I think Sharpe is driven, but being driven is not necessarily the same thing as having a killer instinct. I think Sharpe is committed to improving and working harder, but at times he defers during games and he doesn’t seem to have the same mentality that a Dame or Kobe or Jordan has/had.
Follow his trainer. Shaedon is always in the gym. I find this talk about killer instinct etc funny. He's 20. And he hasn't played in meaningful competitive basketball in his career. Nearly every stage of his life so far, it's been about showcasing his talent. Not wins. We don't yet know if he has that competitive edge that the top 0.1% of folks in the league have. But you don't get to the stage he has gotten to this early in his career without drive and smarts to go with natural talent. And those three alone should bump him up the ranks. I don't need the chest thumping and screaming and fake hustle. I need a guy who calmly hits FTs in crunch time to tie a game then gets a game saving block a second later.
We can only comment on what we can see. So far he doesn’t exhibit the same mentality that Dame had/has. The “give me the fucking ball” vibe. That’s fine. Very few players have that. And even fewer SHOULD have that.
This is a bit revisionist history. Dame was a very clear #2 for the first 3 yrs of his career. Even the game winner against Houston was an audible by Batum after seeing the #1 option guarded.
How is it revisionist? I didn’t say a word about whether Dame possessed it immediately, but he hit how many game winners in his first three years in the league? He was even interviewed after the rockets win and said that he recognized that the rockets defense wasn’t set and that he could get the shot off, which is why he was clapping so loud to get Nic’s attention. Nic made the pass but Dame was the one who was screaming for the ball. But yes, Dame was older and Dame was used to being The Guy in college. But Dame is Dame. He’s not a quiet dude. He is HIM.
It's revisiont to denigrate Shaedon because he supposedly doesn't possess this myhtical killer instict by comparing to Dame. Dame himself was not the number one option in his 88th game. So if Shaedon hits a few game winners, he'll suddenly have this "factor" for you?
You are being so incredibly nit picky it’s insane. I said I haven’t seen it yet. I didn’t say he would never possess it. Are you intentionally being this pedantic?
Being the first option on the first possession of the game and being the first option on the last possession of a game are not necessarily the same thing.
Dame took and converted on a few game winners in his first 88 games though. And that was on a team that was more talented and had a bunch of vets on the floor with him in those moments.
So, next time Chauncey calls a play for Grant, Shaedon should blow it up demand the ball, and take an ill advised shot so we can all claim he has a killer instinct.
So let me get this straight….. I was responding to someone who questioned Sharpe’s motivation and drive…. Which you are fine with. You take issue with me defending his motivation and drive, but saying that I’m not sure he has killer instinct? Do I have that right?
Billups has already made public comments about being frustrated that he's drawn up plays to get Sharpe a shot, the opportunity/mismatch was there, and Sharpe didn't attempt to take advantage. I'd say there is a difference between Sharpe taking ill-advised shots and turning down preferred opportunities.
Why is Billups drawing up plays for Sharpe to get a shot? That's what you do for players who can't dribble the ball, or for role players. Damian Lillard isn't on the team anymore. Is there someone more important than Sharpe? If Billups wants to do Sharpe a favor, get Sharpe the ball as early in a possession as possible and let Sharpe create on his own. That Billups is drawing up plays for Sharpe makes me worry more about Billups than Sharpe.
You can draw up a play that gets a player the ball early and allows them to create on their own off the dribble. Though a lot of people here call the "iso ball" and don't like it.ou' Based off Billups comments, I would guess the scenario you're asking for is what happened. We got Sharpe the ball early, at a specific spot, against an specific matchup, and he didn't attack.
Not sure why it’s a new concept that the team runs plays to get a favorable matchup for Sharpe. The Grizzlies rammed that down our throat to end that second game. Over and over.
