{"id":123676,"date":"2025-02-14T07:00:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T12:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=123676"},"modified":"2025-02-14T04:40:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T09:40:47","slug":"portland-problem-shaedon-sharpe-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/14\/portland-problem-shaedon-sharpe-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Portland Has A Problem With Shaedon Sharpe’s Role"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shaedon Sharpe<\/a> has seen his role change and has played a few weeks off the bench despite being a full-time starter earlier. While he still gets starter-level minutes, head coach Chauncey Billups<\/a>‘ plan is to keep him on the bench. This has also dampened the long-term plan with Scoot Henderson<\/a> and Sharpe as the backcourt.<\/p>\n

Portland Has A Problem With Shaedon Sharpe’s Role<\/h2>\n

The Portland Trail Blazers have succeeded with a starting lineup without Sharpe. That decision has left the team in a precarious position because he is one of the building blocks. Coach Billups put Sharpe on the bench to hold him accountable for his defensive lapses. It was fair to change Sharpe’s role, but the risk of crushing his confidence could also happen.<\/p>\n

In the latest game against the Denver Nuggets, Billups inserted Kris Murray<\/a> into the starting lineup over Sharpe. This was surprising, considering Murray did not play in the previous game despite being healthy.\u00a0 During his 14-game stretch off the bench, Sharpe averages 15 points per game on 42% from the field and 30.1% from three.<\/p>\n

\n

Bit of a message being sent by Chauncey Billups starting Kris Murray over Shaedon Sharpe, even with the injuries. <\/p>\n

Billups is clearly sticking to his guns on being competitive and consistent on the defensive end mattering.<\/p>\n

— Danny Marang (@DannyMarang) February 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n