Is he just in a shooting slump? He just seems seriously out of sorts. He looks lost out there occasionally - it never used to be the case that he could be shut down, but it looks like people have figured him out. Is he really missing someone who sets a good screen?
Other than being scorers who don't contribute much else, I don't think they're all that similar. CJ's game is more Brandon Roy, Simons' is more Ray Allen.
One of the points of emphasis this season for refs has been the offensive foul on the off arm pushing off on the defensive player. CJ has really relied on that subtly to make a sliver of space. He got called for that a few times in the first couple of games. My theory is that has gotten into his head. Like his plan A for offense was taken away and he isn't sure quite how to initiate his offense right now. Another guy who has relied on that a lot is Harden, and he has struggled a bit early on as well. Just a thought.
Someone posted on twitter (I've since closed twitter down and don't feel like looking for it again) that on his last podcast, he was talking about having trouble breathing while on the court. That could totally explain his issues, if true.
This is going to seem like another bash CJ post but answer this question: Does CJ care more about winning or individual stats and getting his?
He is honestly one of the biggest ball hogs I’ve ever seen. He is no threat to pass which makes him a lot easier to guard
His shots are coming up short and he can't finish in the lane in traffic...that's tired legs..why I don't know
We’ll find out soon enough I’m sure Quick is working on it. It’ll probably be a little telling as well. I’m sure CJ won’t be happy with it since him and Quick don’t like each other
Out of shape? Money, marriage, and all that has made him fat and happy? I've worried at times that he was more competitive with Dame than with the other team - but at least he always seemed motivated. A complacent/indifferent CJ is not a pleasant thought.
Could be, but it could also be something else that he doesn't necessarily want to talk about yet (as in, he doesn't know what the issue is). It doesn't look like he isn't caring about the games/team, as he is trying (maybe not in the way that is always beneficial the team/being a ball hog)...but he just looks like he has no lift in his shot. That could to point to a health related issue (out of shape/un-diagnosed illness/some other reason that isn't too big of a deal). Since he's not old and hasn't struggled this much before, it wouldn't seem to be a case of he's peaked and is on a quick downward spiral to backup status.
He's in a shooting slump and if anyone has played sports then they know when you are in a slump you trend to start pressing which sometimes makes it more difficult to get out of it. No different than a baseball player that goes into a hitting slump. I expect him to work his way out of it and become a dominant scorer again. He's just not as perfect as the armchair experts in this forum.