An unexpected source spearheaded the Portland Trail Blazers’ defense several times during Tuesday night’s preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors: Shaedon Sharpe.
The mild-mannered fourth-year
guard, who head coach Chauncey Billups demoted to the bench for 18 games last January due to a lack of defensive focus, was flying around the Moda Center floor during the 118-111 loss. He pressed ball-handlers 94 feet from the basket, deftly navigated around screens and scrambled out to shooters to keep Portland’s rotations intact.
The activity helped Sharpe register three steals. More importantly, it was the type of energy and engagement that Billups has been challenging Sharpe to bring on that end.
“I’m seeing just a high level of focus,” Billups said about Sharpe’s performance. “I thought he was good and locked in defensively tonight. … He’s continued to stay focused, and I’ve been proud of that. You just continue to keep getting more and more confidence in him.”
Sharpe is renowned for his elite athleticism and scoring ability — qualities that shot him up to No. 7 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft even though he never played a college game. He turned in another solid offensive showing against Golden State, leading Portland with 18 points on 7-16 shooting. However, Billups reiterated often last season that if Sharpe wants to be a star player in this league, he’ll have to become a two-way player.
Tuesday night, Billups challenged the 22-year-old in that regard by refusing to hide him on defense. With Toumani Camara out of the lineup, forward Jerami Grant took the primary assignment of 11-time All-Star Stephen Curry. Then, rather than sticking six-time All-Defensive honoree Jrue Holiday on third-year guard Brandin Podziemski to start the game, Billups gave Sharpe the assignment and moved Holiday onto rookie second-round pick Will Richard.
“I continue to challenge him with who I put him on,” Billups said. “ … You would think that you put Jrue on all their top guys, but I wanted to challenge Shaedon and put him on Podziemski early on. He had Steph a little bit, he had Buddy [Hield]. Tough covers.”
Sharpe’s first steal came from jumping a passing lane in transition in the first quarter. The second one came in the third quarter when he intercepted another pass while tracking Curry on the perimeter, and he finished the play with a breakaway dunk. The third happened just two minutes later: Sharpe shadowed Hield in the backcourt on the play, disengaged to run around a pick from center Quinten Post at half court, then got right back into Hield and caused him to lose his handle at the 3-point line. This time, Sharpe pushed the turnover in transition and threw a lob to center Donovan Clingan, resulting in free throws.
Sharpe wasn’t a defensive powerhouse against Golden State, but he stayed solid and aggressive, and it led to good things. Billups had said last week that Sharpe was doing those things better during preseason practice (although, the comment didn’t generate as much buzz as the “that boy can hoop” quote from Holiday).
“More than anything, he’s a lot more engaged,” Billups said on Oct. 7. “Obviously, we know the physical gifts that he has. You want to be able to use those on both sides of the ball, and he has the ability to do that. He’s just understanding. I want him to be seeing the play before it happens. I want him to jump certain routes. I want him to defensive rebound. I want him to, all round, be engaged and locked in on the defensive end.”
Outside of Billups, Sharpe’s teammates have also noticed a difference in his defensive impact and mentality.
“Today, he did very well,” Holiday said. “Picking up full court is not easy … hats off to him for doing that.”
“I’m going to say just the pride,” Avdija added, when asked where Sharpe has shown the most growth defensively. “I feel like wanting to guard, the physicality, being more aggressive on the defensive end, taking more pride in defense. He has the potential, he has the athleticism, he’s very talented, with very good instincts. So I feel like this is a really, really good step for him.”
Through training camp and three preseason games, Sharpe continues to draw attention in the lead-up to the regular season with his play. The athleticism and scoring punch is to be expected; the improved defense is a welcomed boost.
“I think the sky’s the limit, honestly,” Avdija said about Sharpe. “If he keeps it consistent — and he’s consistent on both ends and becomes a two-way [player] — that’s pretty scary.”
