Throughout his seven-yr career, CJ McCollum has become a prolific scorer.
McCollum get buckets in a lot of methods. Hiya, ‘McBuckets’ and #3J.
He has additionally been popular to position his opponents on skates. Hello, CJ McCollum’s special Victims Unit.
And, how about his midrange online game?
So easy.
however, over the last six video games the realm caught a glimpse on the McCollum who isn’t just a scorer.
McCollum proved he can be a great facilitator and leader and not using a Damian Lillard on the flooring.
And that classification of game from McCollum is what Blazers head coach Terry Stotts is hunting for that to continue from his beginning capturing shield.
“CJ performed actually, undoubtedly, neatly while [Lillard] become out," Stotts noted pregame. "He had decent leadership, he scored it, assisted, he had an throughout online game."
“What CJ become able to do changed into as a result of Dame wasn’t available, so the ball was in his hands a great deal. I suppose the amazing aspect was that he took the management role on the court; he scored when he had to… He did the stuff you want him to do. I suppose one in all our dreams, not simplest this yr but next year -- is attempting to make that ensue extra regularly even when Dame is on the court docket. So, it became good to see him do that, now we’ve acquired to likely see greater of it and take a look at to make it turn up.”
There’s no doubt that as Portland continues its push to try and make the postseason, the Blazers will need McCollum to proceed to locate the open man and step up as a leader.
but, does that imply Stotts will stager McCollum and Lillard’s minutes?
without difficulty?
No, don’t expect that to happen extra regularly than it had been all season.
“I consider it turns into greater of how they play collectively,” Stotts stated. “They play 24 to 28 minutes together on the court docket… When Dame’s on the court docket always he has the ball, so looking for greater alternatives to have CJ deal with the ball when Dame is within the online game, is a technique of doing it. Having CJ have the identical method when Dame is out of the game, have the identical strategy that he has had for the previous six video games in that he’s looking to do more than just ranking, but simply take a leadership function when he’s accessible.”
McCollum averaged 33.3 elements on forty eight.4 percent taking pictures and 40.6 % from three. He also dished out a whopping eight.Three assists and had 5.3 rebounds in 38.5 minutes of motion.
Lillard took notice of those numbers from his sofa in Portland right through his rehab.
And it was Lillard who had a serious dialog with McCollum at Wednesday’s shootaround.
The message became clear:
McCollum must retain playing how he become playing when Lillard changed into out.
I informed him, i was like – ‘simply maintain doing, what you’re doing.’ part of the participant that i am, i know a way to figure out how to still be my optimum self without eliminating from what you’ve been doing. Retain being aggressive, keep attacking, hold talking up greater, keep being comfy having the ball for your hands. We each are going to play loads of minutes, we’re going to get a lot of chance, however our crew goes to be at our most efficient when he’s doing what he’s been doing the final few video games and that i do what I do. -- path Blazers aspect preserve Damian Lillard referred to postgame
In Wednesday’s win over the Wizards, Lillard had 22 features and 5 assists in his return. McCollum also comprehensive with 22 elements and 5 assists.
McCollum now not simplest has been racking up the assists this season, but he is been cutting down on his turnovers. He has a 2.2 aid to turnover ratio this season, which is a profession premier.
earlier than McCollum took over the beginning factor preserve obligations with Lillard sidelined, he turned into averaging 3.Eight assists.
Will McCollum hold the help numbers up with Lillard on the flooring?
It’ll be complicated given that he received’t have the ball in his fingers as a lot; although, Lillard bolstered after Wednesday's online game that he needs McCollum to proceed to be a facilitator.
“I didn’t need him to return back worried about me coming returned… as a result of i will be able to discover my approach with him playing the same,” Lillard talked about.
There has all the time been an excellent stability between the Blazers backcourt duo, however now things are distinctive.
And, Lillard admitted simply that.
“We’ve played collectively a long time. It’s simply diverse now as a result of he played a stretch where I wasn’t on the floor and i become even encouraging him even more like – take greater control, take greater manage, take greater manage. And, I don’t want him to not suppose comfortable doing it, as a result of I’m on the floor. We’ve got the kind of relationship the place I don’t feel love it’s egocentric or I don’t suppose like it’s a contest or anything, we want to win.”
He’s rolling, so let him roll. – Damian Lillard on CJ McCollum's contemporary play
McCollum agreed with his backcourt teammate, including, “We’ve obtained to balance. We’ve got to play off of each and every different.”
actually to get the place the Blazers need to go, it’ll take the best of each worlds from CJ McCollum: The prolific scoring and the savvy setups.
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