One thing has been noticeable with CJ McCollum out of the Trail Blazers’ lineup due to a knee injury: Damian Lillard’s passing. Lillard has racked up two double-doubles with assists in the past two games, both of which McCollum has missed. The emphasis on passing is part of the evolving thought that Lillard puts into the game, he told Jason Quick of The Athletic (subscription to The Athletic required):
As a result, his seventh NBA season has become his finest, with his physical attributes now complemented by calculated and educated precision.