Zach Collins in January

[Wizard Mentor]

I've been a Zach Collins homer since I checked his game out right after we drafted him.

But, so far he has sucked. He's clearly been uncomfortable on the court. In SL, Biggie looked
like the better prospect. He's shooting .424 from the field, and his PER is 8.1. This is all the
national media sees, and he's getting no love there - perhaps rightfully so.

However, recently, he's looked a lot better, and even semi-discerning fans can see he's a
fantastic defensive big. So, I wanted to check out his more recent numbers, because he
seems to be playing more consistently now that his role has been cemented. Here it goes:

Zach Collins in January (per ESPN):


He's shooting .500 in his last 13 games, and .391 from 3. He's not getting to the line, and when he does, he's not making them.

If he continues to play this way, his seasonal numbers will increase and the national media will notice - it won't just be us "soccer moms" singing his praises.

 

[Reep]

Yeah, you really have to watch the games to see why he is getting minutes. What I see (and I'm not a super-analyst):

1) 3pt: He is not hesitating when he is open. If he is open and set, the shot is going up. Unlike Biebs who should shoot like that, but second-guesses himself and then ends up not shooting at all.
2) Spacing: he seems to really understand where to be for screens and then were to go to either spot up or run the play. This is true on both ends of the court.
3) Defense (obviously): He hasn't had as many highlight plays as I would expect, but his skill set is more subtle than that. Again, he seems to understand spacing really well for his age.

I still want him to channel into the next Laimbeer, but I think that will come as he fills out.

 

[dviss1]

He's shooting .500 in his last 13 games, and .391 from 3. .

This is heartening. Pretty damn amazing considering he hasn't really been touted as an offensive player.

He's converting his looks a great rate and will only get better as he gets stronger.

 

[dviss1]

Yeah, you really have to watch the games to see why he is getting minutes. What I see (and I'm not a super-analyst):

1) 3pt: He is not hesitating when he is open. If he is open and set, the shot is going up. Unlike Biebs who should shoot like that, but second-guesses himself and then ends up not shooting at all.
2) Spacing: he seems to really understand where to be for screens and then were to go to either spot up or run the play. This is true on both ends of the court.
3) Defense (obviously): He hasn't had as many highlight plays as I would expect, but his skill set is more subtle than that. Again, he seems to understand spacing really well for his age.

I still want him to channel into the next Laimbeer, but I think that will come as he fills out.

I'd like to see more Gasol (Pau in his prime) than Laimbeer.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

This is heartening. Pretty damn amazing considering he hasn't really been touted as an offensive player.

He's converting his looks a great rate and will only get better as he gets stronger.

Fun fact: Lillard is shooting .370 from 3.

 

[dviss1]

Fun fact: Lillard is shooting .370 from 3.

I'm always aware of his stats and I know he takes at least 2 ill advised swish3's per game. But let me ask you this:

How often is he relied upon to shoot desperation shots against the clock? Let's not compare his and Zach's numbers because Zach isn't even in the game in crunch time.

 

[Reep]

I'd like to see more Gasol (Pau in his prime) than Laimbeer.

I will settle for Gasol skills, with Laimbeer personality. I don't want to see Collins make the llama face when he gets called for a foul.

 

[LayneStaley]

Fun fact: Lillard is shooting .370 from 3.

Fun fact 2: Turner is shooting .460 from 3 in January.

 

[Driew]

Fun fact 2: Turner is shooting .460 from 3 in January.

And I still close my eyes every time he shoots a three lol.

 

[handiman]

And I still close my eyes every time he shoots a three lol.

As does Meyers.

 

[blue9]

Fun fact 2: Turner is shooting .460 from 3 in January.

Does that mean we can trade him now?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Fun fact 2: Turner is shooting .460 from 3 in January.

On 2 attempts per game.

Funner fact: Dame is shooting .439 from 3 in January on 8.2 attempts per game.

BNM

 

[AFully22]

On 2 attempts per game.

Funner fact: Dame is shooting .439 from 3 in January on 8.2 attempts per game.

BNM

That’s insane. Funny how normal it seems for him to have a month like this.

 

[BBert]

On 2 attempts per game.

Funner fact: Dame is shooting .439 from 3 in January on 8.2 attempts per game.

BNM

While being smothered by the defense

 

[BBert]

On 2 attempts per game.

Funner fact: Dame is shooting .439 from 3 in January on 8.2 attempts per game.

BNM

That IS a funner fact

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I love these fun facts!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I'm always aware of his stats and I know he takes at least 2 ill advised swish3's per game. But let me ask you this:

How often is he relied upon to shoot desperation shots against the clock? Let's not compare his and Zach's numbers because Zach isn't even in the game in crunch time.

Whoa, Nelly! Back the truck up.

I know some use stats to put down Lillard, and I understand that there is some validity to it, but that's not what I was trying to do. I wasn't commenting on Lillard at all.
I was trying for something more like:

Dame is a fantastic 3 point shooter.
For this month at least, He's shooting even better than Dame's average this year.
That's reason for optimism and makes me happy.
Zach's comfort level is obviously increasing, which suggests that the new Zach is likely the real Zach, so that these numbers aren't temporary, or ephemeral.

tldr;
Zach Collins: He is who I thought he was! Boom!

 

[dviss1]

I will settle for Gasol skills, with Laimbeer personality. I don't want to see Collins make the llama face when he gets called for a foul.

Fair enough.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I love how confident Zach takes his 3s. Like for real everytime he shots it I get hard

 

[dviss1]

I love how confident Zach takes his 3s. Like for real everytime he shots it I get hard

He knows how to get his feet square and shoot in rhythm.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He was my main target from the gettyup last year.

He has all the tools you want in the evolving, modern center.

I see Denver's Raef LaFrentz in his skillset.

 

[BonesJones]

He knows how to get his feet square and shoot in rhythm.

People thought he had as slow of a jumpshot as Meyers. Lol.

 

[ripcityboy]

He's been a rebel without a cause tonight. He smiled when he put that screen on Wes.

 

[Scalma]

He’s producing without any plays run for him. He won’t get any love nationally because the numbers don’t really stand out, but it’s pretty clear he’s going to be a very good player. I think he’ll be the best overall big in his class.

 

[dviss1]

He’s producing without any plays run for him. He won’t get any love nationally because the numbers don’t really stand out, but it’s pretty clear he’s going to be a very good player. I think he’ll be the best overall big in his class.

I love his mean streak. He was smashin' everybody tonight. Dame included.

 

[Scalma]

I love his mean streak. He was smashin' everybody tonight. Dame included.

It’ll be fun when his size matches his mentality. He’s going to be a bully.

 

[KingSpeed]

Collins shooting 38% from three.

 

[Darkwebs]

I will settle for Gasol skills, with Laimbeer personality. I don't want to see Collins make the llama face when he gets called for a foul.

This face?

Or this face?

 

[stampedehero]

Yeah, you really have to watch the games to see why he is getting minutes. What I see (and I'm not a super-analyst):

1) 3pt: He is not hesitating when he is open. If he is open and set, the shot is going up. Unlike Biebs who should shoot like that, but second-guesses himself and then ends up not shooting at all.
2) Spacing: he seems to really understand where to be for screens and then were to go to either spot up or run the play. This is true on both ends of the court.
3) Defense (obviously): He hasn't had as many highlight plays as I would expect, but his skill set is more subtle than that. Again, he seems to understand spacing really well for his age.

I still want him to channel into the next Laimbeer, but I think that will come as he fills out.

Well, there was only one son of a bitch Laimbeer.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

After tonight's game, he's 51/44/67.

The 67 isn't really significant as he's only shot 3 free throws in January.