Scoot Henderson is finally back for the Portland Trail Blazers. Better yet, he appears on track for a major end-of-season breakout in Year 3.
Portland's point guard returned from a hamstring tear to play four games prior to the All-Star break. During that stretch, he's averaged 14.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game on 52/37/83 shooting splits. Admittedly, that's a limited sample size, but we've already seen enough to be optimistic going forward.
Scoot's been on a minutes restriction, averaging 20.0 minutes per game. He's also still adjusting to the speed of the game as he continues to shake off rust. In other words, things should only be up from here. If that is indeed the case, it's perfect timing as the Blazers desperately need Scoot's playmaking in the backcourt if they want any chance at making the postseason.
Scoot Henderson is already proving he fits in Portland's young core
Henderson's rust was apparent in his turnovers (4.5 per game), which compounded a roster problem that has existed throughout the season for the Blazers. Still, it's no coincidence that the Blazers are 3-1 in games he's played. Sure, some of that has to do with their strength of schedule, including wins over rebuilding Grizzlies and Jazz teams and a 76ers squad without Joel Embiid. But there's no denying that having Scoot in the backcourt gives Portland a completely different dynamic they've previously lacked.
Although he needs to clean up the turnovers, Henderson's already refined other aspects of his game that plagued him through his first two seasons. His on-ball defense looks drastically improved, while his shooting efficiency and finishing have taken a leap as well.
The Blazers rank near the bottom in key shooting and playmaking categories, and having a traditional point guard out there has done wonders for their offense. They've emphasized pushing the pace this offseason, and getting their speedy point guard back helps them achieve that, as Portland scored 135 points in all three of those wins with Scoot.
Many wondered how Portland's former No. 3 overall pick would fit into their young core after he was sidelined for such an extended time. He was even being included in hypothetical trade packages leading up to the deadline! To Henderson's credit, he's already proven he belongs in just those four games.
That's what he's done all three seasons in Portland: silence the skeptics. First, it was shedding premature "bust" labels after a shaky rookie season. Now, it's proving he fits into the Blazers long-term plans.
We've always stressed the importance of being patient with the development of young guards, and Henderson's career trajectory is a prime example. He's still trending upwards at 22 years old and seems poised for a breakout.
We'll see that after the break, once his minutes restriction gets lifted.