Rip City Project
Fansided

The 3 Portland Trail Blazers that need to step up with CJ McCollum out

By Zach Ciavolella

Dec 11, 2020; Portland, Oregon, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington (23) during the first half of the game at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2020; Portland, Oregon, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington (23) during the first half of the game at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Robert Covington

Robert Covington was the Blazers’ premiere offseason addition. Covington was acquired from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the 17th pick in the 2020 NBA draft (Isaiah Stewart) and a 2021 lottery-protected pick.

A steep price to pay, but for a versatile player like Covington, the move looked like a win-win for both sides. Early returns for the Blazers have been less than encouraging as Covington, like Hood, has struggled in nearly every area this season.

Covington’s rocky start has been one of the major factors holding the team back. His defense, one of his initial appeals, has been severely disappointing this season. While it’s picked up as of late, Covington will need to take it to another level to reach the preseason expectations for him.

Defense though, won’t fill the void left by CJ McCollum though. What the Blazers truly need from Covington is for him to find his shot.

Covington will never score 20 points per game, but his current average of 6.6 is just unacceptable for a player of Covington’s caliber. Covington should be averaging double that amount, and it all comes down to shooting.

The numbers are dreadful for ROCO. He’s shooting the three at a 30.1% clip while his numbers from inside the arc (34.5%) aren’t much better.

If Covington can work his way closer to his career averages (40.3 FG%, 35.4 3P%), the Blazers could find themselves staying afloat without McCollum.