Portland Trail Blazers: How the James Harden trade affects the Blazers

No. 1: CJ McCollum’s first All-Star bid gets substantially easier

Just as a reference guide, he’s a look at where McCollum ranks among Western Conference guards heading into tonight’s game against the Indiana Pacers:

— 28.1 points per game (No. 1)
— 5.5 assists per game (No. 12)
— +6.3 +/- (No. 2 among those playing > 25 minutes per game)
— 8.3 net rating (No. 5 among those playing > 25 minutes per game)
— 69 fourth quarter points (No. 1)

That last statistic feels important because, as we’ve often seen, the ability to go viral and attract a national audience does wonders for a player’s All-Star candidacy. That McCollum continues to make himself publicly-available through his late-game mastery and the highlights that follow can only bolster his case.

McCollum’s history as a routinely-snubbed All-Star caliber player could help his case, but even more so, eliminating some of the incumbents that have stood in his way make things even easier. Since 2015-16, McCollum has averaged 21.8 points per game for a perennial Playoff team, but 10 different backcourt players have gotten the nod ahead of him.

Atop those ten players is none other than James Harden with five All-Star appearances, along with Russell Westbrook (5), Stephen Curry (4), Damian Lillard (3), Chris Paul (2), and Klay Thompson (2). Now, two of those six are in the Eastern Conference, and one is out for the season.

As McCollum likes to say, he’s a shark. Is it just me, or do these waters suddenly smell like blood?