restriction. But he has yet to regain his starting job and the Blazers have won three of their last five games since Henderson got back on the court.
“While I’m sitting down, I’m watching the game,” Henderson said. “Making sure when I go in there I know what to do. I know what we need.
” The result has been an uptick in production for Henderson despite a drop in minutes per game. Here is a look at Henderson’s statistical output since his return to the court: 5 21. 8 minutes per game, down from 28.
4 in his first five games. Henderson has played fewer minutes since his return but is averaging more points. He scored 9.
6 per game over five contests after putting up 8. 8 during his first five games. The reason for the rise in scoring is simple.
Henderson shot the ball much better from the outside. Henderson hit on 34% from the field, about the same as during his first five games (34. 6%), but he shot 35% on threes (7 of 17) after going two for his first 21 (9.
5%). Henderson’s assist totals dropped to 3. 8 per game from 4.
6 assists but his turnovers also dropped, falling to 2. 8 from 4. 0.
Henderson grabbed 3. 2 rebounds per game up from 2. 2.
Henderson produced just two steals with zero blocked shots. Henderson dropped his defensive rating from 111. 7 to 103.
4 on the season. However, he continues to struggle with personal fouls (4. 2 per game).
“I think it’s rookie stuff, honestly,” Henderson said. “But, like I said earlier in the season, I’m figuring the refs out and the refs are figuring me out. Figuring out ways I can still be myself and also not be too aggressive.
And I think that just comes with games. ” His offensive rating also jumped rising to 102. 1 from 97.
6. All told, Henderson’s net rating improved from minus-14. 1 to minus-5.
8. Henderson’s first stretch of games would have justified benching him. His ankle injury did the trick for Billups and that development has been best for both the team and Henderson.
The Blazers perform better with Brogdon on the court. That only makes sense given his experience and high skill level. Starting Brogdon has taken pressure off of Henderson, allowed him to watch and learn from Brogdon and then enter the game with less pressure on him to perform.
Henderson said that Brogdon going through the feeling-out process early in the game helps him also figure out what his job should be when his name is called. “Coming off the bench gives us a different perspective and honestly,” Henderson said. “I think coming off the bench is harder because you got to go in right away and match the intensity of the other team, match the intensity of the players that are subbing out.
” And Henderson has no problem with the arrangement. “I think it’s a solid thing for me to go through right now,” Henderson said. “And I’m okay with it.
As long as I’m getting in there and trying to make the game better for my team. ”.
From: oregonlive
URL: https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2023/12/trail-blazers-scoot-henderson-showing-improvement-while-coming-off-the-bench-scoot-check-30.html
