Oh, this makes me excited to see what CJ can do next year! This year was his coming out party. Can he push the all-star level next year?
He's so crafty. He just out thinks his opponents with his handles. I said last season that he reminded me of Jamal Crawford. This season he's almost like a non flopping Harden.
Actually as much as he has blossomed into a very good player, don't forget he was hurt his final year @ Leihigh and his first 2 seasons with the Blazers. I love the guy and think he is a class act but I just don't like the combination of 2 small guards. CJ is at his peak as far as value goes. For those that want to live the pipe dream of getting a big man via FA, good luck with that. Also, please God NO D12. His body is broken down and he is not the player he once was. Kind of like the hot chick that turned 40 and everything is starting to sag. She is not the 21 year old hottie but her brain and mindset thinks she is. I really think we have to take a shot at Cousins. Offer up a package of CJ and Plumlee. Cousins stock is down right now. If he and Dame can get it together that would be an incredible duo. Obviously CJ and Plums is not of equal value but Sac has WC Stein plus they have a early lotto pick to get a big man. I think a backcourt of Dame and Crabbe checks a lot of boxes.
You are saying two different things. Would I trade CJ for a Cousins? Sure if I thought he would re-sign when his contract is up. But regardless he is not being offered. The two small guards argument was proved wrong all year. I kept waiting for it to be an issue because I also thought it would be a factor, but it seldom was. Sure Klay was a problem, but he kills bigger guards/SF's as well. Better team defense can correct the problem easier than a bigger SG. And if you think Crabbe is a better fit then start him on the occasions when needed. But IMO you do not trade an offensive talent like CJ unless you are getting a super star in return. (Which ain't happening) We are better off keeping CJ for another 7 years and finding a center somewhere else. Because finding another player like CJ is not that easy either.
WTH? I am reading this correctly? Guys would trade for Cousins? Geez, the guy is a meat head with a sore on his arse. Wth do you want that in Portland?
Great post. I agree with so many points and see the potential, but it really is hard to justify splitting up the second best back court in the game that has proven as a team to rise to an unexpected level that had a lot to do with chemistry. Chemistry is huge here and i'm sure a major factor to PA as he has seen what his teams do and look like when they don't have it. I think the organization tries to find another way to go like getting Whiteside or a three way trade to acquire DMC without breaking up the back court. I think a package of anyone but those two is what you have to try to devise to make it happen and truly make us a contender. How about something like this? Plumlee, Vonleh to Sac DMC to Portland Sign and trade Crabbe to Denver for Farried who goes to Sac. So sac gets Plums, Vonleh and Farried Portland gets DMC Denver gets Crabbe We do this ONLY if he is committed to resigning to a nice, but less than max contract to allow us to go get Derozan(Can he be a starting SF?) to a nice contract. Our Roster would be something like this: Dame/Connaughton/Roberts CJ/Henderson/Montero Derozan/Aminu/NO goes shopping Leonard/Harkless(These two could be swapped)/Alexander DMC/Davis/Kaman Would that put us into contention? Could Neil and Paul sell Derozan, CJ and DMC to take less than maxes but still nice contracts to create a true contender for the next five years?
I was surprised this one didn't make the top 10. Other than the Dirk Spin Cycle, this was my favorite C.J. move of the year - a 1-handed 1-on-3 reverse layup. You don't see that every day. There was also a play against HOU where James Harden completely lost sight of C.J. three times in 5 seconds. It was the perfect storm of clueless defender vs. baller with badass handles. It was kind of like playing peek-a-boo with a baby. Harden had no idea where C.J. kept disappearing to. BNM
Hahahahahaha! First, the announcer called him Macallum. Then the TV crew showed the hero shot of Chief running back after the play. Sheesh. And I remember that move on Harden. I'd love to see that one again.
Here it is: There are actually multiple versions of this sequence online (search for CJ McCollum Bamboozles James Harden), but I chose this one for the last comment at the bottom of the page: "bamboozled?? uses a screen twice uses a pass off. please!! all this video shows is Harden hustling in Defence unlike earlier this season." The Harden fanboys crack me up. Evidently this is Harden at his defensive best. I mean, just look at that hustle and determination and the way he fights through those picks! BNM
Beautiful basketball. That is a player using so many tricks of the trade in one play. A lot of players can do each of those individual moves but to string them all together seemlessly in the spur of the moment is pure brilliance. It's like Miles Davis going improv on a solo.
