Portland Trail Blazers: Who’s the starter?
With four preseason games in the books and only three more freebies before the regular season begins, there is a burning question hanging over the Blazers faithful: who in the world starts at shooting guard? The potential suitors are all eager to carve out a role with this new Trail Blazers team. So lets see what each of them has to offer.
No player has impressed me more this preseason than Allen Crabbe. He is clearly ready for an increased role; you can see it in the way he has been playing with averages of 14.3 PPG while shooting lights out. Seriously, like this man forgot to pay his electricity bill. He’s hitting 46% from three point range and even went for 5 of 6 against some team called the Warriors.
Crabbe has been clawing his way up the depth chart for a while now, earning nine starts for Coach Terry Stotts last season. Of the three players vying for the starting two spot, Crabbe has the most prototypical two guard body, standing at 6’6 and 210 pounds. Add in his versatility and it’s going to be hard to keep him off the court.
Apr 29, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Portland Trailblazers guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots a three point shot in the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Portland 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
McCollum hasn’t been as much of a preseason surprise as Crabbe, yet that’s not a knock on the guy; it’s a testament to how much of a baller he is. Through four games, he is averaging 17.5 PPG and 4.4 APG per game, a testament to his much improved passing. With the flash of brightness he showed in last year’s playoff series and the fact that he was a top ten pick just three years ago, expect those numbers to be more the norm this year for McCollum.
The future is bright for this young man. With the highest ceiling of the three he will undoubtedly be essential to the Blazers success this season. If anyone on this roster has a chance to be a Star it’s this kid. (Lillard is already the sun and the moon)
The most seasoned of the three, Henderson was acquired over the summer in a deal that sent Nicolas Batum to Charlotte. He is also the only one that has played as a true starter at the NBA level. In his six years since leaving Duke, he has averaged 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 27 minutes per game. Not by any means flashy, but he is consistent and the Blazers could use some of that right now. With his reputation as a hard nosed defender and his underrated athleticism, there would be a spot for him on just about any team in the league.
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When the dust settles and preseason is over, one man will reign supreme and, ironically, it will be the man who didn’t even play a game. Come October 28 Gerald Henderson will be the Blazers starting shooting guard. He is the second oldest player on the team and Stotts will lean on him for stability. Although Crabbe has been filthy through the preseason and McCollum has the highest ceiling, Hendo is the better player right now.
McCollum will likely split time at point guard and Crabbe might see spot minutes at small forward if Harkless stumbles, Henderson is a true shooting guard and that’s where his minuets will come. While things may change by the end of the season, when the Blazers take the court against Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, Crabbe and McCollum will start their night on the bench.
Apr 12, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Gerald Henderson (9) reacts after bumping into teammate center Bismack Biyombo (8) as he is defended against Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) during the first quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports