Portland Trail Blazers: Without Dame, It’s Time for Sharpe to Shine
The Portland Trail Blazers are without Damian Lillard due to a calf injury. In his absence, rookie Shaedon Sharpe can fill the void.
After missing most of last season, Damian Lillard is unfortunately out of action again. The good news is that he didn’t re-injure his surgically repaired core. But he did sustain a calf injury that the Portland Trail Blazers will be re-evaluating in a week or two to see when he can return to the lineup.
The Blazers are off to a hot start due in large part to Lillard shaking off his rust during the preseason and finding his pre-injury form so far. Portland is 5-1 and tied for first in the Western Conference with Phoenix.
Lillard played in 5 of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 6 games this season. He averaged 35 minutes and 31 points per game on 49% from the field, 39% from 3-point range, and 93% from the free throw line.
Portland’s only loss so far came against Miami, which is the game that Lillard was injured. They were able to beat Houston 125-11 in their most recent game last Friday.
Sharpen Up
Now that Dame is out for an extended period of time, somebody will have to pick up the slack. 2022 first round pick Shaedon Sharpe is in a good position to get many of Lillard’s minutes.
Sharpe’s playing time has consistently increased since the beginning of the season. He was on the court for a season-high 29 minutes against the Rockets.
The rookie has come off Chauncey Billups‘s bench to average 9.3 points per game on 50% from the field and an outstanding 42.9% from beyond the arc. He is also rebounding well from his wing position, averaging 3.0 boards per game.
The Canadian-born Sharpe may not have the same notoriety as other players in his draft class. He signed to play at the University of Kentucky last year but didn’t play in a single game before entering the draft.
Wednesday, November 2, Sharpe gets introduced to NBA fans on a national stage as the Portland Trail Blazers host Memphis at 7 PM on ESPN. The Grizzlies are 4-3 this season and are currently on a 2-game losing streak.
A tough test
Just because Memphis is off to a slow start, don’t count them out. Any time Ja Morant plays, the Grizzlies have a chance.
It’s not Morant’s fault that Memphis hasn’t won more often. He’s averaging 33.3 points per game (slightly over a point per minute) while shooting 55% from the field and an even better 56% from 3.
Aside from scoring, Morant is a facilitator. The fourth-year pro also averages 6.3 assists per game.
He may have to take on a bigger role at the Moda Center. Memphis lists starters Steven Adams and Desmond Bane as day-to-day.
Final Thoughts
While it is frustrating and hard to see Dame go down with another injury, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the team comes together and plays in his absence, especially the rookie, Sharpe.
Lillard’s recovery period is an opportunity to galvanize the team and help them learn how to play without their big star. If the Portland Trail Blazers can compete without Lillard, then they will be all the better when he returns. It’s also a chance for Shaedon Sharpe to introduce himself to a national audience.