CJ McCollum's recent play has been nothing short of presidential - the former head of the NBPA has been torching defenses on a night-to-night basis during the March Hawks' hot streak.
CJ's play has typified the Hawks' success of late; evidently, he was the missing piece in the Hawks' most successful lineup thus far this year. McCollum's synergy alongside Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu has been a sight to behold for both fans and opposing defenses alike.
McCollum is making defenses pay from all over the floor. According to a recent statistic, he ranks amongst the best of the best:
11-20 pic.twitter.com/0oX2W84B7l
— TipOff (@tipoffball) March 20, 2026
Ranking one spot above the ex-Hawk Luke Kennard, McCollum has been the 14th most variegated shotmaker in the entire NBA this season. In other words, defenses are having a really, really hard time at funneling him into areas he's not comfortable scoring from - they simply don't exist.
CJ's offensive play has arguably been the spark to ignite the Hawks' recent stretch of wins, and thanks to Coach Snyder's astute lineup crafting, it's been on full display. Better still, this strength of CJ's will be amplified to the tenth degree in a month.
The NBA Playoffs bring out the best in McCollum's shotmaking & shot creating abilities
The NBA Playoffs are a completely different atmosphere than the regular season.
While regular season games may see three to four quarters of (more) lax defense and reduced effort (in an attempt to preserve health and energy for the postseason, especially during March/early April), the playoffs are a stark juxtaposition to this phenomenon.
Every basket is hard-earned, every defensive stop is lauded, and every bit of energy expended is vital to securing a victory when you're playing from late April to June. CJ is no stranger to this atmosphere, either.
McCollum's tenure with the Portland Trail Blazers was marked by consistent and efficient scoring. Take his 2021 six-game first round series against the Denver Nuggets for example - he scored no less than 18 points (and no more than 22) in each battle. CJ can also elevate his scoring to an even greater level in the postseason - he's hit the 30-point threshold 10 times throughout his career.
McCollum could be just the spark that Atlanta needs to pull off an upset this April. He was painfully close to assisting the 2022 Pelicans in upsetting the eventual runner-up champion and 1-seeded Phoenix Suns, falling in a tight six-game series that saw the Pels pull off two gutsy wins in a series they were widely projected to be swept.
If McCollum has another chance to battle a 1 seed - this year, it would be the Detroit Pistons - buckle up. Best believe we'll be in for a show, Hawks fans.