Zach Lowe Compliments CJ McCollum’s Driving, Passing

ESPN analyst Zach Lowe sees even more things he likes from the Portland Trail Blazers in this week’s edition of his NBA column “10 Things I Like and Don’t Like”. In this case Lowe praises the penetration-passing game of Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum, using a nifty pass to forward Zach Collins from beneath the bucket as his video evidence.

The explanation is too long to recount here; you’ll have to visit Lowe’s actual article and see the video for yourself. After running the pick-and-roll, McCollum finds himself sandwiched by a pair of defenders. Lowe explains:

The worst thing McCollum can do is loiter under the rim. If he just moves -- anywhere, really -- he can leverage that confusion against the defense, and perhaps spring into a void with no one trailing him. And if the big man -- Theis -- takes him, McCollum can just run the galoot ragged. The most convenient place to go: the near corner.

Smart guards get open looks this way all the time.

One take-away point: Lowe’s analysis compares McCollum to elite point guards—including John Wall and Steph Curry—bolstering the idea that Portland’s backcourt starters have the tools to play either position.

Lowe also discusses the All-Star Game format, LeBron James upping the pace, and the development of OG Anunoby among his 10 Things.