The beginnings were sluggish, but for three games, the Pelicans version CJ McCollum shine. They remain on three straight wins with 121 points scored on average. The first against the Suns and the next two with slaps inflicted on the Lakers and Kings.
With the former Blazers, New Orleans is now one of the best offenses in the league. CJ McCollum took matters into his own hands, which he wasn’t doing in Portland. “I am the first ball carrier now, whereas before it was Damian Lillard”he reminds the Times-Picayune.
The rear is running at 26.6 points with 51% shooting success and 6 assists on average since his arrival in Louisiana. He attracts defenses with his offensive qualities and offers a high quality solution to support Brandon Ingram, orphan of Zion Williamson this season.
“He’s such a scorer, such a smart player”rejoices his new trainer, Willie Green. “He knows how to find his positions and score. He’s done this his whole career. It took us a few matches to find the rhythm, but it paid off. In addition, what is sometimes overlooked is his ability to play his teammates. He and Ingram are excellent at involving other players. »
Besides the winger, who made it easier for the rookie to fit in by talking to him and letting him shine early on, Jonas Valanciunas is perhaps the one who benefits the most from McCollum’s arrival. The full-back has so far delivered 48 assists with the Pelicans, 15 of which have been sent in the direction of the pivot. The connection between the two players is already very interesting.
“He’s a superb ball-in-hand player”explains the Lithuanian, who is running at 17.5 points per game at 60% success in shooting since the transfer. “He has a strong first step, he can eliminate a defender with his dribble. With a screen, he can go to the circle. It’s easy to play like that. We give him a good screen and we are then open. The better the screen, the more space. »
| C.J. McCollum | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2013-14 | BY | 38 | 13 | 41.6 | 37.5 | 67.6 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 5.3 |
| 2014-15 | BY | 62 | 16 | 43.6 | 39.6 | 69.9 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 6.8 |
| 2015-16 | BY | 80 | 35 | 44.8 | 41.7 | 82.7 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| 2016-17 | BY | 80 | 35 | 48.0 | 42.1 | 91.2 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 23.0 |
| 2017-18 | BY | 81 | 36 | 44.3 | 39.7 | 83.6 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 21.4 |
| 2018-19 | BY | 70 | 34 | 45.9 | 37.5 | 82.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 21.0 |
| 2019-20 | BY | 70 | 37 | 45.1 | 37.9 | 75.7 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 22.2 |
| 2020-21 | BY | 47 | 34 | 45.8 | 40.2 | 81.2 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 23.1 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 44 | 35 | 45.2 | 39.0 | 72.7 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 21.6 |
| 2021-22 * | BY | 36 | 35 | 43.6 | 38.4 | 70.6 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 20.5 |
| 2021-22 * | NOP | 8 | 36 | 51.9 | 41.7 | 77.4 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 26.6 |
| Total | 572 | 32 | 45.4 | 39.7 | 81.9 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 19.1 | |
