New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons for the Pels’ rise to the top of the West
The emergence of CJ McCollum
Acquiring CJ McCollum last season turned out to be a brilliant move by the Pelicans’ front office. Having him as the 3rd option behind Williamson and Ingram means less pressure on him. With the 2 other stars drawing so much attention, McCollum should have plenty of opportunities to make an impact.
A shifty player who can change pace quickly, McCollum possesses the ability to get separation from his defender in order to have room to release his deadly jump shot. He has been a consistent 20-plus scorer for the past nine seasons and although his scoring average is down a bit from what we are used to seeing from him we know that he is capable of making it rain on any given night.
McCollum’s performance will be critical in the event Williamson or Ingram is having a bad game. As one of the veterans and team leaders, McCollum will have to be an example for the younger guys in order to keep continuity and keep everybody on the same page going forward.
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He truly doesn’t get the credit he deserves for the value he brings to a team. He has always been an all-star-level talent. He could have gone elsewhere and commanded a bigger salary but he’s in New Orleans where he fits right in. Wherever McCollum has played he has always been in another star’s shadow but he has never complained, has always been a team player, and knows his role within the structure of the team.