There's no way around it: Shaedon Sharpe isn't a good three-point shooter. At 22 years old, he may ultimately get to that point in his career. But for now, there's absolutely no reason someone shooting just 27.4% from beyond the arc should be attempting 7.0 threes per game.
That's second on the team, in between Jrue Holiday (7.1) and Deni Avdija (6.8). The difference? Holiday is connecting at a 36.5% rate while Avdija is having the best shooting season of his career at 37.5%.
Sharpe's concerning trend is nothing new. He shot 31.1% last season as his three-point efficiency has steadily declined since his rookie campaign. Sometimes, less is more.
Shaedon Sharpe must face reality to save Blazers from losing progress
To play that oftentimes annoying devil's advocate, Sharpe may oftentimes miss, but his willingness to shoot the three-ball still presents a threat to defenders. That opens up the rest of his game and allows him to play to his strengths in terms of utilizing his athleticism and finishing ability in the paint.
That's contributed to a hot stretch of November, including 30-plus point performances in three of his last four games. He shot 35% from the field in October, but that has skyrocketed to 49.6% in November. Sharpe finally looks to be healthy, and as a result, his two-point efficiency is compensating for his declining three-point shooting.
It's also important that he maintains this confidence in his shooting ability. The Blazers have consistently been one of the worst shooting teams in the league over the past few seasons. Having their literal shooting guard unable to knock down shots has been problematic, especially considering the analytical importance of the three-ball in the modern NBA.
Last season, the Phoenix Suns were the only team to rank in the top ten in three-point efficiency to not make the postseason. All four Conference Finals teams -- the Thunder, Timberwolves, Pacers, and Knicks -- finished in the top ten as well. There's concrete evidence of the value of the three-ball, as it's becoming a necessity to not only reach the postseason but also to make a deep run.
Additionally, there's also the issue of Portland's lack of star power. Deni Avdija could be an All-Star this season, but he's still not Portland's long-term answer in terms of a go-to option to guide them through a deep playoff run. Given his top-tier athleticism and shot creation, Sharpe is arguably their best bet for a legitimate star currently on the roster. But he's never going to reach those heights unless he becomes a more consistent three-level scorer.
Given their roster weaknesses, Portland's rebuilding ceiling largely depends on Sharpe's three-point shot. That's why it's so concerning that he's somehow managed to trend downwards in this department at 22 years old.
It's a fine line for Portland. They need him to keep that confidence as a shooter and continue getting reps, but they also don't want it to go to this extreme, to the point where it negatively impacts game outcomes.
The reality is, Sharpe may never become that knockdown shooter everyone wants him to become. And then what? He needs to figure out how to play to his existing strengths and use that three-ball as a secondary weapon rather than relying on it for such a key part of his offensive game.
Forcing the issue too much isn't going to do him or Portland any favors.