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Power ranking the NBA’s top 10 shooting guards for 2019-20

By Austin Carroll

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on January 24, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA - Portland Trail Blazers
NBA – CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

55.3 TS%. 7. player. 34. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 21.0 PTS, 4.0 REB. CJ Mccollum

CJ McCollum is the deadly assassin with all the tools to move higher in this list, he just has to put it all together to start seeing league awards and accolades pile up. The Portland Trail Blazers have depended on McCollum to pick up the slack whenever Damian Lillard is having an off night.

So far, so good.

But he hasn’t quite been able to recapture the success he had in 2016-17 when he put up 23 points on elite efficiency, coming in just shy of joining the 50-40-90 club. This year should yield new results for McCollum.

Last season, the Blazers ranked 18th in pace of play, and 11th among all playoff teams. Slowing it down and playing iso ball is clearly not playing to the strengths of this team. Removing the plodding combo of Al-Farouq Aminu and Moe Harkless from the starting lineup and pushing forward with the youth movement should yield positive results.

For the first time seemingly ever, Portland also has a legitimate third option on offense. Rodney Hood should help inject some life into the offense and relieve the burden on Lillard and McCollum’s shoulders. Anfernee Simons and Zach Collins will also provide some fresh legs.

Running and gunning should prove to be an optimal style of play that allows the pair of star guards to break down opposing defenses without letting them properly set up. Hassan Whiteside will also assuredly rack up a few extra possessions per game on the boards. It’s not at all unrealistic to think McCollum will put up 25 points a game next year on above average efficiency.