With Damian Lillard flying home for the birth of his child, who replaces him?
By Ty Delbridge
Pat Connaughton
Pat Connaughton has been a solid role player off the bench for the Blazers, but he has also started in five games this season.
In the games he started, the Blazers went 3-2. In those five games, Connaughton averaged 9.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23.7 minutes per game while shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 53.8 from the 3-point line.
The Blazers can start Connaughton at shooting guard and slide McCollum over to point guard. Connaughton is 6’5″ and is shooting 34.7 percent from the 3-point line this season. He is solid on both ends of the floor for the Blazers. He can space the floor, cut, handle the ball and is aggressive going for rebounds.
Connaughton knows his role and doesn’t try to do too much. This is his third year on the team. He knows what coach Stotts wants from his players, and Stotts trusts him out there to make the right play for the team.