Exclusive Welcome Zach Collins!

I knew that question would come up before long. I imagine the team will try it at some point... What made me think of it around the draft was comparisons to Rasheed. We tried him at the 3, hoping to gain a height advantage and find room in a crowded front court. It usually just put him in early foul trouble.

 

Myers podcast that he is on he has hire him basketball trainer to work with him in Southern California 6 days a week so I guess will see how he does.

 

Would love to see the Blazers 'go big' at some point and make other teams adjust. Vonleh is a very solid perimeter defender and what if, Collins had enough foot speed to at least be competent guarding a SF? It's not like outside of Aminu, this team is loaded with defense on the wings. Nurk/Vonleh/Collins front-court?

Bad Boys 2.0

 

He probably should have started doing that 4 or 5 years ago. Kinda late now....

 

Better late (blossoming) than never?

 

Well I guess we will find out if it going to help. He might solve the physical problem but until he solve the mental part I don't see alot improvement. I am wishing the kid luck though.

 

All those white 7 footers look alike.

 

I haven't watched him play but o will say this and maybe someone can help me. There are 2 kinds of foul prone, 1 is from just being lazy and not moving feet and the other is from being scrappy. Scrappy/aggressive I can live with, the other is Meyers.

 

They have two completely different mindsets.

 

He got a lot of bullshit called against him in college when he was completely vertical. The NBA will let him get away with most of those.

 

not if the guy jumping into him is like harden

 

Kind of surprising to me that there isn't more discussion about him being a natural 4 or 5. Reporters I've listened to seem to say he needs to fill out to play his natural position (center). If that's true, it presents the same problem Denver had--too many centers for a league that doesn't value true centers much anymore.

I think the Blazers hope that in the long run he's a PF. A lot of NBA big men minimize their height just so they don't get tagged with the center label. Dirk, KG, Sheed, LMA--Durant is probably the most guilty. I'm hoping the "center" tag has stuck on Collins because he came off the bench at center (behind a guy who was even bigger) in college.

Collins has basically the same height/weight as LMA during the draft (although LMA had a 4" wingspan advantage while Collins has a 2" taller standing reach--how weird is that?) Also similar issues compared to Durant.

Strength and conditioning is a big part of any NBA regimen. But I really hope with Collins the focus is more on the "conditioning" side--if he can be a guy who, 25 minutes into a game, can still quickly get a hand up on a three point shot it's going be a lot more important asset on our team than out-muscling a post player.

 

I think he got some time playing the 4 too at Gonzaga, alongside their starting 5.
I could be wrong be I think I remember seeing tape of that (and a nice high-low !)

 

The difference between Jokic and Collins is vast. Jokic is strictly a center because he can't move laterally. He gets abused in pick and rolls defensively. So while Jokic also stretches the court, Collins is a much better athlete.

 

There is plenty of video showing him playing next the big center. Olshey even mention the play that sold him was a no look over the head pass from Collins to the big guy.

Regarding blocks, most appeared to be overly aggressive, as in putting they guy on his ass. I can see him doing that to Harden without flinching.

 

*Elite defensive feel/awareness
*Very advanced footwork for his age
*3pt range
*Knows how to use his 9'3" reach - verticality
*Can ISO on the block
*Passing is a work in progress - showed flashes
*Strong one-on-one post defender

NBA comp: (not as strong) Joel Embiid

 

That alone makes the trade worthwhile. Harden is going to get the call anyway, whether you touch him or not. Might was well knock him on his ass a time or two to make him think twice about driving when the young guy is in the game. Let the rookie be our enforcer so Nurk doesn't get into early foul trouble.

BNM

 

Skinny mudda fukka.