C.J. McCollum is having a breakout season thanks to his efficient mid-range shooting. The Portland Trail Blazers made McCollum a starter in his third NBA season and the move has been beneficial for both parties. The 6-foot-4 guard out of Lehigh is averaging career-highs in points (20.7), assists (4.4), rebounds (3.6) and steals (1.1) this season.

Mike Richman of The Oregonian has more about McCollum's development into one of the NBA's most dangerous scorers:

"'It's been a part of my game for life. It's tougher to finish in the lane so you've got to find different areas to score efficiently and the mid-range contested shot is a shot a lot of teams will live with,' McCollum says. 'And it's a shot I'm willing to live with as well just because I've gotten so many shots at it and I'm comfortable with it.' McCollum is shooting 46.6 percent on mid-range shots season, according to NBA.com. He's attempted the 12th most mid-range shots in the league and has the highest field goal percentage of anyone in the NBA who has taken at least 250 such shots. He's shooting better than noted mid-range gunners Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and, yes, even LaMarcus Aldridge.'"