CJ McCollum Hurt

It just can't seem that Rip City can catch a break.  Promising first round pick CJ McCollum broke his fifth metatarsal- little toe side- in his left foot, and will require surgery.  McCollum will likely miss at least half of the season, though no timetable will be set until after the foot is surgically repaired.  How does this injury affect the start of the season in Portland?

Mo Williams will play a larger role- potentially up to 25 mpg- as the definite sixth man of this team.  The starters won't be affected, other than potentially playing more minutes.  The depth of the team is still much better than in the 2012/13 season, but the injury does hurt.  Will Allan Crabbe or Will Barton step into more minutes?  Does Stotts opt for Claver and Wright in using a larger wing rotation?

The biggest effect CJ McCollum's injury will have will be less perimeter shooting by the bench unit.  Wright and Williams are capable shooters, as are Claver and Freeland to an extent (For the record, I am still a Freeland fan).  My biggest question mark surrounds Allan Crabbe's ability to hit the NBA 3.  No doubt he was a great shooter at Cal, and I graded him as a late first rounder for last year's draft.  He shot poorly (25% on 16 attempts) in summer league from 3, but I would assume he has been getting repetition after repetition in practice and in intrasquad scrimmages. 

On the surface, McCollum's injury hurts a lot.  The truth?  It might.  He may have been the best scorer on our bench.  Portland, however, does have pieces who could potentially fill the void.  Mo Williams needs to be our 6th man- and an efficient one at that.  Crabbe needs to shoot well, and Barton needs to be efficient when he gets the chance.   Hypothetically, I think CJ would have started the season getting 15-18 mpg.  Likely, half those minutes go to Mo Williams, a few are absorbed by Lillard and Matthews, and either Crabbe, Barton or Claver get tossed a few as well.  I am anxious, but excited, to see how this team responds.  I want to know how mentally tough the 2013/14 Blazers are.

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*Expect a comprehensive college basketball preview within the next week, and a Blazers/NBA preview within the next 2 weeks.  Basketball is coming, my friend, and it is AMAZING!