Trail Blazers Player Power Rankings: December Edition

Dec 5, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Trail Blazers defeated the Timberwolves 109-103. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

3. CJ McCollum (Last Month: 2)

December Stats: 19.3 PPG/4.8 APG/3.5 RPG

Best Game of December (so far): 12/11 vs. PHX – 26 points/4 assists/2 rebounds

McCollum finds himself falling one spot in the rankings due almost entirely to the rise of Crabbe. CJ struggled with his shot in the early games of the month, as his FG% through the first 4 games sat at .300%. In the following 3 games though, he has averaged a FG% of .555%. In terms of assists, his totals have been much more consistent in December. After getting 5+ assists only 4 times in October and November, McCollum has already tied that mark this month with 10 games left. Barring a collapse in the new year, CJ will be a strong candidate for Most Improved Player in the NBA. With a 13 point increase in PPG this season, no player in the league has shown more progress towards stardom than CJ McCollum.