Sometimes, a player’s best attribute can also be a weakness. That’s the case for Blazers’ No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson. His aggressive, downhill, attacking style of play is what made Henderson such a coveted prospect. But, at the same time, this style of play can get him in trouble at times.
Similarly to the likes of Russell Westbrook, you have to live and die with this type of player.
More often than not, it will be to the Blazers benefit and contribute to winning. However, if both Henderson and the Blazers want to take that next jump, there are certain areas Henderson will need to focus on developing.
Here are three key areas he can focus on improving during his rookie season.
Scoot Henderson’s No. 1 Development: Offensive decision-making
One area of improvement will be improving his decision-making on offense. With an average of 3.4 turnovers per game last season with the G League Ignite, Henderson displayed a lack of ball security.
His high turnover rate disrupts the offensive flow and gifts easy scoring opportunities in transition. To reach his full potential, Henderson must maintain better ball control, read the defense more effectively, and avoid risky passes or dribbles that lead to turnovers.
Additionally, Henderson’s shot selection has been inconsistent at times. There are instances in which he settles for contested shots or takes early shots in the shot clock without settling in on offense.
Again, this can be attributed to Henderson’s confidence in his shot-making ability, which is a positive trait. However, it will be essential that he makes more of an effort to optimize possessions with the Trail Blazers.
A part of this is a result of Henderson’s young age of 19, but it’s also ingrained in his style of play to a certain extent. The key for Henderson and the Blazers will be to find that balance between being Portland’s go-to ball-handler and playmaker while keeping that aggressive style of play that makes him so special.
Scoot Henderson’s No. 2 Development: Overall shooting
Another significant area Scoot needs to focus on improving is his shooting ability. While he has shown glimpses of potential as a shooter, there are areas of improvement that can help him become a more well-rounded offensive threat.
One aspect of his shooting that needs development is pull-up jumpers – he shot 31 percent on off-the-dribble threes last season with Ignite. Improving his pull-up jump shooting will make Henderson a more dangerous offensive weapon.
Defenses will be forced to fight over screens in pick-and-roll situations, which would create more space for him to drive or make plays for his teammates. One of Henderson’s most significant strengths is his athleticism and ability to attack the paint off of pick-and-rolls, so adding that extra dimension to his game would give both him and the Blazers a considerable boost.
This also helps in isolation situations. In past seasons, teams have frequently sagged off Henderson, forcing him to shoot. Adding a 3-point threat to his arsenal will give Henderson more room to operate, as teams will have to respect his shot.
Keeping the defense honest in pick-and-roll and isolation situations will not only space the floor better, but give Henderson more room to operate, making it easier to attack the paint.
Henderson’s catch-and-shoot efficiency is also relatively weak, with a 33.3 percent shooting percentage on catch-and-shoot jumpers. As a result, this limits his effectiveness as a spot-up shooter and makes it challenging for him to play off the ball.
Improving his catch-and-shoot efficiency would make him a more valuable asset in these situations, as defenders would have to respect his shooting threat even when he’s not handling the ball; this is particularly important with Portland’s current roster construction, having guards Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons as its other current foundational franchise pieces.
Developing Henderson’s overall shooting skills, particularly in pull-up jumpers and catch-and-shoot situations, is critical for his growth as an offensive player. By becoming a more reliable shooter from various positions on the court, Henderson would demand more attention from defenders, open up driving lanes and elevate his scoring capabilities to become a more versatile and well-rounded player.
Scoot Henderson’s No. 3 Development: Defensive intangibles and consistency
Henderson must address his defensive intangibles and consistency to become a more well-rounded player. While he’s already impactful offensively at the NBA level, concerns were raised about Henderson’s defense with the Ignite.
One glaring issue was the Ignite’s pick-and-roll defense while Henderson was on the team. The NBA is such a heavy pick-and-roll league – which should benefit him on offense – but it could also be a concern on defense. Henderson needs to develop a better understanding of when to go over or under screens, communicate with teammates, and when to switch.
There were numerous occasions during Henderson’s time with the Ignite when the opposing team got an easy bucket due to a defensive breakdown because two players were guarding the same ballhandler after a screen.
Improving his help-side defensive rotations is another crucial aspect for Henderson to address. Being in the correct position to provide support when a teammate is beaten off the dribble or to contest shots near the rim is essential for the Blazers’ defense.
A better understanding of when and where to provide help defense will contribute significantly to his defensive effectiveness.
Furthermore, Henderson must eliminate lapses in both on-ball and off-ball defense. Eliminating defensive lapses, such as losing focus or getting caught out of position, will make him a more reliable defender.
Lastly, Henderson should develop his closeouts. Improving his technique and aggressiveness in closing out on shooters will make it harder for the opposition to score from beyond the arc and contribute to overall defensive success. There have been situations in which Henderson is too stagnant or flat-footed when closing out on shooters, which will only be more difficult as he transitions into the NBA.
Henderson will never be a versatile defender in terms of switchability at 6-foot-2. But he has the strength and athleticism to be a net positive on defense despite his size, as long as he can improve the aspects he can control.