NBA Draft: The Zach Collins breakdown
By Minh Dao
Scouting Report – Defense
On the other side of the ball, Collins is no pushover. He’s got a high IQ in terms of where to be and where to help. He’s got nifty feet in terms of pick-and-roll lateral movement which is crucial in the NBA. How many times do you see bigs on temp-switches on guards? He’s got the ability to hold his own on the perimeter.
Additionally, he offers impressive instincts as a rim protector and shot blocker by deterring shots at a high rate.
He may not have the longest wingspan, but he’s a 7-footer with a standing reach of 9’3″. This helps with his advanced knowledge of the verticality principle and his quick-twitch reflexes. He’s also able to finish possessions with his rebounding position (and gain extra possessions on the other end). Collins is extremely mobile and fluid for a guy his size — that’s the thing Blazer fans should be most excited about.
He doesn’t have the “heavy legs” that Meyers Leonard possesses and he’s got a better feel for the game than Noah Vonleh.
That being said, he still has plenty to learn. Collins needs to get stronger to survive as he will battle bigs like Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert within the division. Collins is also very foul-prone which came from being buried under his own basket at times. He would sometimes fall asleep and be late to recover/rotate, or bite on pump fakes.
Again, these flaws can easily be fixed. He’s 19 and heading to a successful developmental staff. These guys are drafted for their potential; there is room to grow with Collins, but the tools and intangibles are there to fulfill it.