1 Area Each Blazers Contributor Must Improve in Season's 2nd Half
It's hard to find fault with the Portland Trail Blazers so far, who are currently tied with the Atlanta Hawks for the league's second-best record at 30-8. The Blazers have been supreme on both ends of the floor, despite each of Portland's core contributors struggling in select areas.
The individual struggles haven't overly hindered the team's progress as a whole, but they remain something each player can look to improve on in the season's second half. Only the instrumental pieces to the Blazers' puzzle will be looked at here, as Portland's ability to succeed relies on them.
The rest of the roster is just as important, but the Blazers bench ranks No. 26 in minutes per game, per Hoops Stats, for a reason.
Let's get to nitpicking.
C.J. McCollum: Be More Aggressive Offensively
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For the second straight season, C.J. McCollum has struggled because of major injuries.
He missed a large portion of last season due to a broken left foot, only to follow that up with a broken right index finger in November last year.
As a result, McCollum has averaged just 12.2 minutes through 24 games without any real competition in the backcourt rotation. His 4.3 points on 36.2 percent shooting leaves a little to be desired, but he makes up for it with a solid 41.3 percent clip from beyond the arc.
He has had just three double-digit scoring games so far, but he must become more aggressive offensively to close out the season.
The second-year guard is in a terrific situation—the Blazers are a powerhouse on offense, and that grants McCollum permission to miss shots.
The team doesn't rely on his production to this point, and the learning period for him to find a niche can start immediately. He has a solid shooting stroke and can handle the ball well, creating opportunities for himself or his teammates.
Prior to breaking his finger, McCollum had solid outputs of 13 points against the Dallas Mavericks and 15 points against the Denver Nuggets, both in blowout wins on Nov. 6 and Nov. 12, respectively. He also had a season-high 17 points against the Houston Rockets on Dec. 22, yet this time in a blowout loss.
Portland does have a moderately solidified offense, with each player knowing his role and very few shots being forced, though it's clear McCollum benefits most from the free-flowing basketball that comes in garbage time (once the final margin has been decided).
If he is able to contribute that scoring more consistently during games, it would give the bench a whole new dimension. Portland doesn't quite have that sixth man to rely on in the backcourt scoring-wise, which could be a huge (and understated) weapon down the stretch into the postseason.
But it's only possible if McCollum remains aggressive, finds a comfort zone and finishes possessions.
Joel Freeland: Limit Fouling
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In the absence of Robin Lopez, Joel Freeland's 5.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game as a starter were phenomenal. He's a true physical presence in the post on both ends of the floor, which makes this a bit difficult.
One could argue that Freeland's role as a brute down low is his greatest strength. Only Lopez might rival his 6'10" and 225-pound frame, as Freeland is unafraid of contact to ensure the job gets done.
As such, telling him not to foul is easier said than done. But he can remain that rough-and-tumble guy for the Blazers without hearing whistles.
Per ESPN.com, Freeland is tied with three other players for No. 35 in personal fouls per 48 minutes at 7.5 per game. That isn't a high rank by any standards, so it isn't a major issue for the British Bulldog.
He's a backup big man who comes in to do the dirty work, which means crashing the glass, hustling for loose balls, making open shots and defending with physicality in the paint. Freeland can still do all that, but not to the tune of such a high foul rate.
He did a sensational job of defending without fouling against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 30, playing 32 minutes with just one personal. In the last 90 seconds of regulation, he drew an offensive foul from Raptors guard Kyle Lowry as well as rejected two late game-tying layup attempts.
Going forward, he can be both a skilled interior defender and a bully in the paint. Depending on what the situation calls for, Freeland can play dirty or nice. But as a whole, he should look to keep his fouling under control.
Steve Blake: Find His Touch from Outside
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Steve Blake has long been a solid reserve guard who will give you a few threes and a handful of dimes every night, which is exactly what he's done for Portland.
His 4.8 points, 1.1 three-point field goals made and 3.9 assists have keep the offense chugging, but his shooting touch, however, has been lagging.
Blake's 34.8 percent shooting from the three-point line is solid, but it could be much better within an offense that thrives on spacing and outside shooting.
The veteran point guard is strictly a jump-shooter offensively, with 111 of his 176 field-goal attempts coming from long range, per NBA.com. Of that number, 75 have come in the above-the-break area from beyond the arc, where Blake has knocked down just 22 of them.
That translates to a 29.3 three-point percentage when he's not shooting from the corners, which must be higher going forward.
He converted 37.2 percent of such shots last season, and he has a longstanding resume to confirm his shooting ability. What's causing the struggle from that range remains to be seen, as Portland is terrific when it comes to creating three-point opportunities for perimeter players.
Whether Blake's age plays a role, as he turns 35 in late February, or it's just a slump, he needs to be a more accurate marksman from that area. The majority of his attempts will come from there in the flow of the offense, and it goes without saying what should happen when the ball comes Blake's way.
More than 29.3 percent of the time anyway.
Chris Kaman: Take Care of the Ball
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Chris Kaman has been a reliable scoring option for Portland thus far, chipping in 9.6 points and 6.6 rebounds on 48.9 percent shooting. He hasn't been as solid taking care of the ball, though.
Per ESPN.com, he is tied for the No. 8 spot in turnovers per 48 minutes among centers at 4.1. His 1.7 miscues per game is high for a reserve center and is tied for No. 11 at the position overall, as he ranks among players who get more court time than he does.
Just Kaman and one other 5 who play less than 20 minutes per game rank in the top 25 centers in turnovers per game. That player is the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kendrick Perkins. The latter has been considerably criticized for his inefficiency with the ball, so it isn't good company for the Blazers' primary reserve.
Kaman, who has been Portland's sixth man to this point, has had the ball in his hands quite often. Since he's the first scorer off the bench, the ball comes his way often, and his aggressiveness sometimes turns the ball over to the other side.
The Blazers can live with that, as Kaman makes the right play more than he loses the handle.
But the 7-footer should look to cut down his turnovers going forward, as every possession counts during the stretch run and into the postseason. Kaman will be a valuable part of what Portland does in the playoffs, and the team will rely on him to take away the defensive pressure from the rotation scorers.
He can't reward the opposition with extra opportunities.
Robin Lopez: Finish Strong Offensively
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Robin Lopez, as per last season, has been just what the doctor ordered for the Blazers at center. His interior and intangible play complements his teammates and the direction of the coaching staff, to the extent that the big man is seemingly indispensable.
Portland has still gone 11-2 with Lopez being sidelined by a broken hand, compared to 19-6 with him in the lineup. Call it a testament to the talent on the roster, but it's obvious how much the team has missed Lopez's presence.
He should return in the next two weeks or so, and he should look to be more of a finisher offensively.
Per NBA.com, Lopez is converting 34 percent of his jumpers, 40.7 percent of his hook-shot attempts and 36.7 percent of his tip-shot attempts. He isn't a scorer by any means; he could probably score zero points and still have a profound impact on the game.
But his play offensively gives the Blazers that extra boost, especially down low as LaMarcus Aldridge draws a ton of defensive pressure. Lopez has the ability to post up, as he's strong in the paint area.
His 7'0", 255-pound frame is a lot to handle when he's looking to score, which was evident early in the season. He scored double digits in seven of his first 10 games this season, which included a trio of 19-point nights.
He went on to average 11.3 points on 54.7 points through December, which slipped to 6.4 points on 42.6 percent over eight games in January before the injury.
Lopez needs to recapture that ability to finish offensively in the season's second half—though it's hardly catastrophic if he doesn't, as he does his best work on defense and crashing the boards.
Nicolas Batum: Find a Role Offensively
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Nicolas Batum, much like Lopez, is critical to Portland's success, scoring be damned.
His passing, rebounding and defense are potentially irreplaceable, as a large portion of the Blazers' game plan relies on his play. His offense is usually a big part too, but it's been shoddy to this point.
Batum is having the worst shooting slump of his career this season, converting 40.3 percent from the field and just 26.2 percent from beyond the arc. Injuries to his knee and wrist have hindered his play in spurts, and it seems to have had a lasting effect after his initial absence in mid-November.
His three-point shooting helps space the floor on offense, but he's shot just 28.1 percent through December and is down to 26.1 percent in January.
Despite all that, Portland still ranks as one of the NBA's most efficient offenses, checking in at No. 8 at ESPN.com.
Obviously, Batum should try to find himself offensively in the second half of the season, whether that's by cutting to the rim, developing a post-up game or driving more in pick-and-roll situations.
He still must continue to shoot from outside, regardless of his percentage, as it's important to Portland's offensive philosophy. Batum has already done that so far, averaging 4.6 attempts from three the past two months.
It would be nice for the swingman to improve his shooting stroke, but defenses will have to respect it even if he's shooting below 30 percent. But even so, it's apparent how much the Blazers miss his offense.
Wesley Matthews: Score in Other Ways
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Again, much of the Blazers offense is based on spacing and outside shooting. Wesley Matthews currently ranks No. 1 in the NBA in total three-point field goals made at 116 on the season. So why would Portland look to take him away from that area?
Because I'm nitpicking, that's why.
Matthews is far and away one of the league's best shooters, being both prolific and accurate. He doesn't hear any of that though, claiming, "I don't see myself as a three-point shooter," per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
He explained, "I never have, and I still don't. I can shoot it. It's one of my offensive weapons. But I would much rather attack the basket or post up."
Both are underrated weapons in Matthews' arsenal, though Portland rarely takes advantage of them due to the team's concept offensively. The shooting guard does take it into the post here and there, but nowhere near frequently enough.
Matthews stands 6'5" and has good size to muscle down low, where he's had success so far. Per NBA.com, he's shot 53.8 percent on turnaround jumpers, 44.4 percent on fadeaway shots from the post and 61.9 percent on driving layups.
What's glaring, though, is his tries in all three areas total just 43 attempts compared to 310 jump shots.
Matthews can score in other areas, but it often comes at the expense of LaMarcus Aldridge or Damian Lillard. Both are the foremost point men of this team, which naturally means their strengths come first, which has translated to one of the NBA's top offenses.
But if head coach Terry Stotts and his staff ever find themselves bored on a rainy day, incorporating Matthews into more creative offensive sets would be ideal.
But hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
LaMarcus Aldridge: Convert More Consistently Offensively
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LaMarcus Aldridge, the No. 7 scorer in the NBA, needs to get better offensively?
I promise it makes sense.
The big man is arguably the top power forward in basketball, playing strong on offense, defense and rebounding the ball. Aldridge is one of just three players to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds so far—the other two being the Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins and the New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis.
He's also an able ball-handler and is too much to handle in the post using single coverage. But Aldridge has struggled a tad to this point.
Courtesy of NBA.com, he's knocked down just 34.1 of his jumpers inside the arc and 36.8 percent of his turnaround jump shots from the post. In turn, his 22.9 points per game this season is coming on a career-low 45.7 percent clip from the field. It just edges last season's output of 23.2 points on 45.8 percent shooting.
His overall percentage isn't terrible by any means, but Aldridge needs to convert more consistently. The offense revolves around his shooting and post-up game, which means it'll always be defended even if Aldridge shoots poorly.
His 3-of-18 night against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 16 is indicative of this, as the rest of the team still shot 48.6 percent.
But even so, it's easy to believe the Blazers would be more inclined to see their power forward shoot better. The offense will always be there, so it's not important for more sets to go his way. He just has to make the most of those opportunities when they come his way.
Even a low-to-mid 40 percent clip would be ideal, though it won't change how defenses play Portland. It would just make the Blazers that much more ferocious.
Damian Lillard: Don't Take His Foot off the Pedal
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This is the only player who can't really improve in the season's second half; he just has to sustain his body of work so far.
Damian Lillard has scored, rebounded and distributed with great efficiency, with his 22.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists being his most complete season in his three-year career. He's also knocking down a career-best 2.8 three-point field goals per game—tying the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry for No. 3 in total makes (105)—and is converting 38.7 percent of them.
Per 82games.com, he is holding opposing point guards to 42.4 percent shooting and a player efficiency rating of 14.3 while posting a personal PER of 23.2, which is good for No. 12 in the NBA, per ESPN.com. The league average PER is 15.
Throw in Lillard's clutch play against the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers (and any other team, for that matter) for good measure, and there isn't much left to ask for.
All Rip City's point guard must do is to keep up his phenomenal play to finish out the season.
Per NBA.com, Lillard is shooting just 24.3 percent on jumpers inside the arc, which must improve, and he should look to be more aggressive going to the rim with a 69.1 shooting percentage on such attempts. He's only done so on 81 occasions, compared to 322 total jump shots.
But both are measly areas to pick on that haven't yet affected Lillard or his team.
If he can keep up this level of play, he could draw serious consideration for the Most Valuable Player award. He's outperforming opponents on a nightly basis, is answering the call to do whatever is needed time and time again, is playing with remarkable efficiency and is leading his team to one of the NBA's best records.
What else can you ask for from your All-Star point guard?
All Portland Trail Blazers player statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.
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