Portland Trail Blazers: CJ McCollum, still one of the NBA’s best shooters

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum didn’t have his best year statistically, but he showed he is still one of the best shotmakers in the league.

CJ McCollum‘s regular-season production is always very consistent. As an old school bucket getter, the Portland Trail Blazers two-guard is among the league’s best.

At 29 now, CJ is firmly in his prime. Interestingly though, when they get to the playoffs and the big games, McCollum actually gets better. His versatile game, full of counters and go-to moves, is more suited for the playoffs.

When the game slows right down and every possession counts, McCollum is at his best.

This isn’t to say he wasn’t great this regular season though.

70 games, 70 starts.

22.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks.

49.4 percent from two, 37.9 percent from three, 75.7 percent from the line.

45.1 percent from the field, 52.2 effective field goal percent, 54.1 percent true shooting.

The bold above denotes his career highs. CJ not only had his most significant offensive load this year, but he also led the team in minutes played, games played, and games started. He had his highest per-game shot total as well.

His free-throw percentage dropping in 19/20 was probably the only blemish on an excellent season. 75.7 percent is a drop for a guy who is an 82 percent career shooter. Let’s hope that this was just a one-off.

Because of the injuries to Rodney Hood and Zach Collins this season and the downgrade from Jusuf Nurkic to Hassan Whiteside, CJ had massive shot creation responsibilities.

His efficiency was very impressive, considering his extra shot volume. When Lillard went out injured around the All-Star break, CJ then took on the playmaking responsibilities. This was reflected in his healthy 6.4 assists a game since the break.

CJ was his usual consistent self in 2019/20, and when he needed to, he put the team on his back.

Also, in the spectacular six and two run to the NBA playoffs in the bubble, it was revealed that CJ had been playing with a fracture in his back. It was noticeable before this injury was announced that he was struggling, but he toughed it out and made crucial plays down the stretch in multiple games.

In the play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies, he cooked rookie of the year Ja Morant on multiple possessions, showing just how good he can be in playoff situations as he scored at will at the end of the game.

CJ may also have saved the biggest game of his season for last. With said broken back, and Lillard unavailable with injury, game five of the series with the Los Angeles Lakers he had 36 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 52 percent shooting. They amazingly pushed LeBron James and Anthony Davis until the last few minutes of the game.

With Jusuf Nurkic now back for next season, CJ will benefit from his passing and the attention the Bosnian gets in the paint.

CJ is a proven playoff performer, and when he and the Blazer squad is fit, fans will have a chance to see how far he and Lillard have come in recent years. The 2019/20 was a tough one for both team and fans, but with Nurkic and Hood back in 2021, the Blazers can stake their claim for home-court advantage in playoffs and a potential 50-win season.

Don’t judge CJ and Lillard until this team is healthy. They got to the Western Conference Finals in 2019, without Nurkic. If fit, there is no reason they can’t do this again next year.