Scoot Henderson is coming off his best game of the season, finishing with 28 points, six assists, and three rebounds in the Trail Blazers' 131-11 win over the Indiana Pacers. It was the exact type of game just about everyone in Portland needed to see from Scoot. He was struggling mightily before this performance, scoring less than ten points in three of Portland's previous four games.
That concerning stretch even prompted Tiago Splitter to call out the young point guard, bluntly saying he needs to play better. “He’s got to play better. He’s gotta find his rhythm," Splitter said. "This is just me being honest. He's gotta be better.”
Scoot Henderson showed why nobody should write him off just yet
Henderson responded well against Indiana, looking much more like the player Portland thought they were investing a No. 3 overall pick into. Offensively, the two most promising things were his decision-making and ability to get downhill.
Turnovers have plagued Henderson early on in his career, yet he didn't record a single one against Indiana despite the increased offensive load. He was playing much more under control, strategically picking his spots rather than forcing the issue and trying to do too much. It helped that he was able to get downhill and utilize his athleticism, as that pressure on the defense also opened up his playmaking.
Henderson's shot has been inconsistent this season, but he was never expected to be a knockdown shooter entering the league. He showcased his true strengths against Indiana, and the next step in his career development is to play to them more consistently.
Scoot is just 22 years old, so this non-linear progression is to be expected. Still, the inconsistency shouldn't be to these extremes, where one night he looks like a draft bust and the next he's the face of Portland's rebuild.
Blazers still need a more consistent Scoot Henderson
In reality, his role in Portland's long-term outlook lies somewhere between those extremes, but finding a way to play to his strengths will drastically raise that floor. He needs to get to the point where, even on nights when his shot isn't falling, he can still impact winning with defense, playmaking, and rim pressure.
We're cautiously optimistic, as it remains to be seen how much of this performance was due to Indiana's rebuilding roster. This is a 15-win team with Jay Huff as their defensive anchor. Henderson has already proven during his time with the G League Ignite that he can be an effective player against lesser competition.
Can he do this against stronger competition, and can he play to his strengths more consistently? If he's able to get downhill and attack the paint against more sound defensive teams, the Blazers' young guard could still have an incredibly bright future ahead of him.
Everyone already knew he was capable of these types of games, and it's great that he bounced back from a slump. But Henderson's next opportunity to build off this comes Tuesday against an up-and-coming Charlotte Hornets team. Portland recently played in Charlotte on Feb. 28, and Henderson finished with eight points while missing all seven three-point attempts.
We shouldn't overreact to one game this late in the season, but the stakes feel much higher for this upcoming Hornets matchup, as it could signal whether Henderson has truly broken out of his slump.