C.J. McCollum’s Strong Season Not Over Yet
C.J. McCollum will need to be even better in the postseason for the Portland Trail Blazers to get through the first round.
A lot of unknowns were enclosed in this 2015-16 Portland Trail Blazers season. With Damian Lillard, the only returning starter, the Blazers needed many players to step up if they were to eclipse even 30 wins.
Fast forward from preseason to now, you’ve got a Portland team that’s amassed 41 wins in what many considered a rebuilding year. The notable offseason acquisitions like Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless, Ed Davis, Mason Plumlee and Gerald Henderson have all panned out better than anyone would’ve thought.
But one of the biggest questions was whether C.J. McCollum could continue his stellar playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies last year and translate it over to this year.
McCollum, a guard drafted 10th overall by the Blazers back in 2013, had never gotten his shot until that playoff series against the Grizzlies late last season. In those games he proved he could perform on the NBA stage, but only in a small sample size with little to no scouting reports on him.
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So this season would be his first real opportunity to showcase himself, becoming a difference maker on the court.
As most pundits’ pick to be named Most Improved Player, it was inevitable McCollum was going to see more time. But performance, consistency and improvement doesn’t always go along with a minutes increase.
All of this was bound to be easier said then done, but I think McCollum really put in the work answering most every question and filling every check box as to whether he can be successful in the NBA.
On his success this season, he told me, “In terms of playing well. I don’t think it’s one thing. I think it’s a combination of the ultimate preparation meeting a unique opportunity for me to display my total game on a nightly basis. Lot of hard work in the summer, film study and sacrafice. The fact that I’ve been pretty healthy this year has been a huge key as well as the trust of the staff and the organization after the roster change.”
His ability to handle the ball, paired with his high IQ and knack to hit a contested jumper, make him one of the league’s most efficient shooting guards.
Averaging just more than 20 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, it’s not just more volume, it’s efficient volume. Where most MIP winners receive votes because of the increased volume, McCollum will be doing it at an increased percentage as well.
He’s not only become an efficient shooter, but he’s also solidified himself as a solid passer. Working as the backup point guard, he’s been given the opportunity to create and distribute as well as score.
Saturday night against the Miami Heat he added seven assists to his 24 points in a blowout win; very much a culmination for how the season has gone for the Blazers and McCollum.
It’s not a coincidence that 3J and the Blazers’ success go hand-in-hand. Overlooked by many, McCollum has been willing and able to give the Portland ball club what it’s needed to succeed. Whether it’s scoring, assisting or moving off the ball to grant other teammates open looks, he’s been one of the Trail Blazers’ most reliable players.
With playoffs right around the corner, the Blazers will need even more from their budding star. And while his ability to create shots off the dribble, shoot efficiently and assist are clearly viable, in order to make it to the second round of the playoffs, he’ll need to show he can be better on defense, as well as improve his court vision and work on his assist-to-turnover ratio.
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One of his strangleholds has been his assists to turnover ratio, currently at just under two for one. For a player like McCollum who plays some point guard, it’s imperative he can improve upon that as he’s sometimes the on-court facilitator, a situation in which winning the turnover battle is crucial.
The Blazers, specifically if they play against the Los Angeles Clippers, will need to rely heavily on the shooting-guard position against J.J. Redick and company. McCollum will likely be up against one of the best 2-guards in the league and will need to out-play Redick on a nightly basis in order to help the Trail Blazers win the potential series.
While McCollum’s defense has been better, it still needs improvement, especially in a seven-game playoff series with a team like the Clippers. With a player on the other side like Redick, McCollum will either need to match up with another player and switch defensive assignments or become that pest-like defender to get Redick off his game.
So while McCollum’s surefire MIP-caliber season has been terrific, there are some things we’ll need to keep a watchful eye for, especially if the Trail Blazers are to make a run in the postseason.
I have no doubt that McCollum is a player who can affix himself to success on the defensive and offensive end, as he’s already improved immensely from last year to this season. But as he continues on his career, his expectations for success will become greater, starting with this breakout season.
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He’s proven to be a valuable commodity for the Trail Blazers as they have one of the best young back-courts in the NBA. Questions still lie ahead as to if they can make headway in the playoffs. But if not, McCollum and the Trail Blazers have still found themselves pleasantly ahead of most anyone’s expectations.