CJ McClem exploded again, scoring 38 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists on 14-of-26 shooting against the Pelicans, 7-of-10 three-point range. If it weren't for Doncic, who had 49 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists, the Pelicans would have turned over this game. There's a case where CJ didn't come before the Pelicans, and the Pelicans had already won four straight. Then CJ joined the Pelicans, and after five games, the Pelicans were already a bit subducting the bottom three in the West. CJ joined and played five games, and the Pelicans lost five and didn't win a single one. But after these five games, CJ's personal data is gradually rising.
In the first game, CJ only got 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, the second game had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists, the third game 23 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, the fourth game 30 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, plus today's fifth game 38 points, 2 rebounds and 5 assists. CJ is firmly in the Pelicans' position as the core workhorse, and it is clear that the data change in CJ after joining the Pelicans is a visible increase to the naked eye. It is true that CJ's data was not bad when he was in the Blazers, but compared to now, he has entered a qualitative change.
One of the most obvious changes after coming to the Pelicans is that CJ has absolute ball rights in his hands, and when the Blazers and Lillard are in the backcourt, CJ plays the role of a shooting guard, and more when he is a finisher, it is to score. But CJ is actually more suitable for playing in the number one position, both in size and height, but Lillard is shorter than him, so he had to go to the second position to play. But after arriving at the Pelicans, CJ sat firmly in the number one position, with his figure to play the number one position, the advantage was obvious, whether it was shooting or passing, CJ began to show his ability at this time.
But to the Pelicans CJ's weakness has also been further amplified, before the Blazers he and Lillard are famous for not defending the backcourt, the Blazers' backcourt is only more than the offense does not fight defense, the two together can cut sixty points, but when points are lost, they are also given by the opponent, but the Blazers are not good at defending the whole team, and CJ's defense is not much to say. But now it's the Pelicans, and when the defensive line is his core, that defensive weak ring is reflected. It is impossible to defend, whether it is defensive attitude or defensive awareness, or the old look of the Blazers, it is true that his data is excellent, but the Pelicans have lost five consecutive games.
At the same time, there is also another embarrassing statistic, that is, after CJ left the Blazers, the Blazers have won 4 consecutive games! This is very interesting, CJ you said that before you left, the Blazers did not win much, and the Pelicans have been winning streaks, and as a result, CJ has gone Pelicans began to lose wildly and the Blazers began to win wildly. But what is confusing is that CJ's data is actually not bad, and it is getting better and better in the Pelicans, which is difficult to say who is the problem. But at present, the Pelicans have found the core of the future team, CJ + Ingram + Zion, this season does not produce results, next season is not easy to say.