Now that we got a glimpse of McCollum

i feel like if barton was let loose he could be like a mini Crash. He just has so much energy. I think a stint in Idaho would be really good for him

 

I think a stint in Idaho would be good for McCollum, and let Barton have those minutes for a few weeks. Get CJ some heavy minutes so he can find a groove.

 

I feel like all of Crabbe, Barton and CJ have a future in this league but none of them are ready for the roles we need right now. They could all use some seasoning

 

I have a feeling in a couple years were going to have a big dilemma over who we should start at the 2:

McCollum or Crabbe.

 

I feel like McCollums ceiling on this team is as a 6th man. As long as we have Lillard the defensive issues starting both McCollum and Lillard would be too much

 

I think Stotts has seen enough of him to consider Wright again.

CJ hit 1 shot in 14 minutes and had 4 points. He's pressing, it's obvious.

 

No one from our 3rd team and half of our 2nd team (Leonard, Claver, Crabbe, Barton, Watson, Wright, Robinson) gets into the game, because it's close right till the game end, because the Stotts system emphasizes offense over defense. We have a lot of silent unhappy customers sitting behind the bench.

 

Barton may deserve McCollum's minutes soon enough. CJ is close to be the worst rotation player on an elite team right.

 

He definitely looks like a rookie.

 

You're preaching to the choir. A month ago when a bunch of Mohaters said McCollum would take the jobs of Mo and Wes this season, and start, I kept posting whoa. Who was the main guy disagreeing with me?

 

I actually have been closely watching CJ the last couple games. I can see why Stotts is patient with him. CJ's priority is to first do no harm. He's not taking bad shots, he's not completely blowing defensive assignments, he's not stopping ball movement, he's not fouling excessively.

Most rookies have the benefit of beginning their first year against guys who aren't playing in midseason form, and going up against other rookies who are just as bewildered as they are. CJ has no such advantage. He's been thrown into the deep end of the pool on a team with a huge target on its back and an offense that was already humming like a finely tuned machine.

Remember, it's been a full year since he last played competitive basketball, and even then he was going against the likes of Virginia Commonwealth and Quinnipiac, schools I have never even heard of until I looked it up just now.

He's a 4 year player (well, 3 and a half, anyway) so it's maybe unsurprising that he plays relatively mistake-free basketball. Still, given his circumstances it's nice to see, and hints that there could be much bigger things to come when he finally starts figuring things out.

I'm not willing to claim his absence of failure is a success, but after seeing Lillard take off last year, having seen his overall court demeanor, his generally error-free play, and all of this in the context of a guy who is doing this with so little preparation to be doing as well as he is, I think Stotts is handling his minutes perfectly.

 

I said he might take Wes' job before the season, but that was before he hurt his foot again. I think he's still coming back. He'll be a regular contributor in the rotation before the season is over.

 

Did you change to a weasel avatar just for that one post?

 

Pretty sure that's a Lemur, but that was funny.

 

I'm giving CJ some serious time. Most NBA players come from major programs where they may be the best player on their team, but their other players are damn good. That's not the case with CJ. I went to a Patriot League school, and I can tell you that it is not high quality basketball. My boy Adonal Foyle was DOMINATING in the Patriot League, and we all know how he turned out.

Bottom line, CJ not only has to adapt to a much higher level of competition, but he also has to adjust to being a 3rd, 4th or even 5th option on the floor. That's not easy.

 

Uhh.. CJ's doing just fine.

He's already almost as good as Mo, he'll be better by next year for sure.

 

I'm not saying to give up on him. I'm saying his poor play is impacting the team in a negative manner. With every game mattering in the West, and playing him into shape may not be best for the team.

 

I think the payoff will easily make it the best for the team. It's easy to see the potential in C.J.

 

How is he having poor play? He's really only asking to be a spot up shooter. 1 or 2 plays does he ever handle the ball and try to make a play. Him being a spot up shooter IS getting him back into shape. 14 minutes a game and 5 points isn't terrible for what we're asking him to do for right now.

 

Just so you're clear, I wasn't addressing you, so please don't think I was calling you out. I was merely giving the perspective of someone who has watched a lot of Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette, Bucknell, American, BU, Army, Navy, Loyola and Holy Cross basketball.