To open the 2020-21 campaign, the talented two-guard played as if that stat was on his psyche. [30] McCollum would start in all 80 games that he played and would average 23 points as well as 3.6 rebounds and as many assists. While accolades are great, McCollum values being a good person and helping his team win over making it to the big game. [3], Throughout his high school career, McCollum worked at refining his shooting stroke; the successful effort was reflected in the 29.3 points per game he averaged during his senior season. pic.twitter.com/URZ0mDnBD0. #RipCity #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/gx5FvsyBgy. Like Lillard, McCollum compared the experience to playing against each other in scrimmages. He came out with the kind of desperate mindset McCollum called for pregame, but he didnt allow that to translate into recklessness. 6 overall in 2012, they took McCollum with another lottery pick (No. For the season, he would average 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists a night across 80 games. Thinking about some of the other elite duos of this time think Harden-Westbrook, Embiid-Simmons, etc its remarkable that there was never a story in which jealousy or insecurity came about. The loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs, the last in a four-game sweep. [9] On January 5, 2013, McCollum broke his left foot in a game against Virginia Commonwealth University, ending his season early. Itll be what its going to be.. It has been almost one year since the Pelicans traded for McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook are All-Stars but the Los Angeles Lakers only have a 17-21 record? In celebration for those, we look back at eight-and-a-half of their greatest moments in tandem. He was a 201213 Senior CLASS Award finalist. For those who can remember at the time, it offered a look into sides of the Blazers duo that hadnt been seen as often. McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. I dont know what it is. You dont get to have these moments forever. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, They said it! (Top photo of CJ McCollum dribbling against Damian Lillard: Soobum Im / USA Today). Odds & lines subject to change. After starting the game 5/8 from the three-point line, the Pelicans finished just 5/21. Ingram put on a shot-making clinic against a Portland defense that could not prevent him from getting anywhere he wanted. While Lillard ended up scoring 41 points, he was less effective as the game progressed. McCollum: Why I'm returning to Lehigh for my senior year", "McCollum breaks record in 9177 win at Sacred Heart", "Hulls Named Finalist for Senior CLASS Award", "Lehigh alum C.J. Jan 4, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) reacts to a three point shot against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter at Smoothie King Center. [48], Across 70 games, starting in all of them, McCollum would average 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for the season. "At first, it was weird," Lillard said following the game.. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups." NBA NEWS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, CJ McCollum & New Orleans Pelicans Updates The Pelicans made a visit to the great northwest last season after the trade deadline, but Lillard was sidelined following surgery on his abdominal. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Im going to be more efficient. It's about respecting the game, playing hard and giving all you've got.". That didn't stop Lillard from scoring 41 points, his 13th time this season with 40-plus. [72] On December 30, McCollum scored 42 points on 11 three-pointers in a 127116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The finale for both teams prior to the NBA All-Star break will tip off at 9 p.m. Central and will be broadcast by Bally Sports, ESPN and 99.5 FM. 5 in games played (436) and No. [41] McCollum would play in 80 games and start in all of them while averaging 21.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a night. Now McCollum has the opportunity to step into a bigger role at least until Ingram returns and the pair can build off of their playoff chemistry. We kind of had it in our back pocket. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. Its all the work I put in. As New Orleans continues to scrounge for ways to win games amid its injury woes, Green discovering this lineup could be a significant development. . Some would argue if I was in the East, I would have been a multi-time All-Star, McCollum said. [32] During a 10094 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on November 6, he matched his earlier career-high by racking up 37 points. [3] Even though he was already considered virtually destined to be a top NBA draft pick by his third year, he decided to finish his final year of college instead of leaving sooner for the NBA. When Dame was out this year, his usage spiked and he put up great numbers. The fact that each guard played in 90+ percent of the games they shared together. No Blazer had recorded numbers on par with McCollum's near triple-double in the last 29 years (Clyde Drexler posted 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists or more on five occasions. I am going to make plays. [52] On January 22, he scored 31 points and made seven 3-pointers in a 123114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, thus passing Nicolas Batum (751) for fourth on the franchise's all-time 3-pointers list. C.J. The "Midsummer Classic" was set for July 13 at Truist Park, home . He signed his rookie scale contract with the franchise on July 11,[13] and he proceeded to play for them in the NBA Summer League, averaging 21 points and 4 rebounds per game. Keeping both highlight-reel makers and opposing defenses awake and working late in the night, the duo injected a jolt of energy into the Portland fanbase, lacing up for over 500 games together from 2014 to 2022. McCollum was named First Team All-Conference. [4] He was the leading freshman scorer in the nation and the first player in Patriot League history to be named conference Player and Rookie of the Year. [78] They have one son named Jacobi who was born on January 10, 2022. That lineup looked so active and disruptive together that Green almost has no choice but to consider using it more, especially if Valanciunas continues to sit with his calf issue. CJ McCollum has started the 2021 season on a high. As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). Big-time stuff. No real explanation why; w/ some players it just never feels smart counting them out.Take a look at his rsum in elimination matchups w/ the Blazers. All rights reserved. Off the court, McCollum has long taken a keen interest in journalism. On December 27, McColllum put up 35 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists during a 9894 win over the Sacramento Kings. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. Despite not elevating Portland to a championship, Dame and CJ provided the small-market Blazers relevance within the national media, highlighted by their hour-long, exclusive sit down with Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Insider (then of ESPN) in Chris Haynes. All eyes were on McCollum and Lillard going into this game as they shared the court for the first time since last Februarys trade. [19] In the season-opener on October 28, McCollum posted a career-high 37 points, scoring 22 of which in the first quarter alone, helping the Blazers defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, 11294. The historic, 68-point, 23-assist game the two had against Sacramento on Jan. 14, 2021. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. Join our linker program. Given the mounting pressure, Manfred believed the least political solution was to . Last Call for Blazers Edge Night Help (Please?). Thus far, it is 2-2 even though three of its normal starters Williamson, Ingram and Herb Jones have all missed multiple games. Still, McCollum not even making the top ten? That forced Green to try something different. PORTLAND Even a year after his departure, CJ McCollum is still featured prominently next to other historic Portland Trail Blazers figures in the back hallway of Moda Center. Even beyond the emotional stakes of McCollum and Lillards first meeting as opponents, New Orleans needed this win to hold off a team now neck-and-neck with them in the playoff race. CJ McCollum's career-high 9TH three-pointer wins it for the @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/4gEBbFU6HZ. Steph Curry and Luka Doncic as the top two backcourt options makes complete sense. Unfortunately CJ McCollum has fallen victim of being one of the outsiders looking at the All-Star Game through a pane of glass unfairly. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (left) high-fives CJ McCollum (right) during the second half of a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Oct. 4, 2022, in Chicago. Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant (2001-02), Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (17, 18, 19), and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (2020-21). Per NBA.com, the lineup of McCollum, Ingram, Jones, Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy outscored the Pelicans by nine points in the eight minutes it played. McCollum is not known for his defense, but he said he has so much familiarity with Lillards game that he wanted to take on that responsibility early on. Before Wednesdays matchup, McCollum said the Pelicans were desperate for a win after losing four in a row amid an epic nosedive in the standings. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. 6. In that game, Lillard played a 60-minute-and-one-second game, McCollum at 57:59 prompting his This is what Im built for quote on the way to one of the greatest games in league history. [73], McCollum hosts a weekly podcast, Pull Up with CJ McCollum, that is produced by Cadence13. [37]) On February 7, McCollum scored 32 points; the last two of which, on a runner from the top of the lane, clinched the 114113 win over the Dallas Mavericks with 0.9 seconds left. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 7. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. 1 in the Western Conference, 51-point performance against Golden State, 41-point second half takeover from Lillard and McCollum, McCollums comments about load management. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping. We were able to get to it and we liked what we saw. A few other Pelicans joked about the effort McCollum put in guarding Lillard full court early in the game. New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3), shown here driving against Brooklyn Nets forward TJ Warren at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, will be back home with his teammates Wednesday night following a five-game road trip, as the Pels take on the Miami Heat. My job is to take advantage of them.. [69] On April 13, during the NBA Play-In Tournament, McCollum recorded 32 points, six rebounds, and seven assists leading the Pelicans past the San Antonio Spurs 113103 and advancing New Orleans to the eight seed game. [40], McCollum missed the opener of the 201718 season due to a single-game suspension incurred when he left the bench area once during a preseason game. McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. But Brandon Ingram turned out to be the most dominant figure in Moda Center Wednesday. [54] On March 1, he scored 35 points and matched a career best by making seven 3-pointers in a 119117 loss to the Toronto Raptors. [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. Trailing by 10 with less than eight minutes to go, that Lillard-McCollum (and Aldridge) trio pieced together 25 points together to help avoid elimination. Blazers Play Like Field Mice Against Hawks, Get Eaten Up. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. After he scored a combined 27 points in the second and third quarters, the Pels held him to eight in the final period, including just one field goal in the final seven minutes. Vote for New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum and the rest of the team to help bring real jazz to Utah for the 2023 NBA All-Star game. Despite. The Center aims to provide a safe and inspiring space for underserved youth to learn, explore, create, and grow. [28], McCollum helped the Blazers claim victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, 42, in the first round of the playoffs. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. September 19,
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