Zach Collins steps into the spotlight
The Portland Trail Blazers rookie had big games against two of the best teams in the NBA. Can he sustain this level of excellence and help Portland escape the losing streak?
How good can Zach Collins be for the Portland Trail Blazers? If his performance Monday night against the Golden State Warriors is any indication, the answer is pretty darn good, indeed.
Playing by far his most significant minutes of the season, Collins hustled and bustled his way to 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists in 25 minutes of action.
Although the Trail Blazers lost their fifth game in a row, Collins was instrumental in helping the Blazers claw their way back from a 24-point deficit. He played most of the fourth quarter when Portland outscored the Warriors 29-18. (Golden State, it should be noted, was playing without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Zaza Pachulia.)
Collins, the 10th pick in the 2017 draft, was more effective against the Warriors than almost every Blazer not named Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum. He outscored Al-Farouq Aminu, Meyers Leonard, Ed Davis and Pat Connaughton – and outrebounded all of them. Only Noah Vonleh had more rebounds (nine) than Collins.
Collins did foul out, but even this seemed like a positive. It showed a willingness to play tough, aggressive defense and to set strong screens for his teammates. Unlike Leonard, whose size has always been a wasted asset, the seven-foot Collins may actually help the Blazers defense. (Witness his block on James Harden.)
The Immediate Present
Zach Collins, who just turned 20 last month, will get his share of beatdowns from stronger and more experienced players. Plus, like most rookies, he’s unlikely to get the benefit of the doubt from referees. But that hasn’t seemed to stifle his willingness to take shots and to scrap with the big fellas down low.
In a postgame wrap-up after the Trail Blazers Saturday night loss to the Houston Rockets, I wrote:
"“Zach Collins deserves more playing time. He was aggressive and active tonight, showing off both his rebounding, shot-blocking and three-point ability.”"
Head coach Terry Stotts must have felt the same way. After seeing little or no action for much of the season, Collins is suddenly on the court for extended shifts.
And he’s been productive. As reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Joe Freeman,
"“Over the last two games, Collins has played at least 19 minutes … and given a little bit of everything, recording 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks, while making 6 of 14 shots, against the best teams in the Western Conference.”"
The Immediate Past
Collins’ NBA career got off to a rough start. He injured his quad in summer league and then missed the Blazers’ first practice with a concussion. Then he spent much of the season on the bench.
He scored his first NBA points – a three-pointer – in a game against Denver – but aside from that highlight, the only noteworthy thing we saw from Collins was youthful exuberance over his first “Lillard Time.”
Where Can Zach Collins and the Trail Blazers Go From Here?
With Maurice Harkless and Jusuf Nurkic nursing injuries, Stotts will almost certainly continue to work his young big man into the lineup. In fact, I won’t be surprised if Collins gets the start Wednesday against the Heat in Miami.
Let’s say Zach Collins continues to perform. Will he take minutes from Harkless, Leonard or Evan Turner? Critics of Blazers general manager Neil Olshey point to those three as overpaid and underperforming. Would Stotts sit any of them to give Collins the playing time and experience he needs to develop?
The Immediate Future
Here’s what I think will happen. Collins will continue to see significant action until Harkless and Nurkic are healthy. He will becoming a regular part of the rotation even after their return.
I see him coming off the bench like he did in one year at Gonzaga. It’s a role familiar to Collins and will allow him to play without gobbling up too many minutes from Portland’s highly paid trio of disappointment.
Portland has lost five games in a row, and Rip City is looking for answers. Some Portland radio talk show hosts were in a tizzy Tuesday, wondering if Portlanders have “accepted mediocrity from the Blazers” and asking who’s to blame for that mediocrity – Stotts or Olshey. (My vote: Olshey. Duh.)
Next: Bill Simmons proposes trade involving CJ McCollum
I’m not ready to sound the alarm on this season. A few wins in a row can make the Trail Blazers’ prospects seem a whole lot brighter. And Collins can help.
After Monday’s loss to the Warriors, Zach Collins explained his team’s mental state as they worked their way back into the game:
"“We didn’t really look at the score. We just kept our heads down and kept attacking.”"
If Collins can do that whenever he plays, he’ll become a valuable asset for a struggling team that needs all the help it can get.